The Painted Hills are one of South Australia’s most remarkable natural wonders, hidden deep within the vast Anna Creek Station in the remote outback near Lake Eyre. These striking hills are known for their layered bands of colour, formed over millions of years by mineral deposits and erosion. Shades of ochre, gold, pink, and red ripple across the landscape, forming patterns that appear almost hand-painted. As the sun moves across the sky, the colours shift and deepen, making the scene constantly change throughout the day.
Most travellers experience the Anna Creek Painted Hills from above on scenic flights departing from William Creek, offering breathtaking aerial views of this fragile and protected landscape. The remote location means the hills remain largely untouched, adding to their sense of mystery and wonder. For travellers exploring South Australia tours and experiences, seeing the Painted Hills is one of the most unforgettable highlights of the outback.
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The Painted Hills in South Australia sit within the immense Anna Creek Station, the world's largest cattle station, covering more than 23,000 square kilometres of outback country. The hills themselves stretch across a surprisingly broad section of desert landscape, with ridges, gullies and rolling formations shaped by ancient erosion. From the air, the terrain reveals sweeping bands of colour layered across the earth, creating a natural artwork that appears almost surreal against the surrounding desert plains.
Travellers often say the sheer scale of the landscape is what makes the Anna Creek and Painted Hills so memorable. Scenic flights allow visitors to appreciate the full size of the formations while watching the colours shift with the changing light.
The best time to see the Painted Hills in South Australia is during the cooler months from April to September, when clear skies make scenic flights over the region especially spectacular. Most visitors reach the hills via flights from William Creek while touring nearby icons such as Lake Eyre and the Marree region.
Along the journey, you’ll discover classic outback experiences, historic towns and vast desert landscapes. For travellers planning things to do in SA, visiting the Painted Hills offers a rare glimpse into the beauty of Australia’s remote interior.
The Painted Hills are a series of colourful, weathered hills within Anna Creek Station in outback South Australia. Their striking bands of red, orange, yellow and pink create one of the region’s most distinctive landscapes.
A scenic flight is one of the best ways to experience the Painted Hills, allowing visitors to appreciate the scale, colours and patterns of the landscape from above. Flights are available from locations including William Creek.
The Painted Hills are located on private land within Anna Creek Station and are not generally accessible by public road. Most visitors experience the landscape on a scenic flight rather than attempting to reach the area independently.
The Painted Hills get their distinctive colours from minerals within the ancient sedimentary layers. Millions of years of weathering and erosion have exposed these layers, creating the bands of red, orange, yellow, pink and other earthy tones visible today.
The Painted Hills and Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre are both located in remote outback South Australia. Their relative proximity means scenic flights in the region may provide opportunities to experience both landscapes, depending on the itinerary and conditions.
The landscape of the Painted Hills has developed over millions of years as ancient sedimentary layers have been shaped and exposed by erosion. This long geological history is responsible for the remarkable formations visitors see today.
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