Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is about to flood for the first time in years

Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is rising – and so is demand to see it.

It’s the kind of natural phenomenon that has Australians dropping everything and booking a seat on the next flight to the outback. After years of shimmering silence, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is coming back to life – in a spectacular, once-in-a-decade kind of way. Fed by floodwaters caused by heavy rain across outback Queensland last month from Diamantina River and Cooper Creek, the usually bone-dry salt lake in outback South Australia is transforming into a vast inland sea, and travellers are racing to see the magic unfold.

Plane flying over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre — Don’t miss this rare flooding event. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

The rare flooding event is already being called one of the most significant in recent memory. Water is making its slow and steady journey across thousands of kilometres of arid inland, eventually pooling in the basin of Australia’s largest lake – a place so vast and flat you can see the curve of the Earth. But when the rains do come, the desert doesn’t just bloom – it explodes with life.

Birds flock in from thousands of kilometres away, wildflowers erupt in bursts of colour and locals brace for an influx of visitors all eager to see one of Australia’s most remote and remarkable landscapes at its absolute peak.

Outback Spirit South Australia Lake Eyre — Heavy rain and floods across outback Queensland last month are expected to fill the lake. (Image: Outback Spirit)

“This is nature at its most awe-inspiring," says Cher Lontok, head of product and operations – Australia at APT, which has just expanded its 2025 Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre touring program in response to soaring demand.

“We’ve launched a brand-new tour and added departures to make sure more Australians have the chance to see it before it’s gone."

APT’s new eight-day Lake Eyre and Painted Hills tour (from $7395) includes scenic flights over the lake and the surreal outback landscapes of the Painted Desert – a region that’s usually off-limits to the public. Also on offer is the seven-day Lake Eyre and Flinders Ranges tour , which visits ochre-hued escarpments, ancient gorges and outback towns, with expert guides and luxury stays along the way.

Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre aerial shot — Seeing Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is a surreal experience. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Another operator, Outback Spirit, is also taking expressions of interest for small-group expeditions to coincide with this year’s event.

The Ghan is in on the action as well , offering a scenic flight that sweeps over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, the Painted Hills and Coober Pedy as an optional upgrade on its iconic Darwin to Adelaide rail journey.

For many, it’s a pilgrimage. For others, a chance to witness what scientists call a “hydrological miracle". For everyone lucky enough to see it – it’s an unforgettable glimpse at Australia’s wildest beauty.

Outback Spirit Lake Eyre Cessna plane — Outback Spirit is taking expressions of interest for tours. (Image: Outback Spirit)

But there’s a ticking clock. Flood events like this don’t last forever. And while Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre hasn’t filled just yet, experts say the incoming waters could make this one of the most impressive inundations in at least six years since the 2019 mark of 8.15 metres. But based on rainfall in south-west Queensland, it’s looking like levels will surpass 2019 and should be similar to 2010 when it almost filled completely.

So, if you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the desert flood, flocks of pelicans soaring over mirrored salt pans and a landscape reborn, this is your sign. Seats are selling fast, and once the lake dries up, it could be years before the show returns.

This is Australia’s ultimate ephemeral experience – and the curtains are just about to rise. As the old saying goes, when it rains, it tours.

Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford , the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout — Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

3. Mount Alexander Traverse

Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

4. Murmuring Walk

Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes — Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

5. La Gerche Forest Walk

Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

6. Sailors Falls Loop

Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.

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