Lake Eyre

Tourist attraction and rare ecosystem in the remote South Australian Outback

Lake Eyre is a huge salt lake and terminal point of Australia's second largest drainage system, L. Eyre basin.
The lake is also Australia's lowest point with 15,2 m below sea leavel in the the eastern parts.
L. Eyre actually consists of two lakes, L. Eyre North (8 430 km²) and L. Eyre South (1 260 km²), connected by Goyder Channel which has a length of 15 km.

Lake Eyre basin covers more than 1 million km², or 1/6th of the continent, mainly in Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Globally, the basin is one of the largest internal drainage systems.

Watch this absolutely amazing video to get an idea how special and wonderful the rare event of Lake Eyre filling with water is.

Look at the map of the Eyre basin, and you'll see lots of rivers, channels and waterbodies. However, when you travel out there, you won't see much water most of the times. But... when the water flows into the lake once every couple of years, it is a sensation for locals and travellers alike. It is amazing to see the changes in this dry and harsh land.
This is another map that gives you an overview about the huge distances water has to go to reach L. Eyre.

Lake Eyre facts

Where does the water come from?

The main tributaries into the lake are the rivers in south-west Queensland, the Diamantina and Georgina river systems and Cooper Creek.

Although these rivers flow quite frequently, they hardly reach L. Eyre everytime they carry water. High evaporation, and the fact that the rivers fill many channels along their way to the lake, make it hard to predict whether or not they'll reach their final destination. Cooper Creek usually terminates at the Coongie lakes wetlands.

Western tributaries are the Neales and Macumba rivers.
In 1984 and 1989 the western tributaries filled Lake Eyre South within a few days. Finally, the water overflowed to Lake Eyre North. This is recorded a very rare event, as usually the northern lake fill first, and overflows the southern part.

After one of the most devastating floods in 1990, Cooper Creek reached the lake for the first time in more than 20 years.

Current lake status 2010/2011
After major floodings in western Queensland early 2010 there is another flow into Lake Eyre North. Local rain in the area put some water into L. Eyre South.

Click here to check the current status of water levels.

2011 Lake Eyre Water Status Update. Check both websites to see what's happening.

Update November 2010: Now that summer has arrived to the Australian Outback evaporation becomes greater than water inflow. Warburton Creek is a trickle, the flow into the lake is going to stop soon. Cooper Creek is still cutting the Birdsville track and flowing into Madigan Gulf.
January 2011: Evaporation is high, right now there is less than 35% water coverage. However, the rivers feeding Lake Eyre have still water, and rain in Qld will probably bring more water down the Cooper.
At the end of the month the ferry stopped its operation, you can now cross the Cooper on the Birdville Track.
Update March 2011: More rain drenched the northeast of South Australia and southwest Queensland, resulting in rising water levels in Lake Eyre.

It is said that L. Eyre had only filled to its full capacity three or four times within the last 150 years. Of course, minor fillings are recorded every couple of years. How much water is in the lakes can be only judged from the air. Satellite images give fairly clear information about water levels in the lake.

Remember, this is such a remote area, and public access is only through a few tracks departing from the Oodnadatta Track. You can't just drive out and see if the lake holds water on a Sunday afternoon :).

Any news of water in the lake gets locals, travellers and tour operators most excited. It is a well deserved increase of popularity and business in this remote area. Local air charters to fly over Lake Eyre are available from Marree and William Creek.

If you ever travelled along the Oodnadatta Track and detoured to L. Eyre you know this is a harsh and dry land. Beautiful, nevertheless.

But, can you imagine there is a yacht club out there? Hard to believe, but true!

The Lake Eyre Yacht Club has its clubhouse and headquarters in Marree. And yeah, they are thrilled by the call "Water is flowing into L. Eyre".
The club supports those who want to take their own boat onto the lake, and they hold boating events, circumstances permitted. The L. Eyre Yacht Club also has a very informative website.

Here are the most recent visitor's questions, tips and discussions. Worth to read if you plan a trip.
Travel to Lake Eyre following the January 2011 rains, and there has been even more rain since then.
Will L. Eyre fill in 2011?
Birds at L. Eyre
Driving from Brisbane
Towing a small caravan to the lake

Lake Eyre National Park - Visitor Information

L. Eyre National Park covers an area of 13,000 km². It is a stark wilderness, an ancient landscape that is very hard to access.

The Evaporation Marks Staining the Dry Bed of a Vast Inland Salt Lake, Australia

Vegetation in this part of the Australian Outback is usually sparse. Creeks are lined with saltbush and acacias.

However, vegetation can burst into a blaze of fresh green and wildflowers after local rains.

It is also amazing to see large flocks of water birds migrating to the lake once there is some water.
I always wonder how the birds "smell" the water!

The Poached Egg Daisy Emerges from Red Desert Sands, Australia

How to get there?

Access to the lake and the national park is either from Marree or William Creek.
Near Curdimurka, the Oodnadatta Track comes very close to the shore of Lake Eyre South.

Caution: Please do never drive on the lake surface. It is an offence, and it is dangerous. Even if the surface looks firm and dry, you might get bogged in the mud if your car crashes through the salt crust (which is rather thin in places).

Level Post Bay Track is a public access route from Marree to Muloorina homestead and further to the shores of L. Eyre North. Camping is not allowed on the shore, but there is a campground at Muloorina.

The total distance from Marree to the lake is 100 km. About 20 km past Muloorina you reach the shores of L. Eyre South, and travel along Goyders Channel to the northern lake.

Halligan Bay Track is the second public access route to the lake starting 7km south of William Creek. This is a 64 km track via Armistice Bore and ABC Bay to Halligan Bay. There are basic campgrounds at both bays.

Tours to Lake Eyre

Travel West Outback Tours offers flights to the lake from Brisbane. After the recent rains in south-west Queensland, I am sure Graham works already on the next schedule. Don't miss this unique opportunity. Find more info and a form to contact Travel West Outback Tours.

This 4-day Lake Eyre Tour from Adelaide includes an two hour flight over the lake and Cooper Creek. Tours take a maximum of 16 passengers and are quickly booked out. No surprise, water in Australia's biggest lake attracts people.

Safety Advice

Please be aware that the routes to the shores of Lake Eyre cannot be compared with travelling along the Oodnadatta Track. You are going into very remote country, and track conditions can be quite challenging.

A 4WD vehicle with high clearance is recommended. And you should know the car, know how to use the 4WD properly when conditions get rough.

Take a HF radio or satellite phone with you, or at least a UHF radio. Contact William Creek via UHF Channel 4 and Marree via Channel 7 when you get in trouble. Carry plenty of water, and avoid these tracks during the summer months. Refer to my Outback Safety chapter for more information.

As always: Never leave your vehicle when you are in trouble. Someone will finally find you.

It is a good idea to check the Outback Road reports before you go.

Permits

Visiting Lake Eyre National Park requires a desert park pass, or an entry / camping permit. Both can be obtained in Marree and William Creek.

If you plan to visit multiple national parks in the South Australian Outback, it is worth to purchase a desert park pass which is valid for one year. The pass comes with a package of maps and a booklet with valuable information about safe travelling in the Outback, and information about flora and fauna in each park.