Tanami Desert - 0085 Limited Edition 10 The Tanami Desert is located in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It has a rocky terrain and small hills and was not fully explored by Australians of European descent until well into the twentieth century. The name 'Tanami' is thought to be an English translation of the Warlpiri name for the area, 'Chanamee', meaning "never die". This referred to certain rock holes in the desert which were said never to run dry. The Tanami Desert is uniquely one of the most important biological areas to be found in Australia particularly as it provides refuge for several of Australia's rare and endangered species.