Devastating Flood Reveal Hidden Beauty of Australian Outback

Over 20,000 in Queensland, Australia were predicted to be flood-damaged after the rivers peaked at 3.85 metres. Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Some of the worst floods in history ravaged Australia earlier in the year, but as the devastation eases, the waters which are still travelling down along desert channels months later are bringing incredible beauty as long-dormant seeds are awakening and blanketing the earth in a tapestry of vibrant wildflowers rarely witnessed before even by locals.

Outback local Lisa Alexander was in awe when she arrived on a spontaneous trip one weekend at the heart of Australia’s Channel Country.

The multi-channelled region in outback Australia covers a mosaic of channels and flood plains that stretch outwards from its banks for up to 150,000 kilometres (93,200 miles).

Armed with a chopper and drone, Alexander landed in the quaint town of Windorah, one of the most prominent in the Channel Country, and was astonished by the photos she captured.

The earth appeared in the shades of pink and purple and overflowed with native wildflowers such as paper daisies, billy buttons, and annual yellowtops.

Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia - Aug 22, 2019: Colorful clouds at sunset sky over Ayers Rock in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Living Cultural Landscape. Majestic Australian outback Red Center. Benny Marty/Shutterstock

“It’s quite unique this year because we don’t normally get late summer rain and we don’t normally get winter rain in this country either,” Alexander told the Epoch Times.

“So the flowers that are there now have been a result of late summer and winter rain, which is quite unusual.”

Major Floods in Australia

The recent 2022 flood disasters inundated major population centres on the east coast of Australia, including Queensland, damaging tens of thousands of homes.

The compensation bill was estimated to be $7.7 billion (US$5.17 billion).

Receding waters was followed by a very long and slow recovery period as people had a hard time applying for flood relief and getting cash from ATMs without a functioning phone, internet, or electricity after the floods destroyed cables and power lines.

With the arrival of spring in September, the area will be blooming even more wildflowers but pick a cooler day to come, Alexander says.

“I’m imagining that there will be lovely spring flowers, but they don’t last long because we get quite hot out here. If we get a couple of hot days, they burn off,” she said.

Lake Eyre in Windorah Courtesy of Western Star Hotel

Windorah is the Aboriginal word meaning “Big Fish” and has pubs and accommodations, with plenty of things to do and fish to catch. A 12-kilometre nature drive filled with a huge range of flora to see is recommended just outside the town.

“I just love to be able to go and explore and see how amazing Australia is. It’s an incredible country, and we have such a diverse range,” Alexander said.

“We can have a rainforest at one end, we can have desert up another spot, and then you can have beautiful wildflowers, snow, mountains … we’ve got a bit of everything.”