As reported on the TV screens late last week, it is now official that in South Australia’s Lake Torrens, there has been a colony of an estimated 150,000 native Banded Stilts that have bred more than 200,000 chicks!!!!

This is something else! The long beaked wading birds have trekked from their coastal habitat of South Australia’s, Coorong coastline, to breed in Lake Torrens when rain turns the salt lakes into a “shrimp brine soup”!

Up until recently, the total population of these “outback flamingos” was thought to be only 200-300,000 in the world, so this is a significant event. Full report. The Sentimental Bloke, Peter Macdonald also posted an excellent blog on this breeding event back at the end of May, which make good reading and also some great photos before the lake filled.

Our new 3 day Flinders Ranges/Lake Eyre Scenic Tours, takes you directly over Lake Torrens and you can see this colony plus a lot, lot more throughout your day in the air on this trip. For more information, please contact us.

Departing ex Adelaide, you have two great days on the road driving through the well renowned Clare Valley wine region & also the magical Flinders Ranges. We stay for 2 nights at one of Australia’s best known outback pubs, the Prairie Hotel in Parachilna, where a 3 course dinners & cooked breakfasts are included with exceptional hospitality!

The second day is spent flying around exploring the natural wonder of Lake Eyre filling up. See the endless flood waters & bird life at Jackboot Bay, the ferry crossing at Etadunna on Coopers Creek & loads more on a big day in the sky & also on land.

This a great & rewarding experience & all inclusively priced at $1750 per person. For more details visit please visit our Lake Eyre Tours page.

His fascination with this spectacular part of the country is capped by not only his ability to take the special photograph, but to also include a brief description about the photo so that you know where & when the picture was taken. In other words, up to date image & commentary on Lake Eyre filling, where the water is, where the abundance of bird & animal life is & general outback life!

Here’s a great example;

Interesting formations around the edge of Lake Eyre. A close look shows large numbers of Corellas in the early morning sunlight.

For more of Pete’s work, his biography & sales of these beautiful images go to -www.thesentimentalbloke.com

A 1-2 hour optional scenic flight is available from William Creek & here you can take in the sheer magnitude of Lake Eyre & it’s surrounds, as the Lake is filling from flooded plains, rivers & creeks.

Very well priced from $1150 per person (land based only) to $1500 pp which includes a 2 hour flight from William Creek. All meals, transport &  accommodation are also included.

Last weekend saw us fill a classic Beech 18 aircraft for a customized tour of Lake Eyre & beyond over 4 incredible days! Departing from Adelaide, our group took in Wilpena Pound  & Arkaroola in the Flinders Ranges,Innamincka, Coongie Lakes,Birdsville, Dalhousie Springs, the Painted Desert & Evelyn Downs cattle station. On the ground, our guests met local characters at the legendary Birdsville Pub, Coopers Creek Homestay, the famous William Creek Hotel & then had the best nights sleep in the underground rooms of Coober Pedy’s Desert Cave Motel. Every day is another amazing encounter with the guys flat out taking in all sights, scenery & there is no better way to catch the best vantage points to appreciate the whole outback experience & that’s by air. 

 Spring is going to be something else as the wildflowers & wildlife will be lighting up the country side so if your thinking of capturing some of the countries absolutely finest scenery, at its spectacular best, get in contact with us asap to book your customised trip. Opal Air charters are our local & well known proven operators with gun pilots,Lindsay Matthews & Chris Phitzner at the helm.  Flights carrying 6-8 passengers are available from Adelaide, Wudinna, Coober Pedy or after a Great White Shark Dive in Pt.Lincoln, we’ll go from there as well!!