The Grey Nomads Forum

we want to visit lake eyre...

Jedo_03 said
07:13 PM Jan 6, 2016

Is it possible to get through to see Lake Eyre with water...

If so, what roads are open/suitable.

We are in Broken Hill and have a N.Patrol

Thanks

TheHeaths said
08:24 PM Jan 6, 2016

Joe,

the easy way is to go along Barrier Highway to Peterborough and across to Orroroo. Then up to Hawker via Carrieton and Craddock, then straight up to Marree. The other way would be to go to Yunta, and then the back way up to the Flinders and across to Hawker from there. This way is dirt, and may or may not be rough at present. The first way is all bitumen to Lyndhurst, and then dirt and bitumen to Marree.

You can then either do a flight ex Marree over the Lake, or drive to Mulloorina Station, or William Creek, and get Public Access Road access to the lake from there. There may or may not be water at the points you can get to by road, although Halligan Bay (out of William Creek) will probably be ok.

Have a good trip, and check out the Lake Eyre Yacht club web site, and the SA Highways Dept road site for closures.

Jedo_03 said
10:13 PM Jan 6, 2016

Thanks for replying...
According to SA Roads, there is now no access to L.Eyre. All roads from Maree and William Creek are closed.
Would love to see it - maybe the water will stay after the roads dry out and re-open...

jules47 said
10:17 PM Jan 6, 2016

Drive to Coober Pedy and get a flight over the lake from there - was told it is cheaper from Coober, that is something I would love to do. Flew over Lake Argyle and the Bungle Bungles (Purnululu) last year - spectacular!!!!! Let us know what you are doing - we're all sticky beaks, love following others travels!!!

Cupie said
10:52 PM Jan 6, 2016

We came via Broken Hill from SE Qld to Hawker.

From there we went with 'Bush Pilots' over Lake Eyre (full of water) & followed one of the feeder rivers Warburton? up for an overnighter in the Birdsville Pub. Fantastic day.

The return was back thru the channel country with stop offs for lunch at The Dig Tree and a beer at Innaminka & then 'home' via Wilpena Pound to Hawker.

A great flight, but would have been even better with improved commentary from the Pilot.

Edit .... We do not do dirt so driving closer to the Lake was not an option. We chose this flight because of the total package that was offered ... vis. Lake E, Birdsville, Dig Tree & Innaminka. Price was not the main consideration.

A friend flew from Broken Hill & was very satisfied with his trip. Seems like you can get flights from many places.

If dirt roads were not an issue we would have considered Helicopter flights nearer to the Lake. I saw an add for them but can't remember from where.

-- Edited by Cupie on Thursday 7th of January 2016 06:36:42 PM

aussietraveller said
11:07 PM Jan 6, 2016

I agree with Jules 47 the option from Coober pedy I found to be the cheapest when we did it with a stop over at William creek, we had a pilot who did an excellent comentary but these guys move around regularly.

We left Coober and saw the great sight of the thousands of mines in the area that look like gopher holes, the flight over the lake is excellent and great opportunity for photos and on the way back we flew over the painted desert and more spectacular photos, there is also an option to drive from Coober Pedy to the pink roadhouse and then on to the lake which is not far from the roadhouse.

I drove this trip about 35 years ago and it is a very interesting drive but nothing like seeing it from the air, if you do come via Coober Peady make sure you visit the Remarkables at sunset while you are in the area.

Hope you have a good time out there in the big playground

the rocket said
09:51 AM Jan 7, 2016

Hi jedo 03' hope u get there. It would be amazing to c.

lizard said
01:40 PM Jan 7, 2016

We are planning to include Lake Eyre in our anti clockwise lap , leaving WA in March (hopefully cooler then) .... so hope some more rain in Qld gets down to prop up water levels in Lake ..... planning to go to Marree , and then decide what do do from there - depends on road conditions etc to William Creek - have a dirt road van .

Dhutime said
03:27 PM Jan 7, 2016

lizard wrote:
We are planning to include Lake Eyre in our anti clockwise lap , leaving WA in March (hopefully cooler then) .... so hope some more rain in Qld gets down to prop up water levels in Lake ..... planning to go to Marree , and then decide what do do from there - depends on road conditions etc to William Creek - have a dirt road van .

We are planning to go from Marree up to Mt Isa via the Birsville track in June including a flight from Coober Pedy or William Creek hopefully the roads will be clear by then and the lake is full , Looking forward to it .