The Painted Hills, Anna Creek, South Australia

I had never heard of the Painted Hills on the Anna Creek Station until July this year, when we took a scienic flight over them.  This is some official information about them:

THE ANNA CREEK PAINTED HILLS, previously called the SECRET PAINTED HILLS, are a spectacular and recently discovered section of the pristine Breakaways country in the far north of South Australia.

It is a rocky outcrop of large and small hills, which emerge suddenly out of a flat, desert landscape. The hills are approximately 20 kilometres x 18 kilometres in size. It is believed that the Anna Creek Painted Hills are the leftover effects of 50 million years of climate change, with the climate going from glacial to wet and semi-tropical over million of years.

The changing colours of the hills are believed to be a result of oxidisation. The deep red is due to the oxidation of iron in the rocks, while the white sections are where iron has leached away.

"MAGIC OF THE PAINTED HILLS REVEALED"

"Deep in the South Australian outback lies the painted desert a fragile lunar landscape of ochre-red and mustard yellow rock weathered over millions of years and as large as a regional city ... People are already comparing these areas in terms of their tourism potential to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Bungle Bungles".

These clay and iron-oxide formations are estimated to cover an expanse of 20km wide and 10km long. The Painted Desert is according to Dr. Gehling, the leftover effects of about 50 million years of climate change - the climate has gone from glacial to wet and semi tropical over millions of years.

Adelaide University geologist John Foden said the rock formations were extraordinary - it seems to me something to do with deep weathering and erosion of an ancient landscape - the changing colours were a result of oxidation. Station owners were doing their utmost to protect the site due to its fragility and would in no way allow four-wheel drives to be able to go there.

(The AustralianNewspaper 8/7/06 P.1)

Depart William Creek on unique trip to view the Anna Creek Painted Hills set in the outback of South Australia - an area of 30km by 10km of sandstone hills in pristine condition and incredible colours. No roads exist in this area and can only be view by air.
A unique and spectacular opportunity to view one of Australia's hidden iconic landmarks. (Very few have seen these hills in the last 50 years). William Creek is located in one of the most remote areas of Australia.

Flights Depart hourly every day, between 8.00am and 5.00pm.

Join us in viewing this amazing landscape from the air.

Rate Guide: $260.00 per adult; $234 per child. (Duration approx. 1 Hour)

- See more at: http://www.wrightsair.com.au/more-information/anna-creek-painted-hills.aspx#sthash.SymDlFbh.dpuf

If you are ever in the area and have the opportunity, do take the scenic flight.  We did one that included flying over Lake Eyre as well - you can do individual flights that fly over one or the other, but the fully inclusive one is good value for money if you can afford it, and really breathtaking.

Thus followeth many pictures taken by me of the Painted Hills from the plane: