Search hotels in Tennant Creek

Ours was only an overnight stop to break a long drive from Alice Springs to Mount Isa. We checked in, had a drink at the club and next morning moved on so would not be able to give an opinion one way or the other.

I did not feel safe or comfortable in the centre of town so did not stop there. The Lake Mary Ann picnic area was lovely with many peacocks and geese wandering around. Our main reason for staying in Tennant Creek was to use it as a base to explore the Devils Marbles area which was well worth the 1 hour drive south.

Tennant Creek is approx the half way point between Camooweal and Alice Springs. It is bang smack in the middle of a 1000 klm run. We stopped at Cloncurry coming out from Brisbane, so Tennant was about 800 klms from Cloncurry. Once you hit the stretch into NT (about 20 klms out of Camooweal), the roads are all 130 klm per hour, there is only triple trailer trucks and caravans, and NOTHING except Barkly Homestead (which is an absolute treasure and worth the stop - apart from being the only next option for fuel) and Tennant Creek. So, your options are limited. Our accomodation was great. The town - not so much. Like all country towns, it is getting smaller as reasons to stay become fewer. Much of the town is boarded up (vacant) or rollover shuttered and iron barred (to prevent the rampant vandalism that plagues so many smaller towns with bored younger residents), so, it appears to be very unwelcoming. Having said that, everyone we meet was welcoming and pleasant. We were recommended to one of the local Chinese Restaurants (I cannot remember which one) and it was very good (VERY good). Fuel was reasonably priced for the middle of nowhere - about 20c per litre more than Brisbane (which was around $1.80 when we left on 22 June, 25) and about 60c less than the worse fuel price we encountered ($2.60 at Ti Tree - which is about 300 klms further towards Alice Springs from Tennant Creek). Just a few thoughts for what they are worth ...

There needs to be a better policing of the youth and crime associated with some of these kids, teenagers and adults. No respect for people, place or property. You can't help but feel sorry for some of these kids and their so-called role models. They simply don't know any better and are not getting disciplined or managed correctly when they are being caught by authorities. Laws and sentences need a major over-hall by the authority's responsible for governing them. Otherwise, in the not-too-distant future I'd say you will start seeing forms of vigilante justice taking place.

The size of the room and the noise from our neighbours makes this accommodation only good for one night. When I booked the room, I didn’t realise our room would be joined to another room. We could hear everything being said and done by our neighbours ☹️

Several places worth a visit - Museum at the Battery Hill Mining Centre, unfortunately no underground tours on offer at present, Bill Allen Lookout, Tennant Creek Telegraph Station and Kunjara (aka The Pebbles). Tinggkarli (Lake Mary Ann) looked like a good spot for a picnic. We ate at Woks Up, but didn't enjoy the food, should have gone to Sporties Steak & Grill, as initially suggested by the motel receptionist.