Great Filling of Lake Eyre

To experience this rare fill of Kati Thanda Lake Eyre and continue the RGSSA tradition of involvement with this iconic part of our Outback, we are conducting a special five-day tour to Lake Eyre south and William Creek.

The Royal Geographical Society of South Australia has had a long and ongoing connection to Lake Eyre, Australia’s largest salt lake and the terminus of one of the world’s great inland Desert River systems. 

Kati Thanda Lake Eyre, Australia’s lowest point at 15 meters below sea level, is the drainage point for the desert rivers flowing inland in the 1 million square mile Lake Eyre Basin, one of the world’s largest unregulated desert river drainage systems. With record rains in the past two years, flows in the main tributaries, the Cooper and Georgina/Diamantina rivers and expectational rainfall over Central Australia are nearing a mega fill of Lake Eyre, like 1974 and 1949-50. The RGSSA through its long-term president and later patron C. Warren Bonython organized two scientific expeditions to observe these great fills. Monographs were published on both events, and Warren became one of the worlds authorities on this great salt lake, having also with Terry Krieg, circumambulated its over 500-kilometer shoreline towing carts in 1982. 

Other adventurers such as Rex Ellis, conducted the first boating expeditions down Warburton Creek in 1974 and all subsequent years that the river ran, Bob Mossel photographer and remote bush pilot flew extensively over the lake and landed on untold claypans as well as becoming stranded in his rubber raft attempt to cross the lake in 1974. Both wrote about their experiences and much of their material is held in the RGSSA library. 

To experience this rare fill of Kati Thanda Lake Eyre and continue the RGSSA tradition of involvement with this iconic part of our Outback, we are conducting a special five-day tour to Lake Eyre south and William Creek to do a scenic flight with Wrights Air. This time we will also take in the Andamooka Opal field, Roxby Downs and the mound springs on the Oodnadatta Track. On our final full day, we will visit Coober Pedy, the other main South Australian Opal field to be guided around by Aboriginal Artist and local resident George Cooley. On our return we will visit the Woomera Heritage Centre then stay in Pt Augusta overnight. 

Great Lake Eyre Fill 2026 - Key Details at a Glance Thursday 15 – Monday 19 October 2026

•  RGSSA Members and Fellow Societies Cost $1,800/person Twin Share- Single Supplement $ 200 •
• Non-Members $ 1,950/person
• Full payment by Thursday 20 August - Numbers are limited to 20 and we will then open to Qld and Vic Societies – first in first served.
• Detailed Itinerary available here.
• Optional Scenic 1.5 hr Flight over Lake Eyre in flood at own expense $495.