Lake Eyre Uncovered
Aerial Experience

At Aviation Tours, we operate exclusively with multi engine, pressurised aircraft for safety and comfort, with guaranteed window seating for every guest and two crew on board for added peace of mind.

Departing Adelaide, we track north over the rugged landscapes of the Flinders Ranges before continuing into the vast outback of Central Australia. Our first landing is in the historic settlement of Marree, once an important railway and trading outpost on the edge of Australia’s desert interior. To the north lies the Tirari Desert, to the northeast the Strzelecki Desert, and to the northwest the immense saltpan of Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre. Marree remains a true desert settlement, receiving an average annual rainfall of just 125 mm.

Following morning tea at the historic Marree Hotel, we continue with a remarkable aerial view of the mysterious Marree Man. Stretching 4.2 kilometres in height and measuring 28 kilometres around its perimeter, this enormous geoglyph depicts a hunter holding a stick. Despite decades of speculation, the identity of the creator behind the world’s second largest geoglyph remains unknown.

Leaving the Marree Man behind, we gain our first glimpse of Lake Eyre South, an area that is often dry and only transforms following significant inland rainfall events.

Continuing our scenic flight over Lake Eyre, we pass above the well known Belt Bay, where the southern edge of Lake Eyre North comes to life with birdlife and changing colours across the salt rich shoreline. This section of the lake receives much of the basin’s inflow and includes the lowest natural point in Australia, reaching approximately 15 metres below sea level.

Arriving into William Creek, population 15, we stop for lunch at the iconic William Creek Hotel, originally established in 1887 to support workers along the historic Old Ghan Railway. Filled with outback character and decades of history, the hotel has become a true institution of inland Australia. 

Following lunch, enjoy time to explore the township at your own pace. Wander through the small collection of historic buildings, discover relics from the railway era and take in the unique atmosphere of one of Australia’s most remote communities.

Later in the afternoon, we take to the skies once more for our second scenic flight over Lake Eyre North. Viewing the lake at different times of day allows for entirely different perspectives, from shifting reflections and vivid salt formations to changing colours created by salt loving algae beneath the surface. Dividing our Lake Eyre flights across the day ensures the best possible viewing conditions and a deeper appreciation of this ever changing landscape.

As we depart the Lake Eyre region, we fly south over Lake Torrens, with Wilpena Pound visible in the distance to the left and Port Augusta to the right. A late afternoon arrival back into Adelaide sees us return home with lasting memories of one of Australia’s most extraordinary natural phenomena.