Lake Eyre and Flinders Ranges

About This Cruise

We’ve been guiding travellers to Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre for many years, building a deep understanding of this remarkable, ever-changing landscape.

Type

Departure Date

19 August 2027

Cruise Line

APT Guided Tours & River Cruises

Select Your Cabin Type

Itinerary

Day 1

August 19, 2027

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Day 2

August 20, 2027

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Day 2

August 20, 2027

Port Augusta, South Australia, Australia

Day 2

August 20, 2027

Port Augusta, South Australia, Australia

Day 3

August 21, 2027

Port Augusta, South Australia, Australia

Day 3

August 21, 2027

Marree, Southern Australia, Australia

Day 4

August 22, 2027

Marree, Southern Australia, Australia

Day 4

August 22, 2027

Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, Australia

Day 4

August 22, 2027

Birdsville, Queensville, Australia

Day 5

August 23, 2027

Birdsville, Queensville, Australia

Day 5

August 23, 2027

Wilpena Pound, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia, Australia

Day 6

August 24, 2027

Wilpena Pound, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia, Australia

Day 7

August 25, 2027

Wilpena Pound, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia, Australia

Day 7

August 25, 2027

Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia

Day 7

August 25, 2027

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Australia

Adelaide, South Australia

Welcome to Adelaide. We will meet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel for check in. Settle in to your room and enjoy free time before meeting your fellow travellers and Tour Director during a welcome dinner at Luma, the hotel's fine-dining restaurant and bar.

Australia

Adelaide, South Australia

Travel to Port Augusta, situated at the head of Spencer Gulf. This iconic town sits at the crossroads of Australia, where the Sydney-Perth and Adelaide-Alice Springs railway lines intersect. Today you’ll also visit the award-winning Wadlata Outback Centre, where a walk through its ‘Tunnel of Time’ provides the perfect introduction to this magnificent region by introducing you to the fascinating stories from the Dreamtime to the early explorers who embarked on camel-back voyages in search of an inland sea.  

Australia

Port Augusta, South Australia

Travel to Port Augusta, situated at the head of Spencer Gulf. This iconic town sits at the crossroads of Australia, where the Sydney-Perth and Adelaide-Alice Springs railway lines intersect. Today you’ll also visit the award-winning Wadlata Outback Centre, where a walk through its ‘Tunnel of Time’ provides the perfect introduction to this magnificent region by introducing you to the fascinating stories from the Dreamtime to the early explorers who embarked on camel-back voyages in search of an inland sea.  

Australia

Port Augusta, South Australia

Travel to Port Augusta, situated at the head of Spencer Gulf. This iconic town sits at the crossroads of Australia, where the Sydney-Perth and Adelaide-Alice Springs railway lines intersect. Today you’ll also visit the award-winning Wadlata Outback Centre, where a walk through its ‘Tunnel of Time’ provides the perfect introduction to this magnificent region by introducing you to the fascinating stories from the Dreamtime to the early explorers who embarked on camel-back voyages in search of an inland sea.  

Australia

Port Augusta, South Australia

This morning, explore the Historic railway town of Quorn, filled with charming heritage buildings that have been a backdrop for films including Gallipoli and Wolf Creek. Traverse the Pichi Richi Pass, a heritage steam railway line. Stop for lunch at Parachilna’s famous Prairie Hotel, a family-owned pub that was first licensed in 1876. Continue to the stunning Aroona Dam and admire its spectacular ochre-coloured pits, then call in at the ghost town of Farina, once a thriving community with around 600 residents, before arriving at Marree.

Australia

Marree, Southern Australia

This morning, explore the Historic railway town of Quorn, filled with charming heritage buildings that have been a backdrop for films including Gallipoli and Wolf Creek. Traverse the Pichi Richi Pass, a heritage steam railway line. Stop for lunch at Parachilna’s famous Prairie Hotel, a family-owned pub that was first licensed in 1876. Continue to the stunning Aroona Dam and admire its spectacular ochre-coloured pits, then call in at the ghost town of Farina, once a thriving community with around 600 residents, before arriving at Marree.

Australia

Marree, Southern Australia

Set off along the Oodnadatta Track towards Lake Eyre South, where you’ll enjoy the dazzling salt flats subject to weather conditions. Keep an eye out for unusual creatures including the Lake Eyre dragon, as well as a variety of birdlife including corellas and wild emerald budgerigars. Afterwards, enjoy a pub lunch at William Creek and then embark on your Signature Experience.Later, relax in the comfort of a 4WD coach whilst you travel to Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert National Park. Witness the sun setting while enjoying drinks and nibbles and watch as nature displays its very own light show. You will spend the night in Birdsville at the famous Birdsville Hotel.Signature Experience – Scenic Flight Over Kati Thanda-Lake EyreBoard an included scenic flight over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, where you will be able to gain a bird’s-eye view and true appreciation of this magnificent sight. Absorb the beautiful range of vibrant blue and pink hues – even when dry, the lake bed dazzles with its patchwork of geometric patterns. From this vantage point, you will see how it cuts an amazing track though the Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert, all the way from Queensland, as you head for Poeppel Corner and the Big Red sand dune, prior to landing at Birdsville.

Australia

Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre

Set off along the Oodnadatta Track towards Lake Eyre South, where you’ll enjoy the dazzling salt flats subject to weather conditions. Keep an eye out for unusual creatures including the Lake Eyre dragon, as well as a variety of birdlife including corellas and wild emerald budgerigars. Afterwards, enjoy a pub lunch at William Creek and then embark on your Signature Experience.Later, relax in the comfort of a 4WD coach whilst you travel to Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert National Park. Witness the sun setting while enjoying drinks and nibbles and watch as nature displays its very own light show. You will spend the night in Birdsville at the famous Birdsville Hotel.Signature Experience – Scenic Flight Over Kati Thanda-Lake EyreBoard an included scenic flight over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, where you will be able to gain a bird’s-eye view and true appreciation of this magnificent sight. Absorb the beautiful range of vibrant blue and pink hues – even when dry, the lake bed dazzles with its patchwork of geometric patterns. From this vantage point, you will see how it cuts an amazing track though the Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert, all the way from Queensland, as you head for Poeppel Corner and the Big Red sand dune, prior to landing at Birdsville.

Australia

Birdsville, Queensville

Set off along the Oodnadatta Track towards Lake Eyre South, where you’ll enjoy the dazzling salt flats subject to weather conditions. Keep an eye out for unusual creatures including the Lake Eyre dragon, as well as a variety of birdlife including corellas and wild emerald budgerigars. Afterwards, enjoy a pub lunch at William Creek and then embark on your Signature Experience.Later, relax in the comfort of a 4WD coach whilst you travel to Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert National Park. Witness the sun setting while enjoying drinks and nibbles and watch as nature displays its very own light show. You will spend the night in Birdsville at the famous Birdsville Hotel.Signature Experience – Scenic Flight Over Kati Thanda-Lake EyreBoard an included scenic flight over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, where you will be able to gain a bird’s-eye view and true appreciation of this magnificent sight. Absorb the beautiful range of vibrant blue and pink hues – even when dry, the lake bed dazzles with its patchwork of geometric patterns. From this vantage point, you will see how it cuts an amazing track though the Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert, all the way from Queensland, as you head for Poeppel Corner and the Big Red sand dune, prior to landing at Birdsville.

Australia

Birdsville, Queensville

Depart Birdsville and follow the vast intermittent Diamantina River before returning to Marree via the eastern side of Lake Eyre North, the Cooper Creek and Lake Eyre South. Fly over the Marree Man, the largest geoglyph and work of art in the world, to this date little is known about its origin. Upon arrival, drive through the Flinders Ranges to Wilpena Pound and enjoy dinner at your hotel later this evening.

Australia

Wilpena Pound, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia

Depart Birdsville and follow the vast intermittent Diamantina River before returning to Marree via the eastern side of Lake Eyre North, the Cooper Creek and Lake Eyre South. Fly over the Marree Man, the largest geoglyph and work of art in the world, to this date little is known about its origin. Upon arrival, drive through the Flinders Ranges to Wilpena Pound and enjoy dinner at your hotel later this evening.

Australia

Wilpena Pound, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia

This morning is yours to explore at leisure. Perhaps take a scenic flight over Wilpena Pound to gain a true appreciation of this natural wonder (additional expense). Or alternatively embark on a self-guided walk to the spectacular Wilpena Pound, a natural amphitheatre of mountains in the heart of the national park. After Lunch, venture into Flinders Ranges National Park and follow in the footsteps of Douglas Mawson as you spend the afternoon in the geological site of Brachina Gorge, an important refuge for the endangered yellow-footed rock wallaby.Enrich Your Experience – Wilpena Pound Scenic FlightPerhaps take a scenic flight over Wilpena Pound to gain a true appreciation of this natural wonder. 

Australia

Wilpena Pound, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, South Australia

After breakfast, drive to the Clare Valley, one of Australia's oldest wine regions, where you'll savour a Signature Experience. Afterwards, return to Adelaide, where your tour concludes. Signature Experience – Dine at the Watervale HotelVisit the highly acclaimed Watervale Hotel, a destination dining establishment, for an exquisite meal featuring locally grown produce from the hotel's own bio-dynamic organic farm. The region is renowned for its crisp riesling, bold cabernet sauvignon and shiraz wines. Enjoy a delicious meal, celebrating a memorable holiday with your fellow travellers.

Australia

Clare Valley, South Australia

After breakfast, drive to the Clare Valley, one of Australia's oldest wine regions, where you'll savour a Signature Experience. Afterwards, return to Adelaide, where your tour concludes. Signature Experience – Dine at the Watervale HotelVisit the highly acclaimed Watervale Hotel, a destination dining establishment, for an exquisite meal featuring locally grown produce from the hotel's own bio-dynamic organic farm. The region is renowned for its crisp riesling, bold cabernet sauvignon and shiraz wines. Enjoy a delicious meal, celebrating a memorable holiday with your fellow travellers.

Australia

Adelaide, South Australia

After breakfast, drive to the Clare Valley, one of Australia's oldest wine regions, where you'll savour a Signature Experience. Afterwards, return to Adelaide, where your tour concludes. Signature Experience – Dine at the Watervale HotelVisit the highly acclaimed Watervale Hotel, a destination dining establishment, for an exquisite meal featuring locally grown produce from the hotel's own bio-dynamic organic farm. The region is renowned for its crisp riesling, bold cabernet sauvignon and shiraz wines. Enjoy a delicious meal, celebrating a memorable holiday with your fellow travellers.

Overview

We’ve been guiding travellers to Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre for many years, building a deep understanding of this remarkable, ever-changing landscape. There is always something extraordinary to experience here but right now is different. Floodwaters are predicted to rival those of the 1970s, surpassing even last year’s record, creating a rare and breathtaking spectacle not to be missed. On this Small Group Tour, limited to just 22 guests, see the vast salt flats of Australia’s largest inland lake and visit legendary outback towns such as Port Augusta and Birdsville. Stay in the only accommodation within Flinders Ranges National Park and get up close to the colossal Wilpena Pound.