Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve is a place of great cultural significance to the Western Arrernte Aboriginal people, as well as one of international scientific interest.

The Reserve is a registered sacred site and traditional owners welcome visitors to experience Tnorala’s magic, but we ask you to respect the area and obey signs where access is not permitted.

According to Aboriginal belief, Tnorala was formed in the ‘creation time’, when a group of women danced across the sky as the ‘Milky Way’. During this dance, a mother put her baby aside, resting in it’s wooden baby-carrier (tarne - pronounced ‘tar-na’) The carrier toppled over the edge of the dancing area and crashed to earth where it was transformed into the circular rock walls of ‘Tnorala’.

This Aboriginal belief is similar to the scientific interpretation of the Bluff, as both have celestial origins. Scientists believe that around 142.5 million years ago, an object from space, believed to be a comet about 600 metres wide, crashed to earth, blasting a crater some 20 km across. Today’s land surface is about 2 km lower than the original impact surface and the bluff is about 5 km in diameter, reduced over time by erosion. The remnant crater was named ‘Gosses Range’ by the explorer Ernest Giles in 1872 after H. Gosse, a fellow of the Royal Society.

The Title for the Reserve was granted to traditional owners and it is now jointly managed with the Parks and Wildlife Service.

Access
The Reserve is accessible all year round, although the cooler months usually April to October, are the most pleasant times to enjoy the reserve. Please note that after heavy rain, all roads can be impassable.

The Reserve is about 175 km west of Alice Springs. Access is via Larapinta Drive or via Namatjira Drive. A 4WD is recommended for the last 5 km drive to the Reserve. A ‘Mereenie Tour Pass’ is required to travel this road.

NOTE

• Please keep to designated roads and tracks.
• All historic, cultural items and wildlife are protected.
• Fires are not permitted in the reserve.
• Please take all rubbish with you, out of the reserve.
• Pets are not permitted in this reserve.
• Fires and camping ARE NOT permitted and there is NO barbeque facilities.

Source: NRETA Parks and Wildlife Services: Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve

Check out the Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife Services for additional information.