Lake Frome Lake
Ephemeral salt lake in South Australia, flat saltpan
East of South Australia lies Lake Frome, a mostly dry salt pan within a protected plain. Photographers, 4x4 drivers and scientists visit the stark playa and surrounding arid landscapes.
Lake Frome at a Glance#
About Lake Frome#
Lake Frome is an endorheic salt lake in the remote arid interior of South Australia. It forms a broad, flat salt pan that is typically dry for long periods and fills episodically after significant rainfall.
The surface is a wide, level salt crust and the lake is noted for its stark, open character rather than developed visitor facilities; it is visited mainly by those undertaking remote outback travel. Wildlife is sparse and the surrounding terrain is arid pastoral and conservation land.
The lake is a natural landform in South Australia’s interior and has long been part of the region’s arid landscape; it has not supported permanent settlement and has been managed as remote pastoral and conservation country.
Lake Frome sits in eastern South Australia in a sparsely populated, arid zone; access is by unsealed outback tracks and it lies within a large, remote pastoral and conservation region.
How to Get to Lake Frome#
Drive: Lake Frome sits hundreds of kilometres from Adelaide. Access is via unsealed outback tracks off the Stuart and Barrier Highways; a high-clearance 4x4 is essential. Visitors should obtain maps and permits from South Australia National Parks before travelling.
Tips for Visiting Lake Frome#
- If attempting to visit Lake Frome, obtain permits and up-to-date track information from South Australia National Parks-this is remote desert country.
- Use a high-clearance 4x4 and carry extra water and a satellite communication device; mobile coverage is unreliable.
- Respect cultural restrictions-some parts of the lake lie within Indigenous protected areas.
Best Time to Visit Lake Frome#
Best in cooler months for safe overland travel; the lake is an immense, reflective salt pan most of the year and becomes treacherous in summer heat.
Weather & Climate near Lake Frome#
Lake Frome's climate is classified as Hot Desert - Hot Desert climate with hot summers (peaking in January) and cool winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 7°C to 33°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 22° - 33° | 28° | 19 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 22° - 33° | 27° | 22 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 19° - 30° | 24° | 10 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 14° - 26° | 20° | 7 mm | - | - | 2.9 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 10° - 22° | 16° | 14 mm | - | - | 3.1 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 8° - 18° | 13° | 22 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 7° - 18° | 12° | 16 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 8° - 20° | 14° | 16 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 11° - 23° | 17° | 7 mm | - | - | 3.4 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 15° - 26° | 20° | 10 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 18° - 29° | 24° | 9 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 21° - 32° | 26° | 9 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |