Lake Eyre Tour from Adelaide including Channel Country and Birdsville

Join our fabulous 6 Day Tour to iconic outback towns – Coober Pedy, William Creek, Lake Eyre, Birdsville, Innamincka, Marree and Leigh Creek.

Fully accommodated, all meals, great activities, plus a stunning Lake Eyre Channel Country Scenic Flight to Birdsville.

Your flight covers Belt Bay, Halligan Bay, North Lake Eyre, Warburton Creek, Goyder Lagoon, Channel Country, Big Red Simpson Desert, Innamincka and Birdsville. Witness unique patterns and colours, and enjoy spectacular views of remote Australian landscapes from your guaranteed window seat.

Lake Eyre Channel Country tours are full of spectacular photo opportunities from the ground and from the air.

Lake Eyre Channel Country Tour to Birdsville

Tours depart from Adelaide

Depart your Adelaide accommodation by 7am and let us take you on a tour filled with wonders and delights of Iconic Outback Towns. Our journey takes us to Lake Bumbunga in Lochiel for a morning tea break. The lake is known to change colour from pink, to white, to blue, depending on the salinity of the water throughout the year. We then travel further to the historic town of Quorn for a look around and lunch. Mid-afternoon we are arriving in Beltana. The town is state heritage listed and has a population of around 35 permanent residents. Aboriginal, Afghan and Europeans cultures alike regard Beltana as a significant part in their history. The town is rich in historic buildings, and we have time to uncover some of Beltana’s stories. Only a 30-minute drive to go and we find ourselves in Leigh Creek for a delicious dinner and comfy overnight stay. (Day 1 Lunch, Dinner, Leigh Creek Outback Resort overnight)

Marree and William Creek – South Australia’s Iconic Outback Towns

Today we discover the lives and history along the Oodnadatta Track. Learn more about Talc Alf and his talc carvings and explore the ruins and cemetery of Farina. Marree is only a short distance away and we have time to wander the town square for photographs. Discover the stories of the Great Northern Express, visit the Afghan Mosque and perhaps the Lake Eyre Yacht club. Hear about old Tom Kruse the outback posty and make sure you check out the museums room in the Marree Hotel. We then follow the Oodnadatta Track to the viewing area of South Lake Eyre. Take a short walk to the edge of the lake to get an up-close experience with Lake Eyre. Alternatively, enjoy the views from the information bay.

Back on the dirt track passing more outback country for another 90-minutes we arrive in William Creek. Outback South Australia is home to some hidden treasures, and you have the option to witness the Anna Creek Painted Hills. These must-see sandstone hills are a stunning outcrop in the middle of nowhere and can only be reached by air. Join an optional scenic flight highlighting the wonderful colours of the area. In addition, we have permission to land and explore this incredibly unique and spectacular landmark on the ground. If the extra flight is not of interest, relax and unwind in your ensuited cabin or join the locals for an ice-cold beer. We all meet back for dinner and a briefing about the next day ahead. (Day 2 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, William Creek Hotel overnight)

Lake Eyre Scenic Flight to Innamincka and Birdsville

This morning we fly to the small settlement of Innamincka in the north-east of South Australia. From your comfortable seat, marvel at stunning Lake Eyre, the largest salt lake of the Southern Hemisphere. We fly over Lake Eyre’s Belt Bay and Halligan Bay to the endless Strzelecki Desert. The Strzelecki Track which was named after Sir Pawel Edmund Strzelecki shows us the way into the township of Innamincka. Explore the township at your own leisure before refreshments at the Innamincka Hotel.

Back on board the aircraft our flight path takes us straight to Birdsville, located on the banks of the Diamantina River. Explore some of the local sights on foot before travelling by 4wd west out of town to the outskirts of Big Red. Big Red is the first of many sand dunes when crossing the desert land between Birdsville and Alice Springs. It stands a massive 36.5m above sea level and is part of the Simpson Desert, the largest sand dune desert in the world. Climb up to the top for some magnificent desert sunset views. Tonight, we dine and stay overnight at the iconic Birdsville Hotel. (Day 3 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Birdsville Hotel overnight)

Channel Country Flight including Goyder Lagoon, the Warburton and Lake Eyre

After a fabulous time in Birdsville we board our early morning plane and fly back to William Creek. Today’s flight follows the creeks and rivers of Goyder Lagoon and Channel Country all the way to the Warburton Groove at the top of North Lake Eyre. See the different patterns and colours mother nature creates and witness wilderness, remoteness, beauty, and an enormous size of Outback South Australia that can only be seen by air.

Back on the ground in William Creek we travel west to Coober Pedy the opal capital of the world. Only here can you arrive with just a shirt on and leave as one of the richest people in the world! Coober Pedy is known for underground living and an underground overnight stay is an experience on its own and part of our tour. After checking into our underground rooms, we visit the stunning Orthodox Serbian underground church and head out to the Kanku- Breakaways Conservation Park for some amazing photo opportunities. Kanku – Breakaways Conservation Park is Aboriginal owned, and the entire park is a registered aboriginal heritage site. We have permits to drive into the park and show off its amazing beauty. Finish the day with a sunset from Big Winch Lookout and a delicious dinner in town before retiring in your underground room. (Day 4 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Coober Pedy Lookout Cave overnight)

Tour Coober Pedy and visit unique attractions

Hard to know the sun is up when you sleep underground but trust your stomach will tell you it is breakfast time. Today we explore more of Coober Pedy and its surrounds. We start with an Opal Mine tour, learn about the qualities of opal, and look at some brilliant opal that has been found here. Up next, we all have a go at Outback Golfing. Coober Pedy’s golf course is in the top 10 of the most unique places to play golf in the world. We then try our luck in noodling, meaning we search for opal through mullock piles. Once you have found your first shiny piece, you will understand how easy it is to get opal fever.

Coober Pedy is a fascinating mining town with unusual attractions including the eccentric Crocodile Harry’s Nest and the unique gravestones of Boot Hill Cemetery. All great places to see and what was once a rocky, dusty desert plain has become a bucket list travel destination. All back on board we tour south to Woomera. Woomera was a hidden base for rocket and weapons testing, established back in 1947. It is still being used as a military testing site today. Listen to Len Beadell’s story as we make our way to the Woomera Rocket Park, home to several aircrafts, missiles, and other artifacts. Walk among the collection before our final stretch to Port Augusta. (Day 5 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Port Augusta Standpipe Hotel overnight )

South Australia’s Arid Lands Botanical Gardens and Port Pirie

Our last day has arrived and enjoy a walk in the fantastic Arid Lands Botanical Gardens. Admire the wildflowers, themed gardens, listen to the native birds and stroll past artistic outdoor sculptures at your own leisure. For lunch we travel to the historic Federal Hotel in Port Pirie, which originally opened as the Rising Sun Hotel in 1890. We then take on the final stretch to Adelaide passing the Port River Mangroves, the old Dry Creek Salt Fields, and Adelaide Plains Market Gardens. Packed with amazing memories we arrive in Adelaide by 4pm. (Day 6 Breakfast, Lunch)