Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park, Nature reserve in South Australia, Australia
Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park is a nature reserve in South Australia built around one of the world's largest salt lakes. The lake sits below sea level and is usually dry, leaving a wide white salt crust across the land.
The park was established in 1985 and officially renamed in 2013 to honor the Arabana traditional name for the area. This renaming was part of a broader recognition of the long connection between the Arabana people and this land.
The name Kati Thanda comes from the Arabana language and means big lake. The Arabana people are actively involved in managing the park and bring their traditional knowledge into how the land is cared for today.
Entry requires a Desert Parks Pass, and a four-wheel drive vehicle is needed to move safely through the remote terrain. There are almost no facilities in the area, so visitors should bring all their own supplies and be fully prepared before setting out.
When rare rains fill the lake, it draws huge numbers of waterbirds that are almost never seen here otherwise. The water then evaporates within a few months, and the salt flat returns to its usual dry state.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
