Flood-hit Outback turns lush green in stunning once-in-a-generation transformation

7NEWS

18-05-2025

The unforgiving red earth of the Australian outback has undergone a jaw-dropping transformation — and locals are calling it a 'once in a lifetime opportunity' to witness Mother Nature at her finest.
After months of devastating floods triggered by the double punch of Cyclones Alfred and Dianne, the vast, sun-scorched heart of Queensland has now burst into colour and life.
Where there was once dust and drought there is now grass, greenery and flowers stretching as far as the eye can see.
'Mother Nature has put on this great show for us,' southwest region Quilpie Shire Mayor Ben Hall said.
'The smell ... the fragrance ... the beauty ... the vastness of the fields of wildflowers.'
From above, the Channel Country of southwest Queensland resembles a network of veins — rivers and streams pumping lifeblood into the land, reviving grasses, blooms and everything in between.
Birds fly in, tourists to follow
With the landscape coming alive, wildlife has surged back, too — including a rare inland appearance by pelicans, spotted wheeling across the skies thousands of kilometres from the sea.
As floodwaters continue to flow through the region, much is expected to reach Kati-Thanda–Lake Eyre — potentially filling the salt basin in South Australia for the first time in years.
'The country looks absolutely amazing ... it is something to behold,' Murweh Shire Mayor Shaun Radnedge said.
'It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.'
Grey nomads are already making the trip, and scenic flights over the revived terrain are in high demand.
Locals say it is one of the most dramatic transformations the region has seen in decades.
Some areas hit hardest by flooding received more than double their average annual rainfall, creating the perfect conditions for vegetation to thrive.
Locals say it only happens once in a generation and are urging Aussies to hit the road and see it for themselves.
The stunning change has brought vibrant colour and a renewed sense of hope, especially for tourism operators hit hard by cancellations and months of flooding.
Roads open, towns ready, festivals on
The once-barren landscape is now bursting with life — and the outback has rolled out the green carpet for visitors.
'The outback's open. The roads are ready. The towns are waiting. And Mother Nature is putting on the show of a lifetime,' Outback Queensland Tourism CEO Denise Brown said.
From Opera in the Outback in Winton and Longreach, to fishing competitions, the Shire Shindig in Thargomindah, and dozens of country race meets, the region is bursting with events.
'We've had over 250 festivals planned across the Outback,' Brown said.
'Some have been postponed, sure — but none cancelled.
'Now's the time to come and visit and spend some of the tourism dollars in these regions.
'It's time to come back and see the outback like you've never seen it before.'