WILLIAM CREEK AIR SAFARI 14 to JUNE 21, 2025
OUTBACK PUBS, DIG TREE, KATI THANDRA (LAKE EYRE), ARKAROOLA, BIRDSVILLE AND THARGOMINDAH
The seven-night small group William Creek Air Safari is on again next June.
Starting in Hawker, you will staying along the way at Arkaroola, William Creek, Innamincka and Birdsville, and Thargomindah.
There are many aerial scenic opportunities along the way. These include Wilpena Pound, Maree Man, Anna Creek Painted Hills and Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre).
At Nappa Merrie Dig Tree, you will gain an insight of the ill feted expedition of Burke and Wills. You will also visit Marree and Cameron Corner for lunch.
Staying in quality accommodation throughout, you will have the option of enjoying a range of ground activities such as the Arkaroola Ridgetop Tour and enjoy a drinks and nibbles on the Big Red at Birdsville.
With all ground arrangements taken care of, including many meals, pilots, family and friends flying in their aircraft need only enjoy the journey visiting many famous outback destinations.
Your Tour Includes:
- Seven nights of quality accommodation from Hawker to Thargomindah
- All meals - all breakfasts, three lunches and six dinners.
- Optional Arkaroola Ridgetop and Explore the Cosmos Tours
- Optional Innaminka Cooper Creek Cruise
- Optional Big Red Tour at Birdsville.
- The services of an experienced tour lead
Tour Price Guide:
- $2,400 per person double or twin share
- $3,100 per person single occupancy
Note, the total price of all Activities would be and additional $498 per person.
Book with confidence: If you are unable to 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, Sunday, June 16
The Safari starts at Hawker, a small community of around 300 people.
Surveyed during March 1880, the town was proclaimed on 1 July 1880, and named after George Charles Hawker.
The railway reached Hawker in 1881 and was a significant link on the Adelaide Darwin railway, particularly during World War II, until replaced by the standard gage line, which was routed about 100 kilometers to the west in 1980.
Hawker Railway Station
DAY TWO Monday, June 17
A late morning departure from Hawker will get you to Arkaroola early afternoon. Tracking via Leigh Creek take you past the spectacular Wilpena Pound.
Arkaroola was established in 1968 by geologist / biologist Reg Spriggs through his purchase of the pastoral lease. Currently it is 610 square kilometers of a combination of freehold and pastoral lease. Many abandoned small mines surround Arkaroola.
With pressure for continuing geological exploration, particularly for Uranium, The Arkaroola Protection Act 2012, enabled Arkaroola to be listed on the South Australian Heritage Register as a prerequisite for eventual national and world heritage listings.
Wilpena Pound
DAY THREE, Monday, June 16
During the Arkaroola rest day, there will be an opportunity to take the half day Ridgetop tour.
The Ridgetop country is the oldest part of the Flinders Ranges, much of it is granite, but also includes some even more ancient sedimentary rock that was laid down in an ancient sea nearly 1,600 million years ago.
Photo opportunities on this tour include Freeling Heights, a ring of saw toothed blue mountains that fringe the Mawson Plateau and the 1,000 meter deep Yudnamutana Gorge.
Flinders Ranges near Arkaroola
DAY FOUR, Tuesday, June 17
Leaving Arkaroola, with a lunch stop at Maree along the way, the flight route can take us over over Marree Man — a modern geoglyph depicting an Australian indigenous man with a boomerang or stick. The figure is over 4 kilometers tall with a 28 kilometre perimeter.
Continuing on, we can now head for the Painted Hills, located on Anna Creek Station - the largest cattle station in the world, at 24,000 square kilometres.
The Hills are a 30 by 10 km area of sandstone outcroppings of vivid colours that emerge suddenly out of the desert and are a result of 50 million years of climate change that have laid bare the
desert’s oxidised rock strata.
For the remained of the flight it might be worth making a short detour to the Prominent Hill mine. The William Creek Hotel was established in 1887 as a boarding house. It became a stop on the old Ghan in 1888, and received its hotel license in 1935.
Anna Creek Painted Hills
DAY FIVE, Wednesday, June 18
The journey today to Innamincka will include a visit to historic Dig Tree at Nappa Merrie. There are actually two trees here.
The first is the famous Dig Tree with instructions on how to locate the food cache blazed into it. About 30 meters downstream, is the second, the Face Tree which has Burke’s face carved into it. This was done in 1898 by John Dick.
On arrival at Innamincka, there will be an opportunity for a short cruise of the famous Cooper Creek later that afternoon.
Burke and Wills Dig Tree, Nappa Merrie
DAY SIX, Thursday, June 19
Off to Birdsville today, staying at the famous Birdsville Hotel. There should be plenty of time before the Big Red Sunset Tour to enjoy a cold drink in the pub or perhaps sample a curried camel pie at the Bakery.
The Big Red Sunset Tour, takes you for a tour around town, including a visit to the Birdsville racetrack before ending on the top of the 30-meter-high Big Red Sandhill for sunset, along with drinks and nibbles.
BIrdsville
DAY SEVEN, Friday, June 20
The journey today to Innaminka will include a visit to historic Dig Tree at Nappa Merrie. There are actually two trees here.
In 1893, Thargomindah had the first electric street lighting in Australia, and was third in the world to have hydro electric street lighting after London and Paris.
The historic hospital, Hydro Power Plant and Leahy House built in the 1880s are good places to visit if you have time.
DAY EIGHT Saturday, June 21
After a hearty breakfast it is time to say good bye to your fellow travelers and set off for home.
Old Thargomindah Hospital
