Where to holiday in 2026 in Australia - Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre

This is a curated list of tour options and links for visiting Kati Thanda Lake Eyre to help you shortlist ideas to holiday in Australia this year!

Belinda

07 Mar 2026 — 7 min read

With all the overwhelming things going on in the world many people are going to be looking for ideas to holiday at home here in Australia.

Widespread flooding and bushfires means there are lots of regional destinations that could really use your support over the next year as business try and recover from damage and lost income.

It also means there is going to be post fire and flood ecosystem changes that are interesting to see as many arid parts of Australia come to life from the influx of water!

While I'm biased, I do think it's going to be a really exciting year to holiday in regional Australia!

This is the first in a series of articles to help you shortlist options for visiting some Australia's bucket list destinations.

Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre

With water pouring in there is a growing expectation that Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is going to be very full in early 2026, giving you the chance to see unique plants and birds that thrive after floods.

How to visit

Most tours to visit Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre leave and return from Adelaide unless they are part of a longer cross country tour.

Because of its sheer size, the enormity of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre in flood is best viewed from the sky. You can fly over with a local tour operator or visit the region as part of a longer tour which will either include a flight with a local operator or offer it as a tour ad-on.

Alternatively, if like me you prefer to keep your feet on the ground you can visit some of the lake viewing areas.

Long Weekend or Mini Break

Australian Air Safaris

If you want to escape reality but can only squeeze in a shorter trip on short notice an Air Safari is a great option for a truly bucket list experience, with Air Safaris starting from 2-3 days out of Melbourne and Sydney.

https://australianairsafaris.com.au/tours/lake-eyre/

Longer Tours

Comfortable Standard

10 Day South Australia Outback Adventure - Adelaide Return (Intrepid Travel Small Group)

A certified B Corp and Australian Owned, Intrepid Travel is one of the leading ethical travel companies in the world.

This 'Original' (accommodated) style trip is for those who enjoy getting outdoors for moderate walks and has the option to pay to add on a flight on day 5 of the tour. It is more affordable option than the luxury tours below and includes local experiences,

8 Day South Australian Outback Adventure - Adelaide Return (AAT Kings Small Group)

With the flight over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre included this small group tour by AAT Kings also takes you on a loop to see highlights out Outback South Australia.

7 Day Adelaide to Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Small Group Eco Safari with SA Eco Tours

SA Eco Tours is certified by Eco-Tourism Australia and includes loads of regional destinations in their itineraries. The tour offers flights over Lake Eyre as an optional extra.

Luxury Tour Companies

7 Day Lake Eyre and Flinders Ranges or 8 day Lake Eyre and the Painted Hills - Adelaide Return with APT

Australian Owned and beloved by its many repeat customers, the luxury and all inclusive experience of APT (flight included) is a special way to visit a destination.

By Train - The Ghan

If you have every considered doing the Ghan, Journey Beyond offers an optional upgrade of a Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre scenic flight at Coober Pedy, which is a stop option only when travelling Darwin to Adelaide (North to South). You can read more about it at the bottom if their page highlighting the off train adventures:

4wd Self Driving

The South Australian government has a comprehensive guide on accessing the lake viewing areas from William Creek and Maree a well as plenty of other handy info if you would prefer to do a 4wd self drive option.