Will Lake Eyre Flood?

Sand Man (SA) replied:

I think lakes with water in them are "faily common", although generally pretty, but standing at the edge of Lake Ayre, at Halligan Bay and looking over the vastness of the glaring white salt pan just adds to the feeling of insignificance when in Mother Nature's realm.

If you walk on it you can hear the crunch of the salt crust and then, when you walk away and get in the vehicle to drive away, you wonder, how long will my footprints remain?

Actually, I'm going up there for the Easter break and I'll be sure to let everyone know if "water is found".

Maybe I should take the tinnie, just in case:-))

I also intend calling in to the William Creek Hotel to see if the ExplorOz card I left last visit is still at the left end of the bar.

GREENDOG replied:

Surprised Phil would be, soon he hasn't been in the area for very long.cheer's GREENDOG

Nomadic Navara replied:

A good site to to see what is going on around Lake Eyre is http://lakeeyreyc.com/

PeterD

Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

I've had a few visits to Lake Eyre:
1977 when dry
1989 when fully flooded
2000 when largely flooded
And a couple of other times when dry.

What you experience depends on your expectations. If you've never seen the lake, its great to go out to somewhere like Level Post Bay (via Muloorina) at any time and take it in. Its pretty vast, walk out on its crusty surface until your feet sink into the black slime. The country surrounding the Lake is pretty intersesting, and the camp site at Muloorina is very good bush camping (donation to RFDS).

Experience when full is very different, and depends on where you see it. From Level Post Bay, it has to be 100% full to get your ankles wet - it was pretty much that way in 1989. And was very full in 1974.

In 2000 we had an exceptional experience, being guided by Malcolm from Muloorina Station. He took a group of us across the Causeway (between the North and South Lakes) and up the Babbage peninsula. The edge of the Lake here is very deep - its like being down at the beach. The birdlife was prolific. On the edge of the water were swarms of little shrimp. You can see some of the flocks of Pelicans through binoculars. Theres a lookout with a Cairn, and some spectacular formations called Camel Canyon, from memory. It took a long days driving to do the loop around Babbage peninsula from camp.

I also did the Plane flight in 2000 with Wrights Air from William Creek. Worth every cent when the Lake is in flood. I have no idea what it looks like when dry, but I found the sanddunes very interesting to look at from teh air too.

As for it flooding again, Im a disbeliever at present. Theres about 5 main rivers that feed Lake Eyre. Warburton may throw a splash in at the top. Cooper Creek won't reach Lake eyre. And the rivers to the west have had no rain and are dry. But I'd love to see a lot more rain fall, and see some water in the Lake.

I'll see if I can dig up some photos, but it won't be until tomorrow night.

Cheers
Phil








visited the Lake Eyre South when dry in 1977 (3 years after the huge 1974 floods)
Then lake Eyre North via level post Bay during the

via Muloorina in 1989

ExplorOz Team - Michelle replied:

To be honest, I too am a disbeliver of it flooding. I have seen it when dry in 1999? or was it 1998? A travel diary of our daily experiences can be read Here. Forgive me - it was a long time ago, and pre-ExplorOz. God knows what I've written there....but there's some pics and stories etc.

Thank you for your first hand reports on various conditions over the years, your comments, (and forthcoming photos) are fantastic. I created this post as it is rather topical and thought others might be thinking the same thing - whether they've seen it before or not.

Crackles replied:

Have seen Lake Eyre South with water & to be honest we didn't even know before we left it was part full so it really had no bearing on the trip & where we went. Probably only spent 30 minutes looking & took 3 photo's before heading off. It wasn't till a few years later that the significance of there being water did I think we were fortunate to witness such an event. I wouldn't make a special trip just to look from the bank as really it's just a large body of water and access to anywhere interesting is either very difficult or private property but if passing it's a must stop.
What is impressive I'm told is the plane flight out of William Creek where the enormity of the lake & the massive amount of bird life can be seen in the midst of a desert.
When the Warburton last flowed we cruised the 200km into Lake Eyre by boat. This was undoubtably the best outback experience of my life and was almost surreal being in a boat with the Simpson Desert dunes just over the bank. I believe camping at Kalamurina Station may have been restricted but the 1st 80km used to have access to the river and was far more interesting than going to the 3 regular viewing spots at the southern end of the Lake.
Cheers Craig..............

Member - extfilm (NSW) replied:

Hi Michelle,
Stats say the lake gets water on average once every 10 years, fills once every 25 years and floods once evry 80 years.
I was there when it filled in 2000 and managed to get a 5 page feature and cover on Outdoor Australia Mag padddling a sea kayak.
It was one of the most amazing experience. Also went there last year and both times are very impressive.

Here are a few pics

Lake Eyre

And one I have locked on my website

Lake Eyre

Not sure how to link this one properly

Peter

ExplorOz Team - Michelle replied:

Hi Peter,
Your photos (as usual) are astounding. Thanks for sharing them here. What a great idea though, using kayaks. David and I (and other travelling friends) are all currently thinking of gearing up with kayaks both for use here in Perth (adding another leg to the eventing) but also for Ningaloo, and now I see another use - great! Lake Eyre by kayak would be a must-do I can see that now and will keep my eye on the weather some more. (ps I thought the stats were very 7 yrs, not 10? oh well.. semantics)...guess I could look it up but stats are stats and the climate is changing!!

Peter 2 replied:

We've seen it in flood too, quite an awesome sight!
Funnily enough what the kids remember more form that trip was crossing the Coopers on the ferry on the Birdsville track.
That and camping along the Coopers with all the water.
Bit hard to get a true impression of the water unless up in a plane which we've never done, next time

Blueheeler replied:

Lake Eyre is a fantastic sight any time, if you turn right @ Maree racecourse up to 'Muloorina" homestead, you will go through the "Chamberlain Fence" ( No babies passed this point ) L O L
the "Dog Fence" on up to the homestead, there used to be a sign off to the left pointing to the lake 35 K's, on this track you pass across the top of the south lake & then on 15 odd K's to the north lake, you come up onto the top of a sand hill & the north lake spreads out to the north & west, you will be about 20 K's from where Donald Campbell broke the world land speed record in the 1960"s. we were there about 4 times a year between 1983 & 1989, wet & dry it was only a foot or so @ this point, I rode my trike ont 10 K's when it was dry & paddled a canoe on it as well,
once having lunch @ the lookout point on the north Lake a Landcruiser pulled up with surf board on top & this young bloke 18 / 19? years ols said to his old man "Bloody hell dad we've missed Lake Eyre this is Bloody Darwin. ( Never ever drive your car on the lake ) I've seen many Drongos stuck bogged to the floor. No Raa or Nrma out here. Go any time you wont be sorry, I dont know but you used to be able to camp on the Frome creek below the "Muloorina" homestead, a top camp site too. happy camping. Bobcat..