Caranbirini Conservation Reserve

Caranbirini Conservation Reserve lies roughly 45 km south of Borroloola in the Gulf region. Despite its remote location, it offers a rewarding stop for those traveling the Carpentaria Highway. The reserve protects an area where weathering has sculpted ancient sandstone into remarkable “Lost City” formations – clusters of tall, pillar-like rock towers and balancing boulders that rise from the savanna. A 2-km interpretive walking trail called the Barrawulla Loop leads visitors past these orange and crimson sandstone spires, through woodlands of bloodwood and spinifex, and to a lookout with panoramic views of the “Lost City” and surrounding landscape:contentReference[oaicite:84]{index=84}. Along the trail one might see wallaroos resting in the shade or hear the calls of the endemic sandstone shrike-thrush echoing off the rocks. At the base of the escarpment, Caranbirini Waterhole (a semi-permanent billabong) attracts birdlife like whistling ducks, brolgas, and honeyeaters; a bird hide is provided for wildlife observation. The contrast between the lushness around the water and the arid ridge above is striking. The reserve has a small parking area, information signage, and a picnic table or two, but no camping or other facilities (Borroloola or Cape Crawford are the nearest accommodations). Caranbirini is significant to the local Mara people, and visitors are asked to respect the land. The reserve provides an accessible taste of the Gulf’s geological wonders and ecosystems – a “lost city” of stone amid a very real wilderness.