2026 GREAT AUSTRALIA BIGHT AIR SAFARI, 28 FEB TO 7 MAR
Fly the coast of South Australia
The surging Southern Ocean shapes the coastline of South Australia. It starts with long white sandy beaches in the southeast, Kangaroo Island and the rugged Eyre Peninsular in its center, and finishes with 100 kilometers of the world's longest continuous sea cliffs by the border of Western Australia.
There is no better way to see this than from the comfort of your light aircraft, with your journey finishing in the beautiful Clare Valley, enjoying fine food and wine at the Watervale Hotel
Your Tour Includes:
- Seven nights of quality accommodation from Port Fairy to Clare
- Transfers between airfields and accommodation at each destination
- Many meals - five breakfasts, five lunches, and seven dinners
- Day tour of Kangaroo Island
- Visit to the Old Telegraph Station at Eucla
- The services of an experienced tour lead
Tour Price Guide:
- $3,600 per person double or twin share
- $4,000 per person single occupancy
Book with confidence: If you cannot travel, Sydney Social Flying will assist you with a date change, provide you with a credit, or process a refund for your booking less any non-recoverable costs.
DAY ONE, Saturday, February 22
The Great Australia Bight Air Safari starts with lunch at Summerfield Winery, located in Pyrenees wine country in Victoria. Landing at their airstrip, it is a short drive to the café and cellar door where you can enjoy a delicious lunch.
The flight to Port Fairy, where we stay that night, could follow the coast from Apollo Bay. This routing would take you around rugged Cape Ottway and past the Twelve Apostles.
Port Fairy is a historic fishing town in the southwest of Victoria between Warrnambool
and Portland. Many of its early buildings remain from its days as a port for sealers and whalers back in the 1800s. Port Fairy is home to Victoria's oldest continuously licensed hotel, The Caledonian Inn, "aka The Stump" which dates back to 1844.
Dinner that evening will be at one of Port Fairy’s excellent restaurants.
Moyne River, Port Fairy
DAY TWO, Sunday, February 23
If not seen on arrival, a 30-mile backtrack takes you to the twelve Apostles. The scenic route to Kangaroo Island, is to just follow the beautiful beaches with their adjacent crystal-clear waters.
Passing the mouth of the Might Murray River, just before Goolwa, which is a good place for fuel if required, you overfly the Fleurieu Peninsula, before arriving Kangaroo Island.
Carpenter Rocks
DAY THREE, Monday, February 24
Today's tour goes to the far southwest of Kangaroo Island to the Flinders Chase National Park. Here, you can see the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse, the surreal shapes of the Remarkable Rocks, and the Admirals Arch an impressive rock arch weathered over thousands of years, but also home to a colony of long-nosed fur seals.
On the way, we go to Vivonne Bay, a six-kilometer-long U-shaped beach with crystal-clear shallow water and was once voted Australia's best beach.
At the nearby Seal Bay, you can observe a colony from an 800-meter boardwalk of Sea Lions. Seal Bay has been their home for thousands of years.
Sea Lion, Seal Bay, Kangaroo Island
DAY FOUR, Tuesday, February 25
The route today could first go via Vivonne Bay and Flinders Chase National Park for an aerial view of yesterday's tour. Following the Spencer Gulf islands, Wedge and Thistle will get you to the Eyre Peninsula, and off its west coast, part of the Investigator Group, is Flinders Island, where we will stay for a couple of nights.
At 3,652 hectares, owned by the Woolford family since 1978, the island was named by Matthew Flinders in his round-Australia voyage in 1802. During the early nineteenth century, Sealing was predominant, although the Island was also a remote Whaling Station.
The Island eventually supported a large Merino flock, and limited wheat growing. The Woolford family commenced destocking in the mid-2000s, allowing native vegetation to regenerate, with the island now an eco-tourism destination.
Groper Bay, Flinders Island
DAY FIVE, Wednesday, February 26
The absolute beachfront accommodation in idyllic Groper Bay, with spectacular views of the rugged coastline toward the Topgallant Isles is a great spot for a rest day of flying.
Snorkel in crystal clear waters, and watch dolphins, and blue groper at play from the front deck.
Use the 4WD to explore secluded coastline, rock-pools, shipwrecks, and historical buildings.
Exploring Flinders Island
DAY SIX, Thursday, February 27
Today's flying highlight is the Bunda Cliffs, starting at the Head of the Bight and stretching west to Eucla, just inside the Western Australia border. These limestone cliffs, some 60–120 meters (200–390 ft) in height, are over 100 kilometers long, making them the longest uninterrupted sea cliffs in the world.
Eucla's claim to fame is its telegraph station. The East-West Telegraph line, built in 1875–77, was the final link in Australia's telegraph infrastructure and connected all five colonies.
The stone telegraph station was built in 1898, replacing the weatherboard station began
operations on 9 December 1877.
The Eucla Telegraph Station ceased operation in 1927, and its ruins are slowly disappearing
under the encroaching dunes. At its peak, handled 600 telegraphs per day and was
home to 26 telegraphists and their families.
Eucla Telegraph Station Ruins
DAY SEVEN, Friday, February 28
The flight today can provide another opportunity to view the Bunda Cliffs. Arriving Clare Valley airfield, early afternoon, should give ample time to settle in, perhaps accompanied by a glass of
one of Clare Valley's renowned Rieslings.
The highlight of the brief stay at Clare is a banquet, with paired wines at the renowned Watervale Hotel
DAY EIGHT, Saturday, March 1
After a hearty breakfast, it is time to say good- bye to your fellow travelers and set off for home.
End of Safari Dinner, Watervale Hotel
