The landscape in the Flinders Ranges is often very dry, but still spectacular
The recent heavy rains that have caused flooding and mayhem in many parts of South Australia have also brought an incredible transformation to its Outback landscape.
The IN Daily reports that record rainfall in parts of the state’s Outback and Flinders Ranges is greening the desert, filling Lake Eyre, bringing long-dry waterfalls back into flow and causing wildflowers to bloom in areas normally known for arid peaks and dusty plains.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” Lyall Oldfield, who owns the Marree Oasis Café motel and caravan park, told the IN Daily.
“This rain we’ve had, you won’t see it again for another 40 years. It was like this in ’74 and everywhere you look it’s just green.”
Oldfield has lived in the outback for almost 70 years and says the lake level is the fullest it has been since the late 1980s and could reach the heights of 1974. He says the desert wildflowers and birdlife attracted to the lake, including pelicans and stilts, are also amazing.
Water from local storms and wet-season rains in outback Queensland also feed into the lake through a network of rivers that drain into a basin covering a sixth of Australia. These waters are expected to continue to flow for several months.
“We could have the inland sea next year, the way it’s going,” Oldfield says.
About 200km south, the Flinders Ranges is also experiencing a bumper season. The region is known for its rugged red ranges, gnarled gum trees and stony creek beds, but the wet winter has set creeks and waterfalls running, helping it spring to life with flowers and greenery.
Parachilna, in the heart of the Flinders Ranges, is among 75 South Australian weather stations to record its wettest September.
The nearby Angorichina Tourist Village has been hosting a steady stream of visitors. Proprietor Dave Scicluna told the IN Daily it is one of the best years for flowers and wildlife for two decades.
“It’s green, there’s water flowing in the creeks and there’s wildflowers – the Blinman Falls are beautiful at the moment.”
* Will the wildflowers and water inspire you to plan a trip to the Flinders Ranges?
With the wildflowers blooming and plenty of water in creeks it is the best time to visit, but surprising there is less tourists coming here. I think the wet weather and the winds have frigtened alot of the toursits away. Warm weather has come now and the wet weather has gone away, so the best time to visit is NOW before the hot weather and flies set in.
Lee-Ann
Caretaker of Parachilna Campground