Lake Eyre & the Birdsville Races

Depart Moorabbin Airport at 8.00am. Fly northwest into South Australia and the Flinders Ranges, where the sun exposes the vibrant palette of colours on the mountains. A 30-minute drive brings you to Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary.

On the famous Ridgetop Tour, travel in an open-air 4WD vehicle to Sillers Lookout, where you’ll experience the ruggedness and beauty of the Northern Flinders Ranges. The area is home to over 160 species of birds and the shy and endangered yellow-footed rock wallaby, along with craggy mountains, towering granite peaks, magnificent gorges and mysterious waterholes.

After dinner, enjoy fantastic views of the stars and constellations in the clear, dark, night sky at the resort’s observatory.

Overnight: Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, Mawson room

An early start will have you landing in Birdsville late morning. Check out the wonders of Birdsville on race day, have a quick drink in the iconic Birdsville Hotel and take in the carnival atmosphere before a short drive out of town to the Birdsville Racecourse.

Have a few drinks, a flutter on the horses, watch them carve up the red dirt and be entertained by the colourful characters. If you’re feeling dapper, you could show off your sartorial elegance in Fashions on the Field. Lunch and drinks at the Races are at your own expense.

Winnings in hand (hopefully!), hop back on the aircraft for the short journey to Innamincka in South Australia’s remote northeast. The Innamincka Hotel is another authentic outback pub with comfortable rooms and quality food with an outback focus.

Overnight: Innamincka Hotel

Innamincka is famous for being the place pioneering explorers Burke and Wills set up camp for their ill-fated expedition. A short tour will give you an insight into their adventures.

Heading homeward this morning, make a bit of a detour further into South Australia for a flyover of Kati Thanda- Lake Eyre, magnificent whether in its usual dry, flat, salt-plain state or during those rare periods when rains in the gulf have filtered down to create an oasis in the desert.

Fly over the fascinating Marree Man, with its intriguing story – who put it there in the 1990s, and why? Stop for lunch at the Marree Hotel and perhaps find answers to these questions before landing at Moorabbin Airport at 7.30pm.