Phil and Maz have sold their historic Marree Hotel to Phil and Maria. 

After 10 years, Phil and Maz Turner have made the decision to let go of their much-loved outback pub.

The Marree Hotel is a beacon for travellers on the fringe of the Simpson Desert, 700 kilometres north of Adelaide at the junction of the Birdsville Track and the Oodnadatta Track.

Mr and Mrs Turner are retiring from their little slice of the outback and handing the reins over to new owners, Phil and Maria van Wegen.

"This is probably the biggest single investment in the hospitality industry in the north of South Australia," Mr Turner said.

Though bittersweet, Mr Turner says it's time for a change.

Mr Turner said he and his wife took the dive into outback hospitality with no experience,  and will always fondly remember taking the pub from where it was to what it's become — an outback tourist attraction.

"It's been a journey, and now the road to Marree is sealed, there'll be a new era of visitors coming to the far north."

New lease, new life

Phil and Maria van Wegen, from Port Augusta, say they're up for the challenge of publican life.

"This isn't the sort of thing that comes along very often," Mr van Wegen said.

"We are excited about what this means for tourism in the region."

The van Wegens also own and operate Arid Air, a scenic flight and outback tour operation based in Port Augusta that has been operating out of the Marree Hotel since July.

Mark Sutton, the chair of Regional Development Australia, Far North, said the van Wegens would bring a new direction to the famous hotel.

"To have a major investment in hospitality for this region is a critical development for tourism and the local economy."