Wilderness Landscape & Natural Heritage
Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park is located in South Australia's arid interior and encompasses Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre), the continent's largest salt lake and lowest natural point, often mostly dry but transforming dramatically after seasonal rains. The park features vast salt flats, low desert dunes, and claypans within an extreme desert climate. When filled, Lake Eyre becomes a spectacular inland sea, attracting large flocks of waterbirds such as pelicans and banded stilts. The park carries significant cultural importance for the Arabana people, traditional custodians of the land. Visitors experience stark, otherworldly landscapes with opportunities for birdwatching, off-road driving, scenic flights, and photography. Seasonal flooding cycles create rare and temporary wetlands, offering a chance to witness ecological renewal in a harsh environment. Access to the park is remote, with rough outback roads and basic visitor facilities. The area’s wildlife includes red kangaroos, reptiles adapted to desert life, and migrant waterbirds that take advantage of flood events. Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park offers an exceptional outback adventure for those prepared for its challenges and attracted by the extremes of Australia's desert heartland.
