Henbury Meteorites

Henbury Meteorites is one of Australia’s most dramatic and accessible meteorite impact sites, located about 145 km south of Alice Springs along the Lasseter Highway. This series of 12 to 14 craters was formed around 4,700 years ago when a meteorite broke up before impact, scattering fragments across the red desert. The site is a protected conservation reserve, offering a raw, lunar-like landscape that feels both ancient and otherworldly. A short walking trail leads you past the largest craters, where you can see shattered rock and iron-shale fragments – a powerful reminder of Earth’s cosmic history.

Highlights & What to See

• Main Crater Walk: A 1.5-km loop trail that takes you to the largest crater (180 m across and 15 m deep), with interpretive signs explaining the impact science and Aboriginal stories.
• Meteorite Fragments: Look for dark, rusty iron-shale pieces scattered around the craters – you can touch them, but taking them is illegal.
• Desert Landscape: The stark, spinifex-covered plains and red dirt create a surreal backdrop, especially in the soft light of early morning or late afternoon.
• Aboriginal Significance: The site is part of the Arrernte people’s dreaming; listen for stories about a ‘fire devil’ that fell from the sky.
• Stargazing: With minimal light pollution, the night sky here is spectacular – imagine the same sky that witnessed the meteorite fall millennia ago.

Suggested Time to Spend

Plan for about 1 to 1.5 hours to fully explore the walking trail and absorb the site’s atmosphere. It’s an easy stop on a drive between Alice Springs and Uluru, so you can comfortably fit it into a morning or afternoon. Combine it with a picnic at the nearby rest area – there are no facilities at the craters themselves.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Alice Springs: 145 km north, the gateway to the Red Centre, with the Alice Springs Desert Park and the Royal Flying Doctor Service museum.
• Kings Canyon (Watarrka National Park): About 200 km west, offering stunning rim walks and permanent waterholes.
• Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: Roughly 300 km southwest, home to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the domes of Kata Tjuta – a must-see for any outback itinerary.
• Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve: A sandstone pillar with Aboriginal and explorer history, about 100 km south of Alice Springs.
• Lasseter Highway: The road itself is a scenic drive through red desert and mulga scrub, with kangaroos and emus often spotted.

Please check official sources for current details.