Largest floodwater on record creates rare outback spectacle
But the waters have also flowed to South Australia's Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, bringing Australia's largest salt lake alive for the second year in a row.
Australia's lowest natural point, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre covers an area of 9500 square kilometres. Flooding of the usually dry lake is a once-every-several-years occurrence. Back-to-back drenchings are rare, though it hasn't been completely dry for some years.
Even more rare: a filling, and that's what's predicted this year. The last time was from the record-smashing 1974 floods.
When the water comes, so too, does the wildlife, including migratory birds and even marine life from below the lake's surface. The outback landscape is its own spectacle.
Journey Beyond's Alicia Triggs says Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is best appreciated from a bird's-eye perspective.
The company's Outback Spirit is running Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre and Flinders Ranges Spectacular five-day, all-inclusive, small-group coach tours that include two scenic flights over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre as well as exploring Wilpena Pound, in South Australia's Flinders Ranges.

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The Advertiser
16 hours ago
- The Advertiser
What it's like inside Australia's biggest train museum: an insider's view
Bob Sampson on a historic Redhen railcar. Picture supplied By Anthony Caggiano A short train ride from Adelaide's CBD can get you to Australia's largest undercover railway museum. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area Steam and diesel locomotives, carriages and railcars sit across narrow, standard and wide gauges at the National Railway Museum, and it's a passion for train travel that fires chief executive Bob Sampson's engine. "You can look out the window and the scenery changes enormously," he said. Split across two pavilions, there are 60 exhibits on display including diesel and steam locomotives, freight trains and wagons, carriages, dining and sleeping cars, while another 40 are hidden away. These pieces of history don't just sit there; they can be moved around, thanks to the different gauges. Most of the collection is from former Commonwealth and South Australian railways, plus privately-run operations by BHP and Silverton Tramway, among others. A walk past the display cells in the Fitch Pavilion shares information about women in the railways, plus a model railway, theatrette, train departure board and a train simulator. Outside, entrants can go for a ride on a ride on a small one-foot-six gauge steam train around the grounds, while on special days it's possible to ride on a 1950s-style suburban rail car, pulled by a diesel locomotive. There's also more to explore inside the goods shed. PHOTOS: Locomotives and carriages from years gone by at the National Railway Museum Mr Sampson said carriages from the Tea and Sugar Train were among the most popular displays. The train ran across the Nullarbor for 60 years, supporting the railway families from Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie. "When they get in the old butcher's van, old provision store, or bank car and start to read up on it, they start to really appreciate just how valuable those items are and also the purpose that they served," he said. Mr Sampson's favourite display is the 900 class diesel-electric locomotive, named Lady Norrie. It was built in 1951 in Adelaide and was the first mainline operational diesel locomotive in Australia. He travelled on it during the start of his career, and to work on it again at the museum was "quite a realistic time tunnel." The 900 class diesel-electric locomotive Lady Norrie at the National Railway Museum. Picture supplied Mr Sampson worked in railways for 41 years, starting as a ticket collector on suburban trains, and later worked in public relations with Australian National Railways and other roles with Australian Rail Track Corporation before retiring. He's been associated with the museum since 1968, starting off as a teen helping with painting, mowing lawns, and driving the small steam engine, but has since taken over marketing, project managing and budgets. "It's understanding how it all fits together," he said. But he also loves getting hands-on, like jumping on a shunting engine. Retired locomotive driver and trainer Mr Holmes works behind the scenes, digitising a vast collection of material including rosters of what trains ran on any particular day, steam engine service records, and more. Among his favourite trains on display is the 520 class steam locomotive, which he used to clean at the start of his career, and the 930 class diesel locomotive, which he drove during his working career. Mr Holmes recalls driving steam engines through the Adelaide Hills, and it was the amount of water they went through that was most surprising. "Imagine trying to boil a kettle as you're putting cold water in them at the same time," he said. National Railway Museum is at 76 Lipson St, Port Adelaide.

ABC News
4 days ago
- ABC News
West Australian farmers launch relief convoy for drought-stricken South Australia
It has been dubbed the "convoy of compassion". Eighty-five trucks, loaded with more than 6,000 bales of hay and straw, have begun the trek across the Nullarbor, headed to drought-stricken parts of South Australia. The massive logistical exercise is a project between charities Farmers Across Borders and Need for Feed, with support from the South Australian government. The fodder has been sent to support 400 farming businesses and feed 450,000 head of stock. The trucks have been loaded across Western Australia's agricultural heartland over the past seven days. At Kulin, 300 kilometres east of Perth, farmer Michael Lucchesi said the 1,000 bales coming from his property were good quality. "It's export quality. It was some of the first stuff we bailed last year and we got a bit more than what we needed," he said. "We got a phone call and it was available and I thought, 'Well, might as well give it to someone that needs it.'" It was the first time Mr Lucchesi had been involved in a hay run but he said it was something close to his heart. "We've been there, probably 15 years ago," he said. Co-ordinating more than 80 trucks, obtaining permits across two states, and ensuring the convoy could travel along one of Australia's major national highways without disruption has been a feat of organisation by truck driver Peter Warburton. While it had been trying at times, Mr Warburton said knowing the difference the fodder would make on the ground made it worthwhile. "Logistically, we've been probably five weeks in doing this," he said. "I did the main roads permits here in West Australia and then permits in SA. Rob Gill, from Narembeen, has also donated his time to drive a truck in the convoy. He said keeping everyone on the road safe was a top priority. "Going over there's up to 90 trucks," he said. "They'll put them in groups of 20 or 21, thereabouts, so there's not 80 or 90 trucks all in one [group]," he said. "[The safety considerations are] especially for people with cars when they're trying to pass." The charities involved have also reached out on social media to other groups of road users to alert them of the convoy and instruct them of the signage and communication plans they have in place to ensure road safety. The convoy is a financial feat as well — with trucks to run, fuel to pay for, mouths to feed, and accommodation to book. Justin Williams has taken time off work to be involved. "I thought I'd just get a little gap to come help out," he said. "The first few times I missed it, but this time around I got a chance so I thought I'd jump on it, just be a part of it." Fellow volunteer Michael Young said seeing the impact of the drought firsthand made him keen to help. "A friend of mine that's been on the run a couple of times rang me and I said, 'We're straight in,'" he said. "It will be just nice to help out and do our little bit for our fellow farmers." Farmers Across Borders president Sam Starcevich said she had lost count of how many hay runs she had done since becoming involved in 2014. She said the convoy was her third trip "across the paddock" to do a hay run over the Western Australian border. Recently relaxed biosecurity laws in South Australia have enabled other states, including Western Australia, to export hay from green snail-free areas. "It's well and truly over half-a-million-dollars worth of hay, and then the fuel is probably three times, four times that amount," Ms Starcevich said. The impressive trip has been met with one further hurdle at the last stop in Fraser Range before making the journey across the border. Damaging winds reached 100 kilometres per hour as a storm rolled across southern parts of the state, delaying the convoy's plan to leave in the early hours of Friday. Nonetheless, Ms Starcevich hoped they would be able to get to farmers by Sunday. "It's crazy weather isn't it," she said. Despite the massive undertaking, Need for Feed chairman Graham Cockerell said the convoy still would not meet all requests for assistance the organisation had received. The charity had been sourcing hay from across the country, going as far as northern New South Wales to provide relief to the most drought-stricken parts of South Australia. "We've got about 450 [requests], and this will get to about 300," he said. "We know people who have de-stocked to a large extent, and they're pretty desperate trying to hang onto their breeding stock.


Perth Now
6 days ago
- Perth Now
Aussie discovers ‘game-changing' flight tip for travellers
An Aussie model has revealed a lesser-known travel 'hack' during her trip to Perth. Olivia Rogers was home-bound to Melbourne when she learnt travellers can access their journey's details by sending their flight number in a text message. The South Australian turned Melbourne local shared a demo on TikTok using her flight details, after a friend let her in on the feature. 'A friend of mine recently told me a really helpful travel hack, so I'm going to share it with you,' she said. 'All you need is your flight number so it doesn't matter what airline you are flying with or what country you're flying in. 'You're just going to type your flight number in a text message to a friend or family member who is picking you up, or you can send it to yourself.' After sending the flight number on her iPhone, a hyperlink appears with a button option labelled 'preview flight' which reveals a host of details about her upcoming flight. Travellers can see a live map of where the plane is situated on the globe, the estimated duration of the flight, the departure time and expected arrival time, aswell as the baggage carousel number. Ms Rogers hailed the feature as a convenient way to share and access travel information without opening separate browsers. 'It literally tells you everything you need to know and it updates live, even while you're mid-flight,' she continued. Olivia Roger's flight details appeared after sending her flight number in a text message. Credit: oliviamollyrogers 'It will even tell you what carousel to go to, it is a game-changer.' Ms Rogers' advice caused some divide in the comments section. 'Influencer discovers basic function a lot of people know yet posts like she's re-invented the wheel. 'There's never been a generation that's recorded themselves so often doing nothing of note,' one person wrote. 'What hack??? Every traveller knows it,' another said. Other travellers were quick to defend Ms Rogers, thanking her for pointing out the useful information. 'So many smarty pants in the comments haha congrats I guess? I travel a lot and I didn't know this so thank you,' one said. Another added: :Keyboard warriors in the comments section. Thanks for this, super helpful for lots of us that didn't know.'