SCENIC FLIGHT OVER LAKE EYRE

We jumped out of bed early as we were in the first group to go on the scenic flight over Lake Eyre. After breakfast, the coach took us the short distance to Marree airport, where we boarded the small plane. There were 13 passengers but one sat next to the pilot. Bill volunteered.

We all hoped that he read the instructions.

After an hour of flying over multi coloured, flat desert we arrived at the edge of the lake, it was quite breathtaking.

Lake Eyre with its salt pan edges and pink tinge caused by a bacteria living in the water.

The colours were unreal.

The salt and water stretched as far as we could see. It is huge and doesn't usually have water in it. At the moment it is very shallow, about 1.5 m. When it is rarely full, the max depth is 4m.

There are channels, bays, lagoons and salt mounds.

The morning sun shining on the water and salt pan looked eerie.......

....and dazzling, as we headed for the northern shores.

We flew further north towards Cowarie Station, criss crossing over the Warburton Creek, which was carrying water to the lake all the way from north Queensland. This creek is often dry and only flows when there has been more than usual rain in the north (like this year)

Birthday Bear was impressed with the views of the lake from the small plane. She looks like she might be having a bad hair day.

LAKE EYRE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Lake Eyre is 15 m below sea level and is the lowest point in Australia. It was named after the explorer Edward John Eyre. It is the terminal point of one of the largest internal drainage systems in the world called the Lake Eyre Basin and it covers one sixth of Australia's area. There are parts of it in 4 states: Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and NSW.

Lake Eyre Basin

Lake Eyre is mostly empty of water and is covered with 45cm/18in of salt crust but occasionally it fills with water, usually when we have a La Nina weather pattern, ( like now) which brings more rain than usual to Australia especially Queensland and the Northern Territory. The rivers in these states flood and wash down through the channel country into Lake Eyre. This turns the desert into a wetland and brings thousands of birds, fish and other animals. The last time this happened was in 1974 and now in 2009/2010.

We are going on a tour of the area to see this amazing phenomenon. 

Our tour map. 

We fly to Adelaide then take a 4wheel drive small coach. It also includes a scenic flight over the lake and rivers.