“It was so fascinating and I have wanted to get my pilot’s licence ever since,” Peter said.
A fair few years might have passed since that faithful flight but finally Peter has been able to realise his long-held dream — he now has a commercial pilot’s licence and has established his own business: Murray Darling Scenic Flights.
The flights offer routes over the stunning Central Murray basin and include iconic sites like Lake Mungo, Yanga National Park, Gayini wetlands and along the Murray River.
Personalised itineraries and charter flights are also available which can include ground tours.
“The view from the air gives you a whole different perspective and the contrast across Australia is incredible,” Peter said.
As a working farmer, Peter also gives the tours a unique perspective.
“When you live in the country you have to know things, how the landscape works and the importance of a connected river system; I can pass my knowledge on to others which has been a big motivator for me,” he said.
Peter made his first flight in January and business has been steady ever since.
“I have a genuine love for my community and landscape and it is great to be able to share that with my passengers.”
Peter, along with his wife Wendy and kids Maggie and Archie, farm on 1000 acres (404ha) on the Thule Lagoon near Caldwell.
Originally an irrigated mixed sheep and rice farm, the family has borne the brunt of tough conditions brought on by droughts and reduced water allocations which ultimately moved them toward establishing their own off-farm business.
It might have taken a few years to complete, with Peter originally starting his commercial licence journey back in November 2008, but it has certainly been worth it.
“It was during the Millennium Drought that we decided to sell the sheep and invest the money into me getting a commercial licence,” Peter said.
In May 2010, Peter finished his commercial exam and then it began to rain, and then flood, and then he was back growing rice again.
In 2017-18 and 2018-19 after two consecutive years of zero irrigation allocation the couple made the decision for Peter to go back and finally finish his licence.
“In 2020 I started to apply for jobs and then COVID came along and business was putting pilots off not employing them. I rang around and someone said to me, you live in a nice part of the world why don’t you set up your own business?”
And that was the beginning of Murray Darling Scenic Flights.
In 2021 Peter obtained an air operator’s certificate, which was the final piece in the puzzle, and 14 years after he first started, allowed him to fly paid passengers around the countryside.
“The country is just spectacular at the moment with everything in flood, particularly along the Murrumbidgee and Lachlan rivers.
“We have done a few trips around the Barmah Millewa and Moira Lakes and a few trips out to Lake Tyrrell which is a spectacular pink colour when it has water in it. We are expecting things to get busy up around Lake Eyre and Birdsville too.”
The couple has had really good feedback from passengers already and it is looking forward to seeing where this goes in the future.
“We care deeply for the river country and we just love to share our knowledge and experience with anyone,” he said.
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