Don't miss the great lake

The great Lake Eyre show of 2011 looks like going on for a long time yet.

The South Australian government's lookout post environment.sa.gov.au/parks says this year will be bigger than 2009 and 2010 and should be the best since the lake last filled in 1974-76.

Cyclone Yasi in February and significant follow-up rains in March resulted in good flows in most rivers and creeks. The latest report in late April said Cooper Creek and Innamincka floodwaters might take another two months to reach the great lake. The well-known outback packager Outback Spirit has tours listed up to November 30, and a glance at "Lake Eyre 2011" on the net reveals plenty of competitors. It's worth researching to work out which one suits your time and your pocket.

Outback Spirit's five-night Lake Eyre Miracle 2011 tour isn't exactly cheap at $3395 twin share but it looks good. Pick it up from Adelaide or Port Augusta and drive on to Marree and the shore of Lake Eyre at Madigan Gulf on day two. On day three there are two flights over the lake.

An option marketed through theteam.travel.com is to fly from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to Adelaide and on to Cooper Pedy on a scheduled service, stay at the Desert Cave Hotel and next day join up with Arid Zone Tours, driving to William Creek for a two-hour scenic flight over the lake, then back to Cooper Pedy, and home next day. Cost starts at $1799.

If you're keen to DIY as much as possible, do the research on akeeyre.yc.com/visiting.html. It tells you how to get to Marree, the service centre of the region, at the junction of the Birdsville and Oodnadatta Tracks, where you can pick up tours with aboriginal groups, and scenic flights by fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. There's lots of information about routes and places to stay.

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