
Flood-hit Outback turns lush green in stunning once-in-a-generation transformation
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.'
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West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
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Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Perth Now
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The Advertiser
15 hours ago
- The Advertiser
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Passengers can also expect baggage to take five minutes to transport from the plane to the carousel, as about five kilometres of conveyor belts line the terminal, Mr Hickey said. A single terminal will also house international and domestic services under one roof. Mr Hickey said the airport has been designed to make flying less stressful. "What reduces that stress is natural light, air and easy way-finding, and we've got all of those elements here," the chief executive said. "We are standing under a skylight down in the lowest level, giving lots of natural light in your bag pick up area, which normally is a small and pokey place." The airport will be connected to an underground rail line from April 2027. Anthony Albanese knows what it's like to have the constant drone of aeroplanes above, shaking off opposition to Sydney's first all-hours airport. After cutting the ribbon of the completed Western Sydney Airport terminal, the prime minister spoke to the more than 48,000 residents in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains who will endure the noise from the pathways of aeroplanes. He said the government has "gone to a great deal of trouble" to ensure minimum disruption and impact of aircraft noise from the planes above, pointing out his home in inner city Sydney sits about five kilometres from Sydney Airport. "As the member for Grayndler and as a Marrickville resident, I'm very conscious about these issues," he told reporters from the new terminal on Wednesday. "We need aviation activity, the truth is that some people have opposed this airport existing. "Any time you have infrastructure, there'll be some opponents." On the runway, only four airlines have signed up. This is despite the airport aiming to cater for five million passengers per year once it opens, and 82 million by 2063. Air New Zealand announced on Wednesday they will dock in 2027, joining Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines. But the airport's chief executive Simon Hickey said they have spoken to more than 30 airlines. Mr Albanese expects more carriers to join before the $5.3 billion project opens in late 2026. "The objective here is for this to be a full international and domestic airport," he said. The terminal's completion marks a significant milestone since construction began four years ago. The gateway is inspired by the landscapes and flora around the Western Sydney region. Inside, the ceiling is emblematic of eucalyptus trees with the curly form of its bark intertwined with skylights that aim to show the Australian natural light. Passengers can also expect baggage to take five minutes to transport from the plane to the carousel, as about five kilometres of conveyor belts line the terminal, Mr Hickey said. A single terminal will also house international and domestic services under one roof. Mr Hickey said the airport has been designed to make flying less stressful. "What reduces that stress is natural light, air and easy way-finding, and we've got all of those elements here," the chief executive said. "We are standing under a skylight down in the lowest level, giving lots of natural light in your bag pick up area, which normally is a small and pokey place." The airport will be connected to an underground rail line from April 2027. Anthony Albanese knows what it's like to have the constant drone of aeroplanes above, shaking off opposition to Sydney's first all-hours airport. After cutting the ribbon of the completed Western Sydney Airport terminal, the prime minister spoke to the more than 48,000 residents in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains who will endure the noise from the pathways of aeroplanes. He said the government has "gone to a great deal of trouble" to ensure minimum disruption and impact of aircraft noise from the planes above, pointing out his home in inner city Sydney sits about five kilometres from Sydney Airport. "As the member for Grayndler and as a Marrickville resident, I'm very conscious about these issues," he told reporters from the new terminal on Wednesday. "We need aviation activity, the truth is that some people have opposed this airport existing. "Any time you have infrastructure, there'll be some opponents." On the runway, only four airlines have signed up. This is despite the airport aiming to cater for five million passengers per year once it opens, and 82 million by 2063. Air New Zealand announced on Wednesday they will dock in 2027, joining Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines. But the airport's chief executive Simon Hickey said they have spoken to more than 30 airlines. Mr Albanese expects more carriers to join before the $5.3 billion project opens in late 2026. "The objective here is for this to be a full international and domestic airport," he said. The terminal's completion marks a significant milestone since construction began four years ago. The gateway is inspired by the landscapes and flora around the Western Sydney region. Inside, the ceiling is emblematic of eucalyptus trees with the curly form of its bark intertwined with skylights that aim to show the Australian natural light. Passengers can also expect baggage to take five minutes to transport from the plane to the carousel, as about five kilometres of conveyor belts line the terminal, Mr Hickey said. A single terminal will also house international and domestic services under one roof. Mr Hickey said the airport has been designed to make flying less stressful. "What reduces that stress is natural light, air and easy way-finding, and we've got all of those elements here," the chief executive said. "We are standing under a skylight down in the lowest level, giving lots of natural light in your bag pick up area, which normally is a small and pokey place." The airport will be connected to an underground rail line from April 2027. Anthony Albanese knows what it's like to have the constant drone of aeroplanes above, shaking off opposition to Sydney's first all-hours airport. After cutting the ribbon of the completed Western Sydney Airport terminal, the prime minister spoke to the more than 48,000 residents in western Sydney and the Blue Mountains who will endure the noise from the pathways of aeroplanes. He said the government has "gone to a great deal of trouble" to ensure minimum disruption and impact of aircraft noise from the planes above, pointing out his home in inner city Sydney sits about five kilometres from Sydney Airport. "As the member for Grayndler and as a Marrickville resident, I'm very conscious about these issues," he told reporters from the new terminal on Wednesday. "We need aviation activity, the truth is that some people have opposed this airport existing. "Any time you have infrastructure, there'll be some opponents." On the runway, only four airlines have signed up. This is despite the airport aiming to cater for five million passengers per year once it opens, and 82 million by 2063. Air New Zealand announced on Wednesday they will dock in 2027, joining Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines. But the airport's chief executive Simon Hickey said they have spoken to more than 30 airlines. Mr Albanese expects more carriers to join before the $5.3 billion project opens in late 2026. "The objective here is for this to be a full international and domestic airport," he said. The terminal's completion marks a significant milestone since construction began four years ago. The gateway is inspired by the landscapes and flora around the Western Sydney region. Inside, the ceiling is emblematic of eucalyptus trees with the curly form of its bark intertwined with skylights that aim to show the Australian natural light. Passengers can also expect baggage to take five minutes to transport from the plane to the carousel, as about five kilometres of conveyor belts line the terminal, Mr Hickey said. A single terminal will also house international and domestic services under one roof. Mr Hickey said the airport has been designed to make flying less stressful. "What reduces that stress is natural light, air and easy way-finding, and we've got all of those elements here," the chief executive said. "We are standing under a skylight down in the lowest level, giving lots of natural light in your bag pick up area, which normally is a small and pokey place." The airport will be connected to an underground rail line from April 2027.