You truly can have a devil of a time with marbles in Oz An

old school friend who emigrated to Australia years ago recently returned for a visit.

We met up for a good natter and a reminisce, of course.

When I mentioned the hours we’d spent playing marbles in the street outside our Aberdeen homes, he started laughing.

He explained it was because he lives in Alice Springs, close (by Australian standards!) to the Devils Marbles.

Apparently it’s a nature reserve, but can you tell me more? – C.

The Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, also known as Karlu Karlu, is in Australia’s Northern Territory – around 250 miles north of Alice Springs.

Karlu Karlu translates to “round boulders”, a name shared by the Kaytete, Warumungu, Warlpiri and Alyawarra Aboriginals, traditional owners of the area.

It’s named after the gigantic boulders found there, which have become an internationallyrecognised symbol of Australia’s outback.

Formed by erosion over millions of years, the Devils Marbles are made of granite, which surfaces like an island in the desert. They vary in size, from a few inches up to 20ft across.

Many of the giant stones are precariously balanced on top of one another, appearing to defy gravity.

They continue to crack and erode today, creating an ever-changing landscape.

They are spectacular when the light of the morning and evening sun highlights their deep, red colour.