Ultimate Lake Eyre Innamincka
We have designed the ultimate flying adventure to view ‘Lake Eyre & Innamincka by Air’. This 2 day / 1night holiday has been created to experience the best of this extraordinary natural phenomenon. The trip also includes your own local private guide which our 2011 guests absolutely loved due to the expert knowledge.
With a maximum of only 9 passengers plus your expert local guide, it makes for a very special journey.
Depart Adelaide in luxury, aboard a multi-million dollar Pilatus PC12 aircraft, the first leg of your flying safari, takes you to the Flinders Ranges. Here you will be greeted by your local guide and taken to your accommodation.
Ross and Jane Fargher own the multi award winning Outback Pub the Prairie Hotel, where you will stay for one night in their award winning and very comfortable Deluxe Rooms, followed by an afternoon tour of the ancient Flinders Ranges.
On the morning of day 2 you will rise early and continue your flight over diverse outback landscapes over Lake Eyre & Innamincka. The aerial sight of Lake Eyre is spectacular and even better viewed from the comforts of your multi-million dollar aircraft.
Stop at the Dig Tree followed by lunch at the Innamincka Pub, before making your return journey to Adelaide. Plus much more!
Activities
- Full day air tour of Lake Eyre, Madigan Gulf, Birdsville Track Punt, Coongie Lakes, Cooper Creek & Innamincka with 2 stops.
- Tour of the Burke & Wills Dig Tree.
- Lunch at Innamincka Pub with a town tour.
- Aerial tour of Wilpena Pound, Arkaroola & The Flinders Ranges.
- Half day touring of the Northern Flinders Ranges, including Brachina Gorge.
- Maximum of 9 guests.
- Expert local guides and regular departure dates
Sample Itinerary Description
Day 1
9.00am Check-in at the General Aviation Terminal at Adelaide Airport
Depart Adelaide bound for The Flinders Ranges.
Fly via Wilpena Pound for aerial views and then met on arrival by your local guide.
Transfer to The Prairie Hotel in the outback outpost of Parachilna. Parachilna is home to Australia’s hip & most awarded Outback Hotel – The Prairie Hotel.
The Prairie is an eco-luxury experience offering guests a unique perspective of outback life with a contemporary urban style.
Savour a gourmet outback lunch and check-in into your award winning accommodation.
Depart The Prairie travelling through the scenic Parachilna Gorge, where the towering river gums have been revitalised by the rains of recent years, and enjoy commentary from your local guide who was raised in the area.
Arrive in Blinman, nestled in the central Flinders Ranges and the highest town in South Australia. The town began with the discovery of copper in 1859 and commencement of mining in 1862. At its peak the population of Blinman was over 1500. Today this peaceful outback town has a permanent population of just 22, plus residents of the surrounding pastoral properties.
9.30am
Depart Blinman for Brachina Gorge, one of the Flinders Ranges most spectacular attractions. The gorge is an important refuge for the Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby, as well as many species of birds and reptiles. Brachina Gorge provides a window through 130 million years of the earth’s history and offers insight into past climates, the formation of the ranges and the evolution of early life forms.
After the tour of the gorge return to The Prairie Hotel and enjoy sundowners (evening drinks and nibbles) on the hotel veranda as you watch the sun set over the western plain. Perhaps toast the afternoon with a Fargher Lager, the Prairie’s own brew.
The one of a kind Prairie Hotel bar offers the opportunity for guests to meet outback characters & travellers from all over the world – you never know who you might meet in Parachilna!
The longest “front-pulled” train (3.85kms) passes by Parachilna twice a day to pick up coal from the Leigh Creek mine and transport it to Port Augusta. When guests & local hear it coming they all run out the front to have a look!
Dinner is at The Prairie Hotel – savour The Prairie’s signature Tastings Banquet in one of the private dining rooms. Renowned for its “feral food experience” the food at The Prairie Hotel was recently voted as “1 of 20 un-missable outback experiences”.
Day 2
An early start this morning and after a hearty breakfast at The Prairie Hotel, you will be driven to the airstrip to board your aircraft.
After take-off fly in a North Westerly direction with the dry salt lake of Lake Torrens to your west, encounter landscapes of desert plains, magnificent land forms and meandering ancient creek beds.
Then fly over Lake Eyre South & the southern end of Lake Eyre North. Lake Eyre is Australia’s largest inland lake and is the lowest point in Australia and rarely has water flowing into it. The lake has had complete fills only three times in the past 160 years with the last significant fill being back in 1974. Partial fills occurring every five to ten years. Last year the lake was at 85% capacity.
Continue flying over The Birdsville Track Punt, Cooper Creek & Coongie Lakes.
You will land at the famous Burke & Wills Dig Tree for a quick tour and then it’s back in the aircraft to Innamincka for lunch at the pub as well as a town tour.
After leaving Innamincka continue with your aerial journey along the rugged Northern Flinders Ranges including Freeling Heights, the Mawson Plateau and Arkaroola.
The flight will then continue on to Adelaide Airport where it concludes any time from 5.00pm to 6.00pm at the General Aviation Terminal. If you are booking flights from Adelaide for this evening, we strongly recommend booking from 6.50pm onwards
Nightly rate includes
Accommodation
1 night stay in a Deluxe Room at The Prairie Hotel on a double/twin share basis.
Meals
Lunch and dinner at Prairie Hotel on day 1, Full Breakfast at Prairie Hotel on day 2, Lunch at Innamincka Pub on day 2. Including either a welcome beer, wine, sparkling or soft drink on arrival (pre-lunch) & the same for pre-dinner
Travel
Return private air charters for duration between Adelaide Airport, Prairie Hotel, Lake Eyre and Innamincka in Pilatus PC12 (Turbo Prop Single Engine Aircraft)
Other Inclusions
Tea, coffee, bottled water, activities including ½ day scenic guided tour of Flinders Ranges, guided walks, observing wildlife, activities & guiding and Innamincka town tour
Exlusions
Alcohol with meals at The Prairie Hotel and at The Innamincka Hotel
Getting there
Important Information:
- Please note landings at each destination en-route cannot be guaranteed and are dependent on local (strip) conditions on the day.
- As this is a totally unique natural phenomenon, water levels in the region cannot be guaranteed.
- Departures are subject to weather conditions.
- Luggage restrictions of 10kg per person apply.
- Pilatus PC12 is a single engine aircraft.
Aircraft – PC12
The PC12 is made by Pilatus, the world market leader in the manufacture of single engine turboprop aircraft. Pilatus has used the most modern design techniques, precision engineering and cutting edge manufacturing processes to produce this high performance PC12 aircraft.
Integrating a 1200 horsepower single turboprop engine into an aerodynamically advanced airframe, the PC12 combines excellent economy. The PC12 has a unique adaptability to perform a wide range of missions from charter, business, leisure as well as aero medical work.
The normal configuration of our PC12 enables up to 10 passengers to be seated in air conditioned comfort.