Lake Eyre & Wilpena Pound: Luxury Small Group Tour

Your fare excludes:

DAY 1 -Adelaide - Port Augusta

Today you will be greeted by our friendly and professional Tour Directors in Adelaide. Travelling north along the Princes Highway, making our way to Port Augusta.

• Included Meals - Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Standpipe Golf Motor Inn

DAY 2 - Parachilna - Marree

This morning we enjoy a visit to the Australian Arid Lands Botanic Gardens. Established in 1993 to research, conserve and promote the wider appreciation of Australia’s arid zone flora, the centre is home to thousands of highly evolved plant communities that are specially adapted to thrive in an environment where temperatures are extreme, and drought can last for decades. The garden showcases a diverse collection of arid zone habitats in a picturesque setting of more than 250 hectares.

Later this morning we continue our journey north to Parachilna. Enjoy a gourmet lunch under the verandah of the Prairie Hotel before heading on through Lyndhurst and Leigh Creek, arriving in Marree late afternoon. This historic little settlement lies at the junction of the Birdsville and Oodnadatta Tracks, and was once one of the busiest towns in Outback Australia! Tonight, we stay at the Marree Hotel.

• Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Marree Hotel

DAY 3 - Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre - Goyder Lagoon - Birdsville - Simpson Desert - William Creek (WOW - WHAT A DAY!)  

Please Note: Today your tour will split into 2 groups. Group 1 will take the scenic flights/tour as per the itinerary below, while Group 2 travels up to William Creek by road following the Old Ghan rail line. On Day 4, Group 2 enjoys the scenic flight and tour, while Group 1 travels back down to Marree by road.

This morning we head to the Marree Aerodrome to prepare for our scenic flights. Meet your experienced pilot and board our Cessna Grand Caravan (subject to availability). Once airborne, our morning flight will take us over Lake Eyre South before crossing over to Lake Eyre North, the larger of the two lakes.

We continue north over Clifton Hills Station and Goyder Lagoon on the Diamantina River floodplains. Located at the junction of the Diamantina River and Eyre Creek, this large ephemeral swamp consists mainly of shallow braided micro-channels which look stunning from the air. From Goyder Lagoon we fly further north to Birdsville where we land and enjoy a leisurely lunch at the iconic Birdsville Hotel. This is followed by an informative town tour taken by a local guide to close points of interest and the Waddi Waddi trees.

This afternoon we take to the skies for our second flight for the day, this time heading southwest over the mighty Simpson Desert. Admire the endless red sand dunes that stretch to the horizon, before once again flying over Lake Eyre North. After another close inspection of this breathtaking natural spectacle we’ll fly over Belt Bay, the lowest point on the Australia continent at 15 metres below sea level, and head for William Creek, where we rendezvous with the rest of the tour group. We spend the night here in modern ensuite accommodation and enjoy dinner in one of the most atmospheric outback pubs in Australia - the William Creek Hotel. (B, L, D)

• Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: William Creek Hotel

DAY 4 - Old Ghan Line - Coward Springs - Lake Eyre North (Belt Bay) - Marree

Today Group 2 enjoys the scenic flights to Birdsville and Lake Eyre, while Group 1 travels down the Oodnadatta Track to Marree.

Later this morning we continue south along the Oodnadatta Track, following the Old Ghan line - one of the great historic railway lines in the world. Construction began in 1878 and it eventually reached Oodnadatta in 1891. The line only reached Alice Springs in 1929, so the journey from Oodnadatta at this time was still made by camel. The old line was eventually closed in 1980, and the new line takes a different route to Alice Springs. Some of the old sidings that refilled the steam engines with water, such as Coward Springs, are incredibly interesting and well preserved. Today we’ll visit a few of them on our way down to Marree. Upon our arrival we’ll rendezvous with Group 2 and check-in to the Marree Hotel for our overnight stay.

• Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Marree Hotel

DAY 5 - Marree - Wilpena Pound

After breakfast we farewell Marree and begin our trek south to the Flinders Ranges and Wilpena Pound. Enjoy the scenic drive through Bunyeroo and Brachina Gorges, stopping at several vantage points along the way to admire the views of the Flinders Ranges. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way before arriving at Wilpena Pound Resort early in the afternoon.

Wilpena Pound sits in the southern region of the Flinders Ranges National Park. It is characterised by spectacular scenery and is home to nearly half of South Australia’s species of plants. After checking in to your deluxe resort room, we’ll set off on a guided walk through the tranquil Pound Gap into Wilpena Pound (easy grade, 2-3 hrs return). Follow Wilpena Creek past ancient River Red Gums and pines to arrive at the historic Hills Homestead. For the more energetic, there is an optional extension to the walk that leads to Wangarra Hill lookout, which offers panoramic views of Wilpena Pound (good level of fitness and mobility required).

This afternoon we return to the resort. Take some time to freshen up before dinner in the restaurant.

• Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Wilpena Pound Resort

Day 6 - Wilpena Pound - Adelaide

This morning we enjoy a visit to the Old Wilpena Station precinct, one of South Australia’s oldest and best-preserved pastoral settlements.There’s also an opportunity to take a 20-minute scenic flight over Wilpena Pound (at your own expense).

Later this morning we begin our trek south back to Adelaide. Travel to Hawker before taking the R.M Williams Way down through Carrieton, Orroroo and Burra. Enjoy a quick look around this interesting little village before heading on to Adelaide, arriving late afternoon. We then check-in to the Stamford Grand Hotel in Glenelg for our final evening together.

Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner in the hotel restaurant and reflect upon your adventure into the heart of outback Australia.

• Included meals - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Stamford Grand Hotel

Day 7 - Farewell from Adelaide

Today your adventure concludes. After breakfast you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flights home.

• Included meals - Breakfast

Witness the breathtaking spectacle of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre in flood.

Tour departs from Adelaide and returns to Adelaide.

• From $5,495 per person twin share
• From $6,745 for a Solo Traveller.

2023 T​ravel dates - NEW RELEASE

• 2​2 Jul - 28 July - Sold out
• 0​3 Aug - 09 Aug - Almost full
• 0​6 Aug - 12 Aug - Sold out
• 2​0 Aug - 26 Aug - Almost full
• 3​1 Aug - 06 Sep - Now available
• 0​4 Sep - 10 Sep - Now available
• 1​3 Sep - 19 Sep - Now available
• 1​8 Sep - 24 Sep- Now available

Call our friendly team on 1300 414 198 today to secure your spot.

Tours are subject to availability. Ask your travel advisor for payment and cancellation conditions.

• Standpipe Golf Motor Inn, Port Augusta
• Marree Hotel
• William Creek Hotel
• Wilpena Pound Resort
• Stamford Grand Hotel, Adelaide

If this tour is not able to operate due to low water levels, a full refund of the deposit and tour fare paid is applicable.

Interested in sharing a room with a stranger?In this case, you will still pay the single supplement but one month prior to travel, you will be contacted if there is someone of the same gender who is also willing to share. If you both agree to share, each single supplement will be refunded. Due to privacy, we cannot disclose any information about the other guest. Please note, that you are unable to change back to a single room once this has been arranged.

We recommend that you take Travel insurance for unexpected incidents - Ask our Travel advisors for Insurance details.

Can i travel if I require special assistance or mobility aids? Passengers are required to have a reasonable level of mobility to be able to board and alight the coach unaided. Due to space restrictions aboard our coaches, we are unable to accommodate passengers who require the use of wheelchairs or walkers. Vehicles are not equipped with wheelchair ramps or lifters. Passengers requiring physical or mental assistance must be accompanied by a companion who is willing and capable of providing such assistance.

Passengers can bring a walking stick, however we recommended that it be telescopic/collapsible for ease of storage.

Can I bring a sleep Apnoea (CPAP) Machine? Please advise us in advance if you require a sleep apnoea machine, so we can request the most appropriate room for you. Your machine can be brought as additional luggage.