Flight: Lake Machattie and Diamantina Channel Country

The Channel Country region is putting on a rare & remarkable display after ex-cyclone Kirrily visited Western QLD in early 2024. The Diamantina River rose to levels only experienced a handful of times in the last 25 years, cutting road access to the town of Birdsville off for weeks. This floodwater has exquisitely rejuvenated the Channel Country and has left a sea of green floodplain in its wake. A true spectacle to witness from the air. Despite the majority of the rains falling in the Diamantina River Catchment area, the Eyre Creek also experienced notable flooding, enough to totally fill the Lake Machattie area. In 2023 a similar event attracted an abundance of birdlife to the area with a large population of pelicans nesting and feeding in the thousands of fibrous flooded channels.

All of this and more can be witnessed from the air on our Lake Machattie & Diamantina Channel Country scenic flight.

Points of Interest

Lake Machattie overflowing
Eyre Creek & Floodplains
Diamantina River & Floodplains
Channel Country
Bilpa Morea, Australia's largest claypan
Roseberth Station
Racecourse
Birdsville

Inclusions

Quality high wing aircraft with expert pilot guide

Price $480 pp for departures with 2 or more people

* Council Airport Surcharge additional $20 per person during Birdsville Races Week.
Duration: approx. 1 hour 30 min

Flight Route Details

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Spectacular flood water from the Georgina River and Eyre Creek flowing toward the Simpson Desert

Please note: Images and videos are from the 2023 flood event.

Play Video

Eyre Creek flood out

Lake Machattie flood out

Vast floodwaters creating a photographers heaven

Water leaving Lake Machattie for the Eyre Creek system

Flight Route Details

This awe-inspiring 90-minute scenic flight experience specifically highlights some of the most remarkable points within the channel country. Departing Birdsville and tracking to the north you will traverse the gibber plains of cattle stations pioneered by Sidney Kidman before arriving at the spectacular Lake Machattie area. This 900 sq km oasis has been transformed into a haven of vibrant green due to the recent flooding of the Eyre Creek. Flying over the wetlands affords you the opportunity to witness the abundance of birdlife including pelican nesting rookeries on the banks of the thousands of fibrous channels.

From here we track to the southeast over the largest claypan in Australia before intercepting the mighty Diamantina River. We follow the Diamantina's vast and aptly named "Channel Country" which has been exquisitely rejuvenated by the floodwater leaving a sea of green floodplain in its wake.

We continue past Roseberth Station and onward toward Birdsville taking in both the famous Birdsville Racecourse as well as the township before landing. The region is rich in fauna and flora and is a true spectacle of mother nature performing at her finest.