September 1st, 2025
Aviation Tours has been specialising in tours over Lake Eyre since 2020. While we may not be experts on the lake itself, we certainly know how to deliver amazing views and an excellent experience on our tours.
Now is the time to see Lake Eyre! Since the floods have arrived at Lake Eyre North and now South, the dry, white landscape has transformed into deep blue and green hues.
We often are asked, ‘When is the best time to visit?’ The truth is that it is an ever-changing landscape, and it has consistently impressed us with its beauty. Some months, we have flown over with five tours (on our 7-day Lake Eyre & Opals Tour and our 3-day Lake Eyre Escape), and no two tour views are the same.
Looking out from the middle of Lake Eyre North, where the water meets the land, is mesmerising.
As for how long the water will stay, no one can say for certain, as it is all dependent on the heat over the next 12 months and how much more water will flow down the river systems to keep it topped up. There is no drain hole in Australia’s biggest ‘sink’, so evaporation is the only way the water level will drop.
Over the next 12-24 months, as the water recedes from the shore, the next phenomenon will be the algae bloom. This will transform the damp shore into oranges, greens, and reds in some areas as the water evaporates, bringing the next aerial wonder to the middle of the desert.
If you wish to visit the area while the water is at its highest, the best time to do so will be over the next six months. We have added extra tour dates over this time to allow as many people as possible to witness the area for themselves.
Summer is hot in the outback, but don’t let that turn you off seeing the once-in-a-generation event. All our aircraft, accommodation, and tours are fully air-conditioned to cope with the summer temperatures.
Here is an overview of all our Lake Eyre tours available for 2025-26:
1-day Lake Eyre Day Trip: This tour is only available from Adelaide, as the distance from other capital centres to Lake Eyre would make the trip far too long. On the way to Lake Eyre, we fly over Wilpena Pound, the Marree Man, and have morning tea at Marree. We take two separate flights over Lake Eyre South and North, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, to see the lake in different lighting conditions. Lunch is at the famous William Creek Hotel with an optional extra flight to Anna Creek Painted Hills. $2,990- per person. Read More
3-Day Lake Eyre Escape: This tour departs from Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide, traveling over Lake Eyre South and North, and visiting the same places as the day tour above for Day 2. It also included the scenic flight to Anna Creek Painted Hills as part of the all-inclusive deal. The city you depart from affects the places visited on Days 1 and 3 of this tour. A map and full itinerary are on our website for each departure location. $6,990- per person with no single supplement. Read More. If you have limited time and still want to see all Lake Eyre has to offer, this tour is for you.
7-Day Lake Eyre & Opals Tour: This is our ultimate Lake Eyre tour, departing exclusively from Brisbane. We visit all the highlights of Lake Eyre as above, spending more time at locations like Lightning Ridge, Broken Hill, Birdsville, and Coober Pedy. As this tour flies from Coober Pedy to Birdsville, you will also have the chance to fly along the Diamantina River and on the way to Charleville, the Channel Country. Both water systems were responsible for carrying water into Lake Eyre and have been transformed by new vegetation growth over the past months. From $11,490- per person. Read More.
We look forward to seeing you on one of our tours soon.
Many people are asking, ‘When is the best time to visit Lake Eyre?’ considering the recent Queensland floods. The answer is ‘Now.’
Major flooding across rural Queensland and NSW from March – May 2025 has fed between 600-1000 billion litres into the greater Lake Eyre Basin. The basin spans 1.2 million km2, which is almost one-sixth of Australia and is the world’s largest internal draining system. This has been flowing into Lake Eyre over the past few months, and continues to do so in copious amounts.
Lake Eyre is believed to have reached capacity on only three occasions in the past 160 years and is on track to do the same in 2025. While it is hard to predict the final volume accurately, early mapping shows that this flooding may be as big as the 1974 level. Although we can only guess the outcome, it is expected to be the most water the lake has seen in six years.
Due to the recent rains, the entire landscape around Lake Eyre has been transformed from a desolate, arid, flat landscape to an abundance of new life in fauna and flora. As birds arrive by the thousands, and wildflowers bloom, it is hard to recognise the area compared to 6 months ago, and this change will be evident well into 2026.
The lake becomes a breeding site for species that are tolerant of salty waters, such as waterbirds, fish, and shrimp. Wildflowers also blanket the floodplains with vivid colours that contrast against the deep blue skies.
Another question on people’s minds is ‘How long will this phenomenon continue?’ Again, this is hard to predict, but we do have some facts to work with. The shallow water is exposed to extreme evaporation, potentially 2.5 metres per year, meaning that the length of time the water remains depends on the final depth it reaches once all the water has flowed into the lake. It is also affected by future rain, which will now find it easier to flow to the lake due to the already soaked earth.
Our suggestion is that you will still be able to see the amazing scenery well into the middle of 2026. We say this with confidence because even as the water begins to evaporate, this is the only way the lake can lose water, as it is landlocked. With this evaporation, the landscape will change yet again. As the water evaporates, the lake turns a soft, pink-and-orange colour due to the pigments found within a specific type of salt-loving algae.
Aviation Tours specialises in all-inclusive holiday packages highlighting the greater Lake 
Eyre region. From our 3-day Lake Eyre Escape to our most popular 7-day Lake Eyre & Opals Tour – these tours are designed to give you the best views of both Lake Eyre and the surrounding greater Lake Eyre Basin. Extra tour dates have been added to allow as many people as possible to experience this ‘once in a generation’ event happening in the heart of Australia.