Aboard the beautiful 78ft cruiser “Strictly Business”, you get up close and personal by swimming with Southern Bluefin Tuna, Australian Sea Lions, multiple cage dives with Great White sharks plus view pods of dolphins and when in season, Pilote, Blue and the the massive Southern Right whales.The scenery does’nt get much better than the ocean view of the Port Lincoln National Park and the Memory Cove Wilderness Sanctuary, as you steam close enough to see White Bellied Sea Eagles nest and other seabirds. As Port Lincoln is Australia’s seafood capital, you a very well fed with the promise of the freshest produce that is on offer such as Coffin Bay Oysters, Sashimi, Spencer Gulf prawns, Kinkawooka Mussels and fresh fish caught by you! Washed down with local wine, the sight of the seafood smorgasbord on the boats dining table on deck is just as spectacular as viewing the sea creatures in their own natural playground!

Check out the episode here to see the popular TV host and presenter, Dr Chris Brown (The Bondi Vet) share this very memorable experience!

We have 2 scheduled weekend departures coming up on June the 9-10th and the 23-24th, with a special price of $1500.00 per person so contact us here to book you seat and for more details.

Here are some comments from a previous Ocean Safari that was held recently which attracted UK celebrity couple, Charlie Brooker and Konnie Huq;

” Iam usually a miserable cynic incapable of anything approaching enjoyment, so the fact that this team & the Ultimate Ocean Experience not only had me enjoying myself, but openly smiling even, is a little short of a miracle! I used to think tuna were about the size of a shoe. What a cretin I was! Everything about the weekend was fantastic & a great time was had by all. Even me!…..” Charlie Brooker, the Guardian

“Swimming with tuna- Awesome! Hanging out with Sealions-Such amazing fun! Seeing Dolphins- Ace! Fishing ,snorkelling, hanging out-A real laugh! The food- Delicious! ALL IN ALL- FAB!…….” Konnie Huq

” I’ve lived on the Eyre Peninsula for 9 years & thats the best weekend that I’ve had….” Mark Thomas

” In designing the Ultimate Ocean Experience, Goin’ Off Safaris and Adventure Bay Charters offer the most rich & satisfying eco-tour in South Australia, without a doubt…….” Kingsley Griffen

” Such an amazing trip! Great people, great food, great wine! I ahd a ball & learnt a lot about Port Lincoln and the marine life. I will be recommending it to everyone…..” Lynlee White

The lengths that Matt Waller, David Doudle & crew have gone to provide their clients with the Ultimate Ocean Adventure is simply brilliant. Enjoyable for people of any age, the knowledge that Matt imparts upon guests makes for an enriching experience that leaves a lasting impression. Definitely a trip that I will be recommending. Well done guys….” Cherie Langsford

” The Ultimate Ocean Adventure has changed the way that I think of my own backyard. I have renewed appreciation for Southern Bluefin Tuna as a species, their role in creating Port Lincoln & of course as sashimi! Swimming with the Australian sealions was an absolute highlight on both days. Amazing food and the abundant knowledge the Matt Waller provided helped make this an all round fantastic experience. Thankyou!….. Raffael Veldhuyzen

In 2009, ABC journalist Paul Lockyer set out to document the story of the lake. Featuring photographs by John Bean, Gary Ticehurst and endpapers by artist John Olsen, the recently published book is an amazing view of the lake and surrounding area.

Lake Eyre: A journey through the heart of the continent by Paul Lockyer, with photos by John Bean and Gary Ticehurst

An truly amazing book about a truly amazing part of the country. Lake Eyre: A journey through the heart of the country can be found in all ABC shops and online, after it’s launch in March 2012. Click here for more incredible images from the book, and details from the launch.

After reading this captivating book, Goin’ Off Safaris invites you to jump on our Lake Eyre & Outback Safaris and see the wonder of Lake Eyre in flood for yourself. Fly over some of the most stunning and secluded parts of the country and visit iconic outback pubs, such as Innamincka, Birdsville, Coober Pedy and William Creek.

For more information about our Lake Eyre Safaris, click here.

CLICK HERE FOR GOIN’ OFF SAFARIS NEWSLETTER- APRIL 2012

With our 2 and 3 Day Lake Eyre & Outback flying tours about to commence, we are offering a special deal for our Lake Eyre tours in April. With limited seats available, the 2 Day Lake Eyre & Outback Ultimate Weekender departing on April 21-22, is now priced at $2320.00 per person all inclusive.

Our 3 Day Supreme Scenic Safari across Lake Eyre & the Outback on April 27-29th is now $2975.00 per person all inclusive.

Both flights represent significant value and savings with more information including itineraries, FAQ’s, images and more information on our website.

Departing from Adelaide, places of interest include the Spencer Gulf, Flinders Ranges and Wilpena Pound, Marree, Sturt Stony Desert, the Dig Tree, Innammincka, Coongie Lakes, Cooper Creek, Birdsville, Warburton Groove, William Creek, Coober Pedy and of course the massive Lake Eyre.

Book now to secure your seat for this great opportunity! Contact us at Goin’ Off Safaris here.

If you didn’t get a chance to see it, here is a brief spiel about the doco. But basically it was a superb view nature in fine form- with millions of birds flocking to the swollen lakes and river systems, all of which are now brimming with fish.

This is such an amazing spectacle, and seldom occurs to such an extent! In fact, Lake Eyre only fills once every 200 years and Goin’ Off Safaris can take you there!

If you want the opportunity to see such a rare and remarkable event, then now is the time to check out our Lake Eyre and Outback 2 Day and 3 Day Safaris! Join us here at Goin’ Off Safaris on a truly a once in a lifetime experience!

Lake Eyre is 60%covered as of 15th March 2012

Above is another image taken by the Outback photographer Peter MacDonald or The Sentimental Bloke as he is also known. Its very coincidental that after my last blog post on the current conditions of the very wet country side in northern South Australia and Lake Eyre, he sent me his latest blog of which I subscribe to.

Peter has been up and about the countryside and gave a brief report on the scenes that he saw & quoted;

“I ran a few photographs of the result of heavy rains that recently fell in the Flinders Ranges & Outback of South Australia. It’s becoming evident that rains we have had this year will equal or exceed those that fell in the last really big wet this region had…. & that was way back in 1974.

The rain is of course transformomg the land in many ways. The vast inland water system that is the- Lake Eyre Basin, Goyders Lagoon and the Coongie Lakes will fill again for the 3rd year in arow. Lake Eyre has water again over much of its surface & is continuing to fill. Huge amounts of water are heading from the north into this region…”

Well spoken from a man who knows his stuff! If you’re keen on getting up to to see this spectacular region, check out our 2 and 3 day Lake Eyre & Outback Tours and itineraries, dates, images & videos here on Goin’ Off Safaris web page and contact us to book your seat!

Cheers!

Shortly after arrival in stunning Coffin Bay, we laid on a seafood extravaganza for our guests while they sipped local wines, overlooking the sunset from their private balcony. After a feast of natural and Kilpatrick oysters and fresh caught green-lip abalone, it was time to turn in in preparation for a big day of fishing and exploring on day two.

The morning began with Gary at GT Charters, where our avid fishermen tried their luck fishing for the tasty table fish, King George Whiting. Catching enough for a decent feed for all aboard, it was a fresh seafood dinner for the second night in a row.

After such a jam-packed morning, we picked up our fabulous four and ventured out for a relaxing afternoon cruising the Coffin Bay National Park. With superb weather conditions at Avoid Bay and Almonta Beach we stretched our legs with a walk along the beach, followed by a beer stop at calm and tranquil Yangi Bay on the other side of the peninsula.

After a sleep-in on day two, we picked up our group of adventurers and made our way into Port Lincoln for another day of exploration. After almost being blown off Winter’s Hill lookout, a quick coffee in the sun on the foreshore and witnessing the unloading of thousands upon thousands of pilchards down at the wharf, we ventured to the historic Axel Stenross Maritime Museum.

The afternoon was highlighted by a trip out to a farmed tuna cage with Adventure Bay. The chance to swim with and hand feed these amazingly fast fish was a spectacle for the group, with 3 of the 4 braving the chilly water!

The final action packed day involved a trip out to our front yard, showing off some of the most pristine beaches and cliff tops along the coast. We even threw a line in off the beach, reeling in a tasty Flathead (Congratulations Carol!)

Unfortunately at the end of 4 days of spectacular weather and adventures, our lovely guests had to leave us and continue their journey across the country towards Esperance.

For more details on this Hunt & Gather package and other tailored packages, click here to see our website.

Goyders Lagoon, 80km SW of Birdsville

What a deluge of rain that we have seen fall across nearly all parts of the country of late! There are many places that have received way too much rain across many areas but pastrolists in the Outback regions cannot hide the smiles as many of the station owners recorded their annual average rainfall over a few very wet days just 2 weeks ago.

The result from this is enormous as most have recorded very little rainfall in the last 12 months and this recent event has just encouraged more growth and feed for cattle and refilled every dam, waterhole, creek and another catchment area. As reported by South Australia’s 639 North and West Radio last Thursday,the rains have also filled Lake Eyre South and Australia’s inland sea, Lake Eyre North is all ready 60% covered with water that has been flowing in from the Cooper Creek on the eastern side of the Lake and via the Warburton Creek and Macumba River into the Warburton Groove from the northern parts!

The whole river system is amazing which extends far and wide through the top northern parts of Queensland, all the way down the Channel Country via the Diamantina, Thompson, Barcoo & Georgina Rivers (just to name a few) to the lowest part of Australia, Lake Eyre at -15m below sea level.

Our pilots Chris Pfitzner and Tony Schwerdt, have been flying around the countryside on some evacuation missions to the gas fields of Moomba and nearby outback town of Innamincka. They say that from the bottom of Lake Frome all the way to Moomba, the Sturt Stony Desert was a sheet of water! Lake Frome was full, the Cooper Creek flowing ( which it has been for 2 months now and getting fuller and faster) and between the sandhills there was water everywhere! Tony predicted back in early February that this season, due to similar weather patterns at the time,  was shaping up just like 1974- the last time Lake Eyre completely filled. I cannot argue with him as I was only just brought into the world at the time but from all the summer rains in the Eastern states, he may be well on the money.

For anyone who wants to keep an eye out on the current status of Lake Eyre, the Lake Eyre Yacht Club has a very informative page to keep you up to date and can be found here.

Our Lake Eyre and Outback  tours are all underway and it is going to be another action packed season up north. These flying safaris are exceptional and for more details, please click here to Goin’ Off Safaris web page for our itineraries, images, FAQ’s, blogs and other information.

Below are some images kindly supplied by our man on the ground (and air), Peter MacDonald- The Sentimental Bloke. His images are up stunning and up to date, to highlight the region at its best so stay tuned for more of his work.

OutbackFloods-Flinders-Ranges

Parachilna Creek

Parachilna Creek

Thunderstorm about to strike!

As we know, seeing Lake Eyre when flooded is just an added bonus to these flying safaris that we run. The outback characters that you meet, the vision and scenery from the air, the meals, the ground tours, the history and culture, the countries vastness, the planes comfort,our friendly and experienced pilots plus guide, all make these 2 and 3 day packages a weekend to remember for a long time!

The Dig Tree, Coongie Lakes, Flinders Ranges, The Cooper Creek, Spencer’s Gulf, Sturt Stony Desert are just some of the natural highlights that you will closely encounter from the air as well as checking out the classic Australian bush towns of Marree, Innamincka, Birdsville and the opal capital of the world, Coober Pedy.

If you missed out on this classic Aussie experience over the last 2 years, here’s a chance not to be missed again! Please visit our website for dates, itineraries, FAQ, images, videos and contact us for any more information that you require.

Hope to hear from you soon. Cheers!