Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre National Park Park

Address: Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park, South Australia

Website: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/kati-thanda-lake-eyre-national-park

Hours: Park open year-round

Admission: Park entry free; fees may apply for commercial scenic flights or guided tours

Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park protects Kati Thanda / Lake Eyre, Australia’s largest salt lake, located in northern South Australia. The lake system is the continent’s largest endorheic salt pan and a prominent outback landmark.

The park contains vast salt flats and the two linked basins of Lake Eyre North and Lake Eyre South; when the lake fills after heavy inland rains it can expand to cover roughly 9,500 square kilometres and attract large numbers of waterbirds. Most years the lake is dry or only partially flooded, producing broad white salt plains and shallow saline pools.

Visitors typically view the lake from roads, lookout points and by scenic flights that show the basin extent and seasonal water coverage.

The lake has long been known to Aboriginal peoples by the name Kati Thanda; it entered European maps in the 19th century and the area has been managed as a protected park to conserve its unique desert-lake environment.

The national park lies in the far north of South Australia, roughly 700 kilometres north of Adelaide, with access commonly from the small outback settlements of Marree and William Creek.

• Size and elevation: When fully inundated the lake can cover about 9,500 square kilometres and the lakebed lies roughly 15 metres below sea level, making it Australia’s lowest natural point.
• Access and viewing options: Best viewing is often by scenic flight from nearby settlements such as William Creek and Marree; vehicle access is by unsealed roads and often requires a high-clearance 4WD.

What to See#

• Lake Eyre North and Lake Eyre South basins: Lake Eyre North and Lake Eyre South are the two main basins that make up the lake system; they connect when the lake reaches higher flood levels and together form the broad saline plain.

The park is remote, in northern South Australia. Road access is via unsealed Outback tracks from towns such as Marree or William Creek; a high-clearance 4WD is essential for most routes. Commercial scenic flights operate from Marree and from larger centers in SA; many visitors combine an air trip with a guided overland crossing.

• If aiming to see the lake filled, track rainfall reports across northern Australia-major flooding events are episodic and worth timing.
• Scenic flights give the best sense of scale when the lake fills-operators fly from Marree or William Creek in South Australia.
• Bring binoculars and a camera with a long lens if visiting by air: birdlife and the unexpected mirages are the park's live show.