Other mistake: During the scene when Belloq arrives at the Well of Souls, the poles to the Ark can be seen leaning up against the crate whenever the shot is from outside the Well of Souls. When the shot is from Indy's point of view, looking up and out of the Well of Souls, the poles are missing from the scene.
Other mistake: While the fire is falling into the Ark, one shot before it closes, two lids can be seen at the same time. The first is on the floor of the Altar, with the two golden angels on the lid being very visible (the one on the left is the most visible), while the second lid is the one falling from the sky.
Continuity mistake: When the portal opens over Geheimhaven, you can see that in the sky and inside the portal there are a lot of blue clouds. Two shots later, in the shot inside the portal when the fire turns on itself, the clouds have disappeared and the portal's interior is now the normal night sky (black and with one star visible).
Continuity mistake: When the Ark is 'sucking' all the fire, the klieg on the left of the screen points towards the altar. Two shots later (and after the Ark closes), that klieg points towards Indy and Marion.
Continuity mistake: Just as the ghosts fly out of the Ark, a soldier can be seen on the left side of the altar, with nothing in his hands. Two shots later, that soldier is now carrying a banner.
Continuity mistake: As the ghosts dance around the pole to which Indy and Marion are tied, large clouds can be seen in the sky behind them. However, after a ghost circles Dietrich and passes in front of the camera, it can be seen in the background that the clouds behind Indy and Marion have disappeared.
Continuity mistake: As the ghosts dance around Dietrich, Belloq, and Toht, the Frenchman slowly looks up as the column of mist ascends upwards from the Ark, almost looking straight ahead. In the next shot, Belloq is looking down again; the shape of the mist has changed, and the column of mist is now moving to the right.
Continuity mistake: While the Ark is killing the soldiers, the cameraman is hit twice, as the first hit is shown in the first wide shot of the dying soldiers and the second when the camera focuses on the cameraman. Also, during the second hit, a beam passes through the camera and strikes the cameraman in the face, although he remains standing. In the next shot, the cameraman's body is suddenly on the ground and the beam that had killed him disappears.
Audio problem: When the camera focuses on Belloq as he looks into the Ark while the Holy Fire is rising from it, Toht's screams are inaudible, despite being right next to the Frenchman. Only when the shot changes to show Toht, his screams can now be heard.
Continuity mistake: As Gobler's jeep is returning to the road after being hit by Indy, Gobler's goggles move from his eyes to his cap between shots.
Continuity mistake: When Dietrich and Toht look at the ghosts that pass behind them, the column of mist that is coming out of the Ark disappears.
Continuity mistake: Between the shots of Indy dressing as a Nazi and Captain Mohler reporting to Belloq and Dietrich, the Wurrfler appears to have advanced several inches forward (taking as reference the background behind the submarine, Mohler's location, and the fact that Belloq turns his head to the left to look at the Captain).
Continuity mistake: As Dietrich, Toht, Belloq and Marion board the Wurrfler, a naval officer descends the ladder and turns, his back to the ladder. In the next shot, he is facing the ladder.
Continuity mistake: The Angel of Death, judging from the position of the lid of the Ark (the two angels can be seen below the ghost), is located just above Dietrich's head. However, Toht screams as if it were right in front of him and Dietrich as if it were in front of Belloq (judging by their looks).
Continuity mistake: The distance between Otto and the Nepalese changes between shots, just as Toht begins saying "Surely he told you..."
Continuity mistake: In the shot after Belloq's death, the generator and the rock Indy and Marion are on disappear.
Continuity mistake: As Dietrich and Gobler come into Belloq's tent, Toht's leather case can be seen already opened. In the next shot, the case is suddenly closed.
Audio problem: After Dietrich pours liquor for himself, he speaks to Belloq. One of the words of his phrase (probably monsieur or Belloq) was cut from the audio as Dietrich's lips still move but nothing can be heard.
Visible crew/equipment: During Marion and Belloq's beverage contest, a round klieg lamp's blue light stands behind Belloq, which sometimes changes its intensity. Also, when Marion grabs the knife, behind her a moving light can be seen (like a helicopter's light), which disappears a few seconds later. This light also appears for a few seconds when Toht frees Marion's arm.
Continuity mistake: When Indy abruptly brakes the truck and the Ark box slides backwards, the poles on either side of the box disappear for the rest of the chase.
Answer: The scene you describe was indeed filmed. It was cut out of the US release of the film although I cannot speak for the Australian version. The scene also appears in the Marvel Comics adaptation. http://www.theraider.net/films/raiders/deleted_scenes.php has a list of this and the other deleted scenes.
Phil C.