Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve

Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve contains one of the most accessible meteor impact sites in the world. Roughly 4,700 years ago, a meteor – estimated to weigh several tons – slammed into the earth’s atmosphere, breaking into pieces before striking the ground in what is now Central Australia:contentReference[oaicite:133]{index=133}:contentReference[oaicite:134]{index=134}. The result was at least 12 distinct craters, ranging from 7 to 180 meters in diameter and up to 15 meters deep, punched into the flat desert landscape. The reserve, about 145 km southwest of Alice Springs (just off the Stuart Highway), protects these craters and tells the story of the impact. A short walking track leads around and into some of the larger craters; interpretive signs help identify the craters and explain the meteor’s estimated trajectory and the science of meteorites. The largest crater is best appreciated from its rim, where you can gaze across the circular depression and imagine the explosive force that created it. The scorched earth long ago has since been colonized by hardy desert flora – acacia shrubs and grasses – and ephemeral water pools in the craters after rain. Fragments of the nickel-iron meteorite were found by early 20th-century prospectors and are now in museums, but small iron bits might still be hidden in the area. The reserve offers a basic bush campground (no water, just a fire pit and toilet) near the crater field, which makes for a unique overnight experience: the lack of light pollution provides brilliant night skies, and one can camp literally among meteor craters. Traditional Arrernte stories speak of fiery objects falling from the sky in this vicinity, underscoring the cultural significance of the site. Henbury is a must-see for geology and astronomy enthusiasts or anyone curious about cosmic events – it’s humbling to stand in a crater and realize the earth-shaking force delivered by a visitor from outer space so long ago:contentReference[oaicite:135]{index=135}.