As you may well be aware Lake Eyre is looking like filling for the second consecutive year! Which has'nt happened in 10 years! Great news for people venturing up though this way. We will be operating a Helicopter out of Marree conducting scenic flights up over the Lake and maybe out to Cooper creek also, it is definately worth the look from the air, only way to experience how big the Lake actually is!
-- Edited by Webmaster on Wednesday 9th of March 2011 04:04:33 PM
The weekly mail plane out of Port Augusta does a 2 day trip up to Boulia in far western Qld. The mail run goes to Leigh Creek, Innamincka, through the gas fields of NW NSW, SW Qld, west of the Birdsville track. The small plane takes up to 4 paying passengers, depending on the amount of mail. I don't know what it costs at the moment, but when I did it to "commute" to Inna, I felt it was well worth the bucks. Some meals are included, as well as accommodation at Boulia. The small, low-flying aircraft provides a massive panorama of the outback, the Simpson Desert, the Stony Desert and across the channel country. Check through the Pt. Augusta airport. I don't which regional airline is doing the contract now. Otherwise, the chopper flight would be an absolute buzz, but you'd have to be up there for a couple of hours to take it all in. It would be a magic trip too. When the wildflowers kick off the road trip would be the way to go. What a mighty spectacular wonder of nature. It doesn't happen very often.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Business is just starting to recognise the 'value' of Grey Nomads. In the last bit several have 'advertised' here.
I am sure they will appreciate our business and the lower advertising cost of word of mouth, and give us a discount.
So come on the "MareeHelecopters" mob and let us know, whats in it for us, to use our forum, or, bugger off and pay full rate to advertise.
I'd agree with ya there 2 bob, others get short shrift if they try and advertise on here yet this company seems to have got the immunity from eviction badge.
I think the response to this post would have been a little more friendly if Maree Helicopters had offered a discount to Grey Nomads Forum members (as previously suggested) and/or taken out a paid ad on the site.
Sorry guys, I hadnt read through all the fine print of your site so was unaware of the legalaties of adding a post on the site. I was purely intending to get the word out on the forum that the Lake will be filling and a helicopter is the best way to see this. Didnt mean to offend. I am sure that that we could work something out for the forum readers who would like the experience of a helicopter flight over the lake. Cheers Justin
Just an update on the status of the flows of water heading towards the Lake, I spoke to South Australian Department of Environment & Heritage last week and the flow of water travelling down the Cooper Creek is approximately 50kms north of Lake Hope which in turn is approximately 60kms from crossing the Birdsville track.
Water is already flowing down the Warburton Groove and into the Lake, slowing filling Belt Bay.
Looking to be the second consecutive flood into the Lake since '89-'90.
Keep an eye out for updates, we are heading to Marree first week of May.
Lake Eyre has approx 60% surface coverage at present, with more water likely to spill into the Lake from the Cooper creek system in the near future.. Justin
Ok just an update here from Marree, I arrived Wednesday and was up in the air thursday for my first Lake Eyre flights..looking great with Jackboot Bay and Belt Bay both nearly full with water now flowing over into Madigan Gulf..so basically the North Lake is nearly at the same levels as 2009..and still waiting for the Cooper creek to also reach the Lake putting more water in..looking very promising for the next 3-4 weeks. Well worth the look! Cheers Justin
There will be plenty of water about still in July, that was around the peak time last year. And with the Cooper system set to reach the Lake also there will be ample water around for you to see.
Cooper Creek is set to cross the Birdsville track in the next few weeks, having now filled Lake Hope and moving south west towards the Birdsville track.
This is an event that is quite rare and the last time is crossed the Birdsville was 20yrs ago.
There is a punt that will ferry cars across the cooper but this is set to be very busy with many people traveling up to see the Cooper.
Just a quick update on the Cooper creek...It is approx 20-30kms off crossing the Birdsville track..and moving around 5kms a day, so not far until the Birdsville will be only passable by the punt which carries 1 vehicle and up to 6pax.
Water is still flowing into the North lake from the Warburton creek.
There is going to be a punt to ferry cars across but it is quite limited as to what it can carry and there could be a number of vehicles lined up waiting to cross.