The rolling grass plains of the Barkly Tablelands cover 15% of the Territory. Primarily cattle country, nearly 75% of the region is under pastoral lease, while 17% is Aboriginal freehold. Less than 1% is covered by conservation reserves.

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The dominant habitat is a semi-arid savanna of Mitchell Grass, while vegetation is mostly open woodland and grassland with smaller areas of spinifex grassland and woodland. The combined Barkly Lakes of Eva Downs Swamp, Lake Sylvester and Tarabool Lake system are classified as nationally significant and provide important bird refugia particularly for migratory species. With a mere 3% of the Northern Territory’s population, its largest towns are Tennant Creek and Elliott.