Lake Eyre - when to visit?

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Like a lot of the population, I've been watching the news of the oncoming floods down the Diamantina and Warburton spilling into Lake Eyre.

It looks like I will be a free agent during most of the middle of this year, so when would be a good time to visit? Just before easter might be too early for the water, but might be interesting all the same - not that interested in going with 100's of people over easter itself though.

Did anyone here go in 2000 ?

Michael

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

Will be visiting this area and doing the Oodnadatta Track in June prior to the PP GTG... so hoping it might be special then.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

Michael,

The cooler months are definitely the best time to travel... it may be freezing at night but the days are mostly nice, plus the bonus of no (or less) flys.

Despite the worst of summer being behind us, this time of year can still be unbearable during the heat of the day up north and the flys will drive you insane :shock: ...


Always check road conditions before going (nothing worse than having to turn back due to a road closure)

SA road restrictions/warnings


Mick

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Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

Looks like it might get water too..

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2007/s1836624.htm

[lofty Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lofty]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

Looks like it might get water too..

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2007/s1836624.htm

Hmm... i like the look of the fourth last paragraph "However Professor Kingsford is confident that the weather conditions are building for Lake Eyre to fill with water, and hopefully, for the long-awaited break in the national drought as well." Here's hoping.

Wouldnt it be great to be able to go and have a look. We will expect some top photos if you do get up there Michael :wink:

[Spurio Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Spurio]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

I was out there doing some research in 2000. It is unbelieveable and well worth a visit !!! A one in ten year event.

If you've been out there in the dry, you will really appreciate how much water it takes to fill or half fill and the changes to the landscape. The wildlife explosion is amazing especially around the foreshore, some how all the animals know the lake is full and it is full on breeding season.

With all the moisture in the ground there is also heaps of greenery which makes heaps of extra stops along the way - i.e. endless kms of wildflowers next to the roads. This extra veg grows over many of the tracks and makes some of them unrecognisable. The ones on the foreshore are often under water or become very boggy to drive, even walking is difficult with 10kgs of mud stuck to the soles of your boots.

The best way to see all the water is in a plane or helicopter, a couple of fly-in operators setup in Marree last time.

It is not recommended you drive on any of the salt pans in the dry but in the wet they become boggy as hell. Even getting over the smallest incline (out of camp) was very difficult. I ended up buying a ground anchor for winching. Many of the tracks got chopped up after a couple of weeks.

Once the lake starts to fill (haven't kept up with flows so not sure but should start to enter this week) give it a couple of weeks and you will be right. I would say Easter would be pretty much spot on for a visit. The area is big sky country so even with every 4wd owner in Adelaide making the +500km journey, it is still possible to have a quite campsite.

Definitely something I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND !!!!

[Grey Nomad Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grey Nomad]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

Hi all

After the GTG, we have to go back to Mt Isa to retrieve our caravan. We will then head south and turn off onto the Oodnadatta Track at Marla. We expect to be at Oodnadatta on Tuesday 21 st July and see both Lake Eyre and Lake Eyre South shortly after. We have also flagged a trip to the Painted Desert.
We hope that Lake Eyre will look impressive at that time.
If anyone else is in that area about that time, we would love to catch up .

Cheers - John

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

Sorry John... will be doing this prior to the PP GTG. Maybe next time.

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

Neighbour, Vic Widman is predicting it to be the best ever....... extract from his latest newsletter;

[peteandkyles Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peteandkyles]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

We drove up to Lake Eyre South on the weekend and there is no water anywhere there yet. The only thing that was there was millions of little annoying flies. Maybe later in the year it will be better.

[JeffH Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JeffH]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

How long does the water usually stay in the lake for?

Obviously that's a bit like asking how long a piece of string is, but do you think given the current expected in flows that there would still be quite a bit of water in the lake in 3 months time at the end of June?

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

I haven't been previously, but it looks like september is a peak month, based on the sat history graphs here

The Lake Eyre Yacht Club site is a wealth of information if you spend some time digging around the disjointed menus.

Still thinking April and June for our visits.

Michael

[hoppy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hoppy]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

Channel 7 are showing a story on lake eyre this sunday night, 22nd March, on the "sunday night" program at 6.30pm. Looks like it has been shot in the last week or so. No 4x4ing but gives you an idea of the water that is there at the moment.

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

Lake Eyre was again mentioned on the news last night (I think) - just missed the story! But it looks like it is starting to fill up and attract birdlife. I'm hoping it will be well and truly alive by the end of June when we travel the Oodnadatta Track.

[Dobbo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dobbo]

Re: Lake Eyre - when to visit?

Just caught the last bit of a segment on the 7.30 Report on the ABC tonight about the rains around Birdsville and the water coming down Eyre Creek.
One Birdsville beef producer made the comment that it has been the best season that he can remember and he may never seen one like it again.
We may not see water when we pass Lake Eyre South on the way to the GTG but I'm certainly looking forward now to the transformation around Birdsville.
Might see if I can catch the full story on the ABC website.