I strongly recommend a flight over Lake Eyre. I took the 1 hour flight from the Lyndhurst Hotel to Lake Eyre South yesterday morning. The colours and the inland sea are spectacular, and the view gives dimension to the vastness of the size of the lake network and this country of ours. There are flights from Maree and William Creek, but from the east and the south Lyndhurst is the most accessible, and affordable. They do a 1 hour to L Eyre South across beautiful terrain. The 2 hour flight takes in Cooper Creek and L Eyre Nth. It's worth it!
Thanks CG for the photos it must have been a real thrill. We will be taking a flight for William creek as we come back up the Centre. around November. It's going to be a highlight of our trip. I think there is still water coming down the Cooper so it won't be drying up too quick either.
I would have to agree with CG, the flight for Lyndhurst was absoulutely amazing. As I mentioned, the wife and I have taken our new Winnie for its maiden voyage, with the main intention being to see Lake Eyre! Lyndhurst was the first option for us, no need to travel the dirt road and the same costs as out of Marree.
We spoke to the pilots there at the Lyndhurst pub, and they booked a flight over the lake and the same time told us about accomodation options which is at the pub itself. We went for the longer flight option, about 2.5hrs. We saw the punt that crosses Coopers, then into Lake Eyre. Mind blowing!! Well worth the money considering I will probably never see it again..
What else came in handy was the bus.. we we're dreading packing up everything to go to the airport but they had a little bus to drive us up there, nothing seemed a hassle for them.. Now to sort the photos!
Next on the agenda, head back down towards Glenelg to visit the kids!
There was about a 2hr flight at $280 per person, or a 2.5hr flight for $395 per person. You have to have minimum numbers for them too do a flight, I think the pilot said they need minimum of 4 but, they just pair you up with another couple etc.. They are the same prices as out of Marree, but these guys offer it from Lyndhurst.. so about an extra 30 mins in the air for the same price..
Thanks. That is heaps cheap. When I was at the pound over christmas they wanted between $800 1000pp. I'm not afraid to spend money, but geez I thought was a bit of price gouging. Can't wait to get out there. Going the week before queens bday.
$1600 for 2.5 hrs x 4 pax in a light a/c , not bad profit margin per air mile . The pound trip sounds like a Ned Kelly operation at those prices , I suppose it was less than 1 hr flight time for that. In a past life I logged a lot of air time and the cost per hour to run a single engine Cessna isn't much more than running a petrol V8 4x4 . I suppose they have a captive clientele and while people will pay that price it's money for old rope
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Hi to all - just back from a 4 day 3 state tour with Tristate Safaris out of Broken Hill. Nth Lake Eyre about 70% at this time and going down quickly with evaporation. Sth Lake Eyre about 10% but spectacular as stated. Some bird life but not as large as earlier in year. Flew out of Marree with Wright Air - about $395 for 2.5 hour flight - 5 of us on the plane - up to Coopers Crossing then to Lake Eyre Nth then across to Lake Eyre South. Punt still in action at Coppers for about another 6 - 8 weeks? at this time. Diesel at Lyndhusrt at Roadhouse 169.9/l, at Lyndhurst pub 163.9/l. Diesel at Marree 195.9/l - 30 cents rise in 80ks. Fuel at Cameron Coner 220.9/l. Suggest stay at the Lyndhurst pub and take flight from Lyndhurst and avoid the rough drive to Marree. Steaks not the greatest at Lyndhurst, free parking at Farina (1/2 way to Marree - green grass - we were amazed to see this - $5/person/night and flushing loo as well). Food at Marree Roadhouse good. Les
