Lake Eyre, Innamincka & Birdsville - 2 Day Flights

2 and 3 day flights from Lake Eyre 2 day accommodated flight – overnight beautiful Innamincka. Lake Eyre is a central focus point of this flight, however it is a small part of a hugely varied and very rich flight over this outback part of Australia. Your flight will cover a large part of Australia, its outback history and interesting legends.

Pelicans over Lake Eyre Water fills Lake Eyre Piper Chieftain twin aircraft used on flights

Route includes Lake Eyre: Adelaide - Port Augusta (To Refuel) - Past Wilpena Pound - Burke and Wills’ Dig Tree, - Innamincka Bus Tour of – Over Coongie Lakes - Birdsville - Lake Eyre North and South - Olympic Dam (To Refuel) - Adelaide.

Normally, about once every decade, heavy rains in Tropical Australia create restoring floods which flow hundreds of kilometres down through country such as Dajarra, Boulia, Winton and Longreach. When these floods reach the Birdsville-Lake Eyre-Cooper Creek basin country they fill the channels, waterholes, billabongs, clay pans and lakes that create the surface of this country. This in turn creates a flood of water life – fish, crustaceans, etc. which attract some breeding pelicans and waterbirds, such as banded stilts, cormorants, spoonbills, etc. The restoring floods give life to the land and create a host of dependent animal, bird and plant life. It is amazing to fly over thousands of square kilometres of vast desert country, then find the country refreshed from recent floods. Your flight is the most comprehensive and interesting trip of the Outback of and Queensland. You have the history, legend, beauty and relaxation of our Centre, all in an action packed two day safari. What better way to do this than with pilots who have lived and worked in the Outback for many years – pilots who know the people, the stories and the land. DAY 1 - Depart from the General Aviation Terminal, Adelaide Airport, at 8.30 a.m. (Please be ready for check-in at 8.00 a.m.) Fly north to Port Augusta to refuel. Past Wilpena Pound and over the rugged and isolated Gammon Ranges, Mount McKinlay, Arkaroola, Mount Painter, Mount Fitton Talc Mines and Mount Hopeless. View Lake Frome and Lake Callabonna, once the home of the giant diprodotons - but now a world-famous fossil site. See Lake Blanche which can be filled by the Strzelecki. Lunch in the aircraft as we fly over the Strzelecki Desert to touch down on a small bush strip on the banks of Coopers Creek at Nappamerrie.

We walk 400 metres to view the famous Dig Tree (PLEASE NOTE THAT HEAVY RAINS RENDER THIS AIRSTRIP UNUSABLE). Listen to the saga of the struggling explorers, Burke and Wills. Return to our aircraft for a short flight back into SA, to land at Innamincka, where our own special bus will take us down to the banks of beautiful Cooper Creek. Visit lonely Burke’s Grave in a beautiful grove of gum and Coolibah trees on the bank of the Cooper. An alternative drive through very interesting outback landscape to lonely King’s Marker of B&W fame, on the edge of remote Cooper Creek. Overnight motel, Innamincka.

DAY 2 - Depart Innamincka, flying across the beautiful Coongie Lake system - a huge inland lake system in the heart of a desert - wetlands, quite rare throughout the world. Fly over the edge of Sturt’s Stony Desert, then over typical country of the Simpson - clay pans, flats and sand dunes. Fly into Queensland to land at Birdsville for a visit to the Birdsville Working Museum and possibly a drink in the Birdsville Pub. Depart Birdsville, flying over the spectacular of Goyder’s Lagoon on the Diamantina River. Fly along the edge of the Simpson Desert and the Tirari Desert, following the mighty Warburton River on its path to Lake Eyre. We see the various rivers which can empty into Lake Eyre as we descend for a flight down the length of this giant lake. Fly past the mouth of Madigan Gulf, where Donald Campbell broke the world land speed record in 1966 in the Bluebird. Because of very heavy tropical rainfall in outback Queensland, you may see the surface of Lake Eyre partly covered with water - or the incredible beauty of its glistening surface. Fly across Lake Eyre South before descending to land at Olympic Dam to refuel. From Olympic Dam, fly south past Lake Torrens to Port Augusta, then over Port Pirie and St Vincent Gulf, before landing back at Adelaide Airport by approximately 5 p.m.

Page 1 Revised: 23 January 2011

Lake Eyre, Innamincka & Birdsville - 2 Day Flight

Departing - 2012 - March 20, 24, 27, 31, April 2, 10, 14, 18, 25, 28, May 1, 3, 9, 12, 15, 22, 29, June 2, 5, 7, 12, 16, 19, 28, July 3, 16, 20, 24, 26, 31, August 2, 14, 16, 21, 23, 27, 31, September 1, 4, 12, 18, 20, 25, October 6, 9, 16, 20, 23, 30. Costs - Two people travelling together and sharing accommodation – $ 1,899 per person. Person travelling alone – $1,999.

See also 2 Day Lake Eyre-Birdsville Flight. Same tour in reverse, overnight Birdsville FARE: All inclusive - all air travel as stated, all ground travel as stated, all meals and accommodation.

Lake Eyre, Birdsville & Innamincka - 2 Day Flight

Reverse of below itinerary - Departing - 2012 - June 21, 25; July 5, 12; August 1, 20; September 13, 20; October 22. Costs - Two people travelling together and sharing accommodation – $ 1,899 per person. Person travelling alone – $1,999.

Lake Eyre Great Outback Flight - 3 Day Flight Inc. Stockmans’ Hall Of Fame, 3 Day Accommodated Flight

DAY 1 - Depart General Aviation Terminal, Adelaide Airport, at 9.00 a.m. (Please be ready for check-in by 8.30 a.m.) Fly north to Port Augusta to refuel. Past Wilpena Pound and over the rugged and isolated Gammon Ranges, Mount McKinlay, Arkaroola, Mount Painter, Mount Fitton Talc Mines and Mount Hopeless. View Lake Frome and Lake Callabonna, once the home of the giant diprodotons - but now a world-famous fossil site. See Lake Blanche which can be filled by the Strzelecki Creek. Lunch in the air as we fly over the Strzelecki Desert to touch down on a small bush strip in Queensland. Walk 400 metres to the famous Burke and Wills Dig Tree. Hear of the interesting details which created a legend from a string of small errors. Dick Lang has had various stories of this saga published and is able to give you an authorative insight. Fly to Innamincka. Our special bus takes us to Cooper Creek to see the beautiful lagoons and bird life. See Burke’s Grave Site. O/N Innamincka. Please note that on occasions this tour is run in reverse due to accommodation in the bush.

DAY 2 - Fly across the spectacular Channel country of S.W. Queensland. The Channel Country covers an estimated 3,000 sq kms of actual river channels and is a most impressive sight. If cloud free, we are able to see what few others can - the mighty Cooper Creek joining the Thompson, to start the Channel country system. On to Longreach, a tidy and industrious town built on artesian water, sheep and cattle. Cross to the very interesting Qantas Museum alongside the airport, viewing the giant Boeings on display. Later, transfer to the famous “Stockman’s Hall of Fame”. It is an enthralling and very interesting visit. O/N Longreach.

DAY 3 - Across the giant Diamantina flood plains of South Western Queensland to land at Birdsville. An interesting walk to the artesian bore and town centre. Lunch Birdsville Hotel. Over the massive Simpson Desert with its parallel sand dunes seen so convincingly from the air. Across Eyre Creek and the remote, rarely viewed Kallakoopah inside the Simson Desert. Fly down the length of giant Lake Eyre. Past Madigan Gulf, where Donald Campbell broke the world land speed record. You may not see Lake Eyre covered with water - but instead the beauty of its glistening surface. Across Lake Eyre South on to Olympic Dam to re-fuel. Past Wilpena Pound, before landing Adelaide Airport at approximately 5 p.m.

2012 DEPARTURES: April 20, May 18, June 29, July 06, July 13, August 10, August 17, September 07, September 28, October 12 FARE: Two people travelling together and sharing accommodation - $2,590 per person Person travelling alone - $2,690. Fare covers all travel, accommodation and all meals, entry fees. Please Note: All Tour Fares Include Airport Taxes, Landing Fees, Air Navigation Charges, Fuel Levies, Remote Fuel Levies And GST In The Price.

Frequent departures to October & beyond – please ASK

for Lake Eyre Tours & Flights or see http://www.spiritsafaris.com/lake_eyre_tours_flights.htm

Other Outback tours – Kimberley, Kakadu, Uluru etc see www.spiritsafaris.com/tours.htm

Tel: 1300 763 188

Sydney 02 8213 3225 03 9017 6862 07 3137 1607 Perth 08 6364 3651

Adelaide 08 8120 0366 Alice Springs 08 8120 0366

Spirit Safaris - [email protected] Fax: (+61 2) 9997 7122 www.spiritsafaris.com PO Box 488 Neutral Bay NSW 2089 Australia Insurer QBE Insurance Ltd Excelink International P/L ABN 24002623814 t/a Spirit Safaris Accreditation No 33224

Page 2 Revised: 23 January 2011