Lake Eyre Escape

Today’s adventure begins as we depart Adelaide, cross the Benda Range and Barrier Highway on our way to Tibooburra. Broken Hill can be seen on our right and the Strzelecki Desert on the left before descending into this tiny outback town for morning tea.

The Tibooburra Hotel was originally built in 1882 during the Australian Gold Rush & was constructed from locally quarried sandstone. Despite some recent challenges, the beloved Hotel still stands proudly today and offers a much-loved oasis in the harsh Australian Outback. Affectionately referred to as “The Two Storey”.

On departure we fly directly over the town of Innamincka and witness first-hand the volume of water that is still around after recent flood events. The scenery has changed into a tapestry of vivid greens as the new growth has emerged. As we descend into Birdsville, we fly low over the Diamantina River. It plays a major role in allowing water into the greater Lake Eyre region.

After lunch at the famous Birdsville Hotel, you will have the opportunity to take a bus tour and learn about the unique history of the pub and town, as we head out to the famous Birdsville Racecourse. We may have the opportunity to see the famous Big Red Bash sand hills*, located just outside Birdsville, with panoramic views of these incredible dunes, as you walk through the red, wind-formed landscape. (*Weather dependant).

Our last flight of the day takes us along the river systems that flow into Lake Eyre North like the Diamantina and Warburton rivers. The vast blue of the lake appears on the horizon, and from our aerial vantage point you can appreciate the immense area that Lake Eyre covers.

Continuing our Lake Eyre scenic flight, we pass over the well-known Belt Bay. The southernmost part of Lake Eyre North is where an abundance of wildlife thrives in the salt-rich shores. It holds most of the lake’s annual rainfall, and its deepest part has been recorded at 15 metres below sea level. We also fly over Jackboot Bay, and Belt Bay again, before heading further west to Coober Pedy. The signature opal found in this region is the commonly known White Opal.

On arrival, we will check-in to our hotel accommodation, which was carved out of a sandstone hillside using opal mining machinery and was opened in 1988.

Late afternoon, you will be taken out to Kanku National Park to appreciate the unique physical features of the area, with explanations from our local guide. We visit both the famous ‘Moon Plains’ and the ‘Breakaways’.

‘The Moon Plains’ is a mineral expanse bearing witness to ancient times. The flat stones, often with rounded edges, originated in the Flinders Ranges and were transported, reshaped, and polished by glacial activity. It only needs a good rain shower, and the place is transformed by a carpet of little yellow flowers which resemble for some, the green hills of Scotland.

When you reach the Breakaways, there is the impression that the ground has fallen away in front of you, as an endless plain stretches out, studded with rocky outcrops.

Overnight – Desert Cave Hotel

After breakfast, you will have the opportunity to join our local guides and explore the town on a bus tour of Coober Pedy, seeing highlights of the region. You will visit an Opal Mine and Museum, an underground home and a church, as well as one of the most unique golf courses in the world. 

Learn about mining and living underground, watch a stone-cutting demonstration, and journey deep into the earth. See how Coober Pedy residents live with a walk-through of an underground house, and one of the oldest mines in the town centre. There is also an extensive range of opal stones and jewellery for sale during the tours.

With an afternoon to explore this unique town, you may want to find that special opal, visit the information centre, or just relax by the hotel pool or bar area.

Later this afternoon, you will be taken to the highest point in Coober Pedy, the Big Winch, for an Outback Cinematic Journey. As this experience unfolds, it immerses and surrounds visitors into the heart of the landscape. Coober Pedy’s Big Winch 360 is the Outback’s newest world-class attraction and is home to Australia’s first permanent 360º Circle vision cinematic experience.

Overlooking the vast landscape and watching the sun set over the horizon, you will be provided with drinks and a three-course meal before heading back to spend our last night under the ground.

Overnight – Desert Cave Hotel

This morning’s flight takes us to the remote town of William Creek, population 15, we may have the opportunity to fly on a local flight** to Anna Creek Painted Hills for morning tea. This is a rocky outcrop of large and small hills, which emerge out of a flat, desert landscape. The hills are approximately 20km by 18km in size. (**Weather dependant). *(NOTE: This extra flight on a small aircraft is only included between March and October each year. A discount of $500- is offered during the ‘off’ season for this tour).

Flying back to William Creek for lunch, you will be amazed by the history of the (once) boarding house. The William Creek Hotel began its life back in 1887, providing a place to eat and sleep for the labourers on the old Ghan Railway.

After lunch and a self-guided tour of the small outback town, we take flight again to see more of the incredible Lake Eyre North and South. This spectacular vantage point will allow you to gaze down on the lake’s wildlife and perhaps even spot the water’s changing colours caused by the salt-loving algae.

As we leave the shores of the lake behind, we are greeted with an amazing aerial view of the Marree Man. This feature ‘stands’ at 4.2 kilometres tall, measures 28 kilometres around its perimeter, and depicts a hunter with a stick. To this day, there is still no credible information known about the individual responsible for creating the world’s second largest geoglyph, located just on the outer banks of Kati Thanda – Lake Eyre.

Flying south to our next stop, we land in the small town of Marree. Located 57km southeast of Lake Eyre, at the junction of the Birdsville and Oodnadatta tracks, Marree is a unique town with an incredible history. In the late 19^th Century, the construction of the great Ghan Railway marked a major chapter in Australian history, connecting Adelaide’s southern coast to the far reaches of Darwin. This would facilitate trade and transport of cattle from the surrounding areas to the markets. In 1878, the mammoth task of laying the Ghan Railway through the Australian outback began.

Afghan labourers and their camels played a huge role in the construction and maintenance of the railway, forming settlements known as ‘Ghantowns’, which still exist today. The labourers, experiencing unimaginable hardships and battling the unforgiving environment of the Outback, pressed through, reaching Hawker in 1880, Beltana in 1881, Marree in 1884, and Oodnadatta in 1891.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy a light afternoon tea, before walking around the Marree hotel at your leisure, learning more about its history. You may even find yourself over the road at the old Marree railway station. It still has old locomotives, information about the railway, and what it provided the residents of Marree.

Our last flight takes us over the mining town of Leigh Creek, and between Lake Torrens and Lake Frome. Passing over the Flinders Ranges you may even catch a glimpse Wilpena Pound. This is a natural amphitheatre of mountains in the heart of the Flinders Rangers National Park. It was used for grazing from the mid-19th century to the early 20^th century until its tourism potential was recognised in 1949.

After an incredible ‘scenery overload’ its time to land back in Adelaide with your photos, and memories that we hope will last a lifetime.