Grand Flying Tour

Pressed for time?

Don’t like to spend hours driving in a car? Want to go to more places in your limited holiday time? Want to see the outback from the air? Or do you just get a thrill from flying in a light plane?

If any of the above are true for you consider taking an Outback Beds Tours Grand Flying Tour. We have designed our Grand Flying Tour to take you to some of the best Outback Beds locations plus a stop at the Flinders Ranges so you can fly over the magnificent landscapes of Wilpena Pound and Arkaroola or maybe even the vast Lake Eyre if the rains have been good.

In addition to our Grand Flying Tour, you can also do our other tours as an Outback Bed Flying Tour. Our Great Rivers Tour will look terrific from the air. You fly above the Darling River, get a bird’s eye view of the Murray Mouth and The Coorong, and explore Lakes Alexandrina and Albert, all of which we will not be able to do by car.

The Grand Flying Tour we have put together visits some of our favourite properties. Many Outback Beds properties have private landing strips or nearby town air ports. You can see all the Outback Beds properties that you can access by our charter plane here. You can develop your own Flying Route if you have particular property you want to visit or parts of our region that you want to explore.

We charter the aircraft from long established aircraft charter companies with impeccable safety records and seek out the pilots with many hours of experience flying in the outback. We charter a range of plane sizes but commonly the charter planes can take an additional 3, 6 or 8 passengers (after accounting for the pilot and your tour guide) but larger planes are also available.

Have a look at our Grand Flying Tour, tweak it to suit your holiday objectives or, as always, contact us and we can use our local knowledge to work with you to put together a great holiday.

Facts

Where: Hay, Louth, Quilpie, Broken Hill, and Pooncarie

Starting point: Adelaide

When: On demand

Duration: 7 days and 6 nights

Tour size: Maximum number of participants is 8 plus pilot and tour guide.

Fitness level: Minimal level of fitness required. Some optional short walks.

Best season: Great flying all year round.

Cost: See this year’s schedule of costs here or email us for more information.

Day 1

HAY

Today we will fly from Adelaide over the Adelaide Hills wine region, fly over the north western corner of Victoria state and over the Hay Plains to Corynnia Station. Corynnia Station is a 17,000 acre busy working property and Julie and Bruce have chosen to share their unique, historic and truly Australian part of the world with us. Corynnia produces high quality Merino wool and meat from about 8,000 sheep and the irrigated cropping programme includes cotton, grains and sheep fodder. Bruce will take us on a private tour of Corynnia where he will share his passion for agriculture and explains his use of technologically innovative farming methods. After Bruce’s tour we will head to the homestead terrace for sundowners. Tonight’s meal is a highlight. Enjoy a leisurely silver service dinner around the historic Homestead wool table with our hosts. Dinner will feature homestead garden and local produce. Tonight’s accommodation is in Maxies Retreat. This is Corynnia’s new, authentically Australian lodge designed in shearers quarters style but with all the comforts.

Day 1

Day 2

LOUTH

Day 2 sees us flying to Trilby Station. Staying with Liz and Garry Murray on their historic 6th generation, 320,000 acre sheep and goat station on the banks of the Darling River is described by many as their ultimate Outback NSW experience. Liz and Gary have raised their four children at Trilby, are passionate about their outback way of life and enjoy sharing their experiences and lifestyle with visitors to the station. Recapture the spirit of the wide, open spaces as we take a peek at the station with their 'mud map' tours, or totally relax on the riverbank under the shade of the massive river red gums or paddle a canoe on this great river

Day 2

Day 3

QUILPIE

On Day 3 we head to the Channel Country in South West Queensland. Welcome to Moble Homestead, the home of fourth generation pastoralists, Brian and Kylie Rutledge. Moble affords a range of landscapes to inspire the artist and the bird watcher, including serene waterholes along its many creek systems and the rugged beauty of the Grey Range. The Rutledge family are proud wool producers and keen environmentalists, passionate about their country and its sustainability. We will spend a day relaxing in the beautiful gardens of Moble. Towards evening we will hike to the summit of the Grey Range for sweeping views over the country side and enjoy sundowners on the ridge and watch the colours change across the country as the sun sets.

Day 3

Day 4

Broken Hill

We are back in New South Wales for a day of exploring the highlights of the intriguing heritage listed city of Broken Hill. We will pick the itinerary on the day but it may include exploring Day Dream Mine (an old silver mine set in a fabulous landscape); a visit to Silverton and a walk the heritage trail to enjoy unparalleled views as far as the Flinders Ranges; the Living Desert and Sculpture Symposium, the Regional Art Gallery; or the Geocentre to learn about Broken Hill’s rich mining heritage. Lunch at the Silverton pub (the hotel featured on many beer commercials that are set in the outback) and the evening will be back at Broken Hill at the beautify restored Imperial Hotel. Our dinner at The Palace Hotel (also known as the Priscilla pub made famous by the 1994 movie “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”).

Day 4

Day 5

Broken Hill

Broken Hill has too many attractions to see with a quick stop over. An additional day allows us to take in the sights at a more relaxing pace. Today we may visit the attractions from Day 4 that we weren’t able to get to, or perhaps visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service or the School of the Air and observe a teacher giving a lesson over the internet to students hundreds of kilometres away (during school term). An extra evening will allow us to visit Broken Hill Astronomy for a lesson in, and observation of, the night sky.

Day 5

Day 6

Pooncarie

Historic Bindara Station is located on the banks on the Darling River in outback New South Wales. The beautiful historic homestead, outbuildings, and cemetery are a living history that can be explored firsthand. The area abounds in birds and and wildlife. An important part of the station experience is to observe the day to day running of the property. Bindara encourages you to share their lifestyle and gain a taste of the real outback. The farm is "off grid" with emphasis on using eco technology; the property is powered with a combination of solar, wind, gas and bio diesel. You will stay in the property’s farm cottages.

Day 6

Day 7

Return to Adelaide

After your full breakfast featuring farm meats and organic farm produce grown on Bindara Station we will take a guided farm tour exploring the over 8 km of river country which forms the boundary of Bindara Station. Bindara is a natural haven for three species of kangaroos, emus, echidnas, turtles and many reptiles including lizards and snakes. Your tour will also take you to European history and Indigenous cultural points of interest. We will return to Adelaide in the middle of the afternoon.

Day 7

Upcoming International Tours

The Great South African Sardine Run

July 10th – 18th 2020

Japanese Temple, Mountain Forest & Food Tour

October 27th – November 2nd 2020

Upcoming Tours

april, 2024

All Australian tours are “on demand” tours but look for our specials on our blog page.

Have any questions?

Feel free to reach out and we're happy to answer any questions you may have.

Want to extend your Flying Tour?

Want to see more or travel at a more leisurely pace? Add one or more of these options to your tour or swap one or two of the above itinerary for the suggestions below or one of your own destinations.

Additional 2 days & 2 nights

Fly to Renmark and travel the short distance to Wilkadene for a stay on a luxury house boat for 2 nights and a full day on the river. Located on a picturesque backwater of the Murray River, Wilkadene Station is home to the Woolshed Brewery and luxury 5 star houseboats. Sleep on board and in the day tour the river, swim, read, rest and visit the craft brewery for some sunset ales.

Spend all day on the houseboat as we leisurely cruise along the Murray River past spectacular red cliffs, long white sandbars, river red gum forests and fascinating wetlands. Read a book, swim in the river or take an afternoon nap. Pull in at the 100 year old Woolshed Brewery for a drink and lunch overlooking the river.

Additional 2 days & 2 nights

Fly to Balranald for 2 nights at beautiful Lake Paika Station. During the day we will take a full day tour to Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area and Mungo Lakes National Park.

Beautiful Lake Paika Station is one of the oldest properties in the area. In 1899, Lake Paika & Paika Creek became the site of Australia’s first environmental movement to protect a wetland. Lake Paika is nestled on a peninsula of Lake Paika. Take a step back in time, unwind, relax and enjoy unique accommodation in the restored self-contained workmans’ quarters. Di at Lake Paika is a great cook, we will have dinner out doors overlooking the lake with a campfire in cooler months to keep us warm. we will have a leisurely morning at Lake Paika. After breakfast, enjoy a walk around the property, a paddle on the lake in canoes or a cruise on a pontoon, bird watching, or a morning of simply resting.

The following day we will take a tour to Mungo National Park in the Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area. At Mungo we will walk with an experienced National Parks Aboriginal Discovery guide back in time on the famous Walls of China. These sites have immense cultural significance. You’ll be welcomed to Country and learn about the 40,000-plus years of Aboriginal cultural history of Lake Mungo and the Traditional Owners. You’ll also hear about about Willandra Lakes.

Additional 1 day (1 night)

Land at Kilcowera Station in S-W Queensland. At Kilcowera we will join owners Toni and Greg on a personalised farm tour. Kilcoweras’ eastern boundary is shared with Currawinya National Park. Greg and Toni have exclusive access to the western side of the 3000 hectare, saline, Lake Wyara. Explore the many gorges, small caves, creeks and waterholes that you will find on your way. Do a little bird watching and wildlife spotting while having lunch or smoko by a peaceful waterhole. If we are arriving on the right day we can join Toni or Greg on their weekly Zenonie Station water run. You will be checking the stock, the fences, the troughs, the level of the water in the tanks and keeping an eye out for anything unusual such as dingo tracks. If you want to know more about station life this is the way to learn what goes on all year around.

We will spend the night at Kilcowera Station with Toni and Greg. Kilcowera Station is a large organically run cattle property 1200 kilometres west of Brisbane on the Dowling Track.

Additional 1 day & 1 night

We are getting quite remote now but it is worth it as we are entering the fantastic landscape of the Flinders Ranges. We’ll take a scenic flight over Wilpena Pound, St Mary’s Peak and Arkaroola. If the season is right and there is water in the massive Lake Eyre we must also take a scenic flight over the lake. We will stay on a station near Wilpena Pound so that if the opportunity arises we can do some hiking in the National Park.

Additional 1 day & 1 night

A stay at Nelia Gaari gives you the opportunity to sleep under the stars in a swag in front of a campfire (alternate indoor accommodation is also available). Nelia Gaari is between Wilcannia and Menindee in Western NSW. The property is farmed by Greg and Lily.

Recreational fishing is a popular sport and pastime on the Darling River. Whilst at Nelia Gaari you can enjoy fishing for Murray cod and golden perch which are the most popular fish, or have a go at catching yabbies and shrimp. Or play a game of golf on our new 9 hole golf course The Darling River Fairways.

At certain times of the year Greg and Lily are shearing, crutching or lamb marking. We are welcome to take the 30km drive to their woolshed to experience what goes on at these very busy times on a sheep and cattle station.

Transport in a luxury 8 seater vehicle. Guides.
Accommodation.
All meals unless specified.
Water and water bottles.
Entrance fees where applicable.

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