The view almost no one
will ever see.
Five days. Two or three guests. The best seat in the air over Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre in flood.
For the third time in 160 years, Lake Eyre has flooded. The salt flats have turned into a shimmering inland sea, the birdlife has returned in their thousands — and the only way to see it properly is from the air.
Most people will only see Lake Eyre as a photo.
Fewer will see it from a road.
A vanishingly small number will see it from the air —
and almost none will see it in flood.
We've been flying private safaris over Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre and the Channel Country for over a decade. In 2026, for the first time in most of our flying careers, the lake is full. The dry salt is gone. The trees that haven't seen water in years are reflected in shallow flooded plains. Pelicans have arrived from the coast. The desert is, briefly, a living thing.
This is the year to go.
Three things you won't get on any other Lake Eyre tour.
Two or three guests.
That's it. The whole trip is built around your party. No coaches. No crowd. No competing for the window seat — because every seat has one.
A private aircraft.
Our Cessna 172 Skyhawk lets us land where coaches can't reach — Birdsville, Innamincka, William Creek — and see the Channel Country and Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre from the best seat in the air. The pilot is also your guide.
Everything taken care of.
Five days, fully hosted. Flights, transfers, accommodation, meals, ground tours, expert commentary. You bring a small bag. We handle the rest.
Five days across the most remarkable country in Australia.
- Day 01
Swan Hill or Mildura → Broken Hill
Depart at first light. Cross the Mallee and the Murray, with a flyover of the World Heritage–listed Mungo National Park and the Menindee Lakes en route. Land in Broken Hill for the night and walk through the Living Desert Sculptures at sunset.
- Day 02
Broken Hill → Birdsville
The big crossing day. Over Sturt Stony Desert and the Strzelecki Track into Queensland's Channel Country. Land at Innamincka for lunch, then trace the Cooper Creek with a flyover of the Burke and Wills Dig Tree before landing at Birdsville for the famous pub, the dunes of Big Red, and a true outback evening.
- Day 03
Birdsville → William Creek
The flagship day. Begin with a sunrise flight over the Diamantina River floodplain out of Birdsville — the highlight of the tour for many guests. After breakfast, follow the floodplains south across Goyder Lagoon and trace the water as it feeds into Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre. Finish with a low-level scenic flight over the lake itself before landing at William Creek, Australia's smallest town.
- Day 04
William Creek → Flinders Ranges
South over Lake Eyre South and a flyover of the Marree Man, then on via Leigh Creek into the Flinders Ranges, where we land at one of the great outback lodges.
- Day 05
Flinders Ranges → Home
A leisurely morning, then a scenic flight south over Wilpena Pound and across the junction of the Darling and Murray Rivers on the way home before dinner.
Glimpses of the country you'll see.
Channel Country, Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, the Diamantina, the Flinders. A small selection — the real thing is bigger and quieter than any photograph.
Peter has flown this route for over a decade.
He knows where the pelicans gather. He knows which dunes catch the morning light. He knows the publican at William Creek by name. He's flown hundreds of hours over this country, and he's the reason guests describe these trips as "one of the best things I've ever done."
You won't get that from a 50-seat coach tour.
"One of the best things I've ever done."
"Five days with Peter felt like a private documentary. We saw things from the air that 99% of Australians will never see."
"We've travelled all over the world. This was the trip we'll talk about for the rest of our lives."
Everything you need for five days.
- All flights (Swan Hill or Mildura return)
- Four nights in selected outback hotels and lodges
- All breakfasts and dinners
- Expert pilot commentary throughout
- A group of two to three guests, full stop
- Lunches
- Alcohol
- Optional on-ground tours at each stop
14 departures open. 39 seats remaining.
May, June, July and most of August are already gone. Each departure carries just two to three guests — some fill at two. The handful of seats below are everything left for 2026. Once they're booked, you'll be waiting for next season.
- May 2026All May 2026 departuresSold out
- Jun 2026All June 2026 departuresSold out
- Jul 2026All July 2026 departuresSold out
- Aug 202604 – 08 August 2026Sold out
- Aug 202611 – 15 August 2026Filling fast · 2 seats
- Aug 202618 – 22 August 2026Sold out
- Aug 202625 – 29 August 20263 seats available
- Sep 202601 – 05 September 2026Filling fast · 2 seats
- Sep 202608 – 12 September 20263 seats available
- Sep 202615 – 19 September 20263 seats available
- Sep 202622 – 26 September 2026Sold out
- Sep 202629 Sep – 03 Oct 2026Filling fast · 2 seats
- Oct 202606 – 11 October 20263 seats available
- Oct 202613 – 18 October 20263 seats available
- Oct 202620 – 25 October 20263 seats available
- Oct 202627 Oct – 01 Nov 20263 seats available
- Nov 202603 – 08 November 20263 seats available
- Nov 202610 – 15 November 20263 seats available
- Nov 202617 – 22 November 20263 seats available
- Nov 202624 – 29 November 20263 seats available
A second aircraft would open more 2026 seats. 2027 dates release to the waitlist first.
The 2026 season is almost gone. If a second aircraft joins the fleet, those extra 2026 seats go to the waitlist before they're advertised — and the same goes for 2027. With only two to three seats per departure, that head start is the difference between flying and missing out.
Plain answers to obvious questions.
- Departures
- Multiple 2026 dates · May through early October
- Departure points
- Swan Hill or Mildura airfields
- Group size
- 2 to 3 guests per departure, maximum
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 Skyhawk (VH-ZFS) — single-engine, four-seater
- Accommodation
- Outback hotels and lodges, twin share. Private rooms on request.
- Fitness
- Light walking and small-aircraft flying. Not for severe motion sensitivity.
- From
- AUD $8,950 per person, twin share. Single supplement available.
Questions guests usually ask.
How small is the aircraft?+
The Cessna 172 seats four — Peter and three guests. It's not a jet. It is, however, the right size for the kind of low-level scenic flying that makes this trip what it is. You'll be closer to the landscape than any coach passenger has ever been.
Is it safe?+
Peter is a fully licensed commercial pilot with over a decade flying this exact route. The aircraft is maintained to CASA commercial standards. We don't fly in conditions that aren't right.
What if Lake Eyre isn't in flood when I travel?+
The water is the reason 2026 is exceptional, but the trip is built to be remarkable in any year. The Channel Country, the salt flats, the Flinders Ranges, the outback pubs — all of it stands on its own. The flood is the bonus.
Can I bring my own camera gear?+
Absolutely. We recommend it. Drone use must be coordinated with Peter in advance and follows CASA rules.
What's the cancellation policy?+
Full deposit refund up to 90 days before departure, sliding scale thereafter. Trip insurance strongly recommended.
When should I book?+
2026 departures opened recently and are filling. Most guests book six to nine months in advance. The flood season is finite.
Only 39 seats left for the 2026 flood season.
Send Peter a note — he replies personally, usually within 24 hours. Tell us which departure you'd like and how many of you are travelling. We'll confirm availability and walk you through the next steps.