Everything you need to know about South Australia’s bright pink lakes

Hidden away in the South Australian outback are some of the most spectacular, naturally pink lakes you’ll see.

Somehow these lakes have managed to stay overlooked by many tourists – who we can only assume haven’t been made aware of just how incredible these naturally bright pink lakes really are.

Scattered across South Australia’s outback, each of the lakes get their vibrant pink hues from a salt-loving algae that is attracted to the high salinity levels found in the water. While some of the lakes are still being used to harvest gypsum – a soft sulfate mineral used as a fertiliser – a number of old salt mines have been abandoned, leaving travellers to enjoy beautiful, undisturbed views of the incredible natural hue created in the water.

The vibrant colours of these lakes change according to the seasons, cloud cover, salinity levels in the water and the time of day, so while you might not always be guaranteed bubble-gum pink views, we can promise you stunning shades year-round. The ever-changing colours make each of these lakes an excellent location for budding photographers to capture the beauty of this natural phenomenon.

Which lakes should I visit?

Lake MacDonnell, Eyre Peninsula

How to get there:

Located about 860 kilometres from Adelaide, Lake MacDonnell is best accessed via plane from Adelaide airport to Ceduna and then a short 45 minute drive.

What else can I do there?

The closest town to Lake MacDonnell is the small township of Penong which is famous for its windmills and easy access to the popular Cactus Beach. Known as one of the best surf beaches in Australia for its excellent breaks and secluded location, this beach attracts keen surfers year-round.

Kati Thanda Lake Eyre, South Australian outback

How to get there:

One of the best ways to access Lake Eyre is via tiny outback town William Creek, which is roughly a 15 hour drive from Adelaide. That being said, we recommend that you plan an extended trip through the outback to take in the remote scenery on the way.

Alternatively, catch a quick 1.5 hour flight from Adelaide to Roxby Downs (Olympic Dam Airport) and hire a 4WD there to complete the approximately three-hour trip to the lake.

What else can I do there?

Despite its remote location, there’s plenty to do around Australia’s largest lake from exploring the expanses of the massive salt pan to taking in the views with a scenic flight. While you’re in the area, the William Creek Hotel, established in 1887, is a great place to stop for a drink, meal or even a night. As many visitors choose to visit Lake Eyre as part of a larger trip, we recommend you add the semi-nearby Coober Pedy to your itinerary to check out its underground hotels and even look for some opals to take home.

Lake Bumbunga, Clare Valley

How to get there:

Only an hour and 40 minutes’ drive from Adelaide, Lake Bumbunga is one of the most accessible pink lakes in South Australia.

What else can I do there?

Many tourists enjoy lunch at the popular Jitter Bean Oasis cafe on the Princes Highway during a visit to Lake Bumbunga. The wineries of the nearby Clare Valley are less than a 40-minute drive from this stunning lake, where visitors can enjoy award-winning wines, incredible food and take in the outdoors by walking or biking the nearby trails.

Lake Hart, South Australian outback

How to get there:

This beautiful lake is a five-and-a-half hour drive from Adelaide and just over an hour south of Roxby Downs, making it a worthwhile stop on your way to Lake Eyre. Otherwise, the lake can be glimpsed by passengers aboard The Great Southern Rail’s Ghan service.

What else can I do there?

There isn’t much else to be done in the area other than camping nearby to enjoy the lake-side views and the excellent stargazing opportunities. Many visitors use this beautiful lake as a stop along the way to Coober Pedy, Lake Eyre and Yulara.

Lake Albert, Murray River

How to get there:

Located less than two hours from Adelaide along the Princes Highway, Lake Albert is a must-see destination. Just off the highway there is a spot for travellers to pull over and take in the lake.

What else can I do there?

For an unforgettable experience at Lake Albert make sure to stay a night or two in the nearby town, Meningie. Here visitors can take in the surrounding landscape by walking, canoeing and fishing in the area and can also drive a 4WD along local tracks and the beach.

Time your visit to Margaret River just right, and you can spend the ultimate weekend wining, dining and exploring the region with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Wine, world-class produce, surf, sun and beaches: it’s an alluring combination. And the reason so many pin the Margaret River region high on their travel hit-lists. There’s drawcard after drawcard to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, and the Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover food and wine festival showcases the best of it over the course of one weekend in November. It’s never been easier to sip, see and savour the Margaret River region.

In partnership with Pair’d Margaret River Region, Range Rover invites you on a seven-day itinerary of refined adventure, where luxury and exploration go hand in hand. It’s the perfect WA road trip, and there’s no better way to do it than in a Range Rover.

Day 1

the pool at Pullman Bunker Bay — Check into Pullman Bunker Bay.

There’s no more popular West Australian road trip route than that between Perth and the Margaret River Region. It’s an easily digestible, three-hour drive, with worthy pit stops along the way.

Make the first of them one hour and 15 minutes in, at Lake Clifton. Here, find a 2000-year-old living thrombolite reef. Drive for a further 40 minutes and chance meeting some of Bunbury’s dolphin population at Koombana Bay.

Pullman Bunker Bay is the final stop, just over three hours south of Perth. This beachfront, five-star resort is the ultimate base for exploring the Margaret River Wine region.

Day 2

After a leisurely morning breakfast with an ocean view, start your Range Rover and head towards the Dunsborough town centre. Browsing the decidedly coastal-themed goods of the town’s many independent boutiques is a great way to while away the hours, breaking up the sartorial with an artisan gelato snack stop, or some good old-fashioned Australian bakery fare.

Leave room; you’ll need it for the Good Natured Gathering dinner at Wayfinder. Indulge in a four-course feast by chef Felipe Montiel, which uses produce from the winery’s market garden to enhance a selection of sustainably sourced seafood and meat. But food is just the support act. It’s organic wine that’s the star of the show, generously poured and expertly paired to each dish.

Day 3

Settle in for cabernet at Cape Mentelle Winery.

With a grand total of 20 wines from vintage 2022 to try, it’s a good thing Cape Mentelle’s International Cabernet Tasting kicks off early. Make your way to the estate for a 10:00 AM start, where a global selection of wines will be poured blind, before a long lunch by Tiller Dining is served.

Given that the Margaret River is responsible for more than 20 per cent of Australia’s fine wine production, it’s only right to delve into it while in the area.

Continue exploring the region via taste and terroir aboard Alison Maree, a whale-watching catamaran, as you cruise Geographe Bay . Admire the rolling green hills and crisp white beaches of Quindalup in sunset’s golden light, all the while sipping through the Clairault Streicker catalogue and dining on canapes.

For a more substantial dinner, venture into Busselton for a seven-course British x Australian mash-up , courtesy of Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion) and Oliver Kent (Updown Farmhouse, UK). They’ll be putting their rustic yet refined spin on the likes of local marron, wagyu and abalone – championing the simple beauty of the world-class ingredients.

Day 4

Wrap your fingers around a wine glass and wiggle your toes into the sand at Pair’d Beach Club x Range Rover on Meelup Beach. Sit down to an intimate wine session with sommelier Cyndal Petty – or a four-course feast by Aaron Carr of Yarri – and revel in the open-air beach club, bar and restaurant’s laidback coastal vibe. It’s a whole new way to experience one of the region’s most renowned beaches.

Follow up a day in the sun with a casual Italian party at Mr Barvel Wines . Purchase wines –including the elusive, sold-out Nebbia – by the glass and enjoy canapes with the towering Karri forest as a backdrop.

If you’d prefer to keep it local, head to Skigh Wines for the New Wave Gathering , where the region’s independent wine makers and their boundary-pushing wines will be on show. Street-style eats, a DJ and complimentary wine masterclasses complete the experience.

Day 5

pair'd Grand Tasting — Taste your way through Howard Park Wines. (Image: C J Maddock)

Spend the morning at your leisure, driving the winding roads through the Boranup Karri forest in your Range Rover. Soak in the views at Contos Beach, and call into the small cheese, chocolate and preserve producers along the way.

Make your next stop Howard Park Wines for The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines . Numerous wine labels will be pouring their catalogues over four hours, accompanied by food from chefs Matt Moran and Silvia Colloca, with live opera providing the soundtrack.

Cap off a big weekend with one last hurrah at Busselton Pavilion. Six ‘local legends’ – chefs Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion), Mal Chow (Chow’s Table), Aaron Carr (Yarri), Ben Jacob (Lagoon Yallingup), Corey Rozario (Dahl Daddies) and Laura Koentjoro (Banksia Tavern) – will be preparing a dish each. Dance the night away as vinyl spins and the sun sets on another day.

Day 6

Ngilgi Cave western australia — Head underground. (Image: Tourism WA)

After a busy few days of wining and dining, it’s wise to observe a rest day. There’s no easier task than unwinding in the Margaret River Region, also famous for its high concentration of world-class beaches.

Relax on the grassy knoll as you watch the region’s most experienced surfers braving the World Surf League break at Surfer’s Point, or don your own wetsuit and try out one of Gracetown’s more beginner-friendly waves. Swimmers will find their Eden at Meelup Beach, Eagle Bay, or Point Piquet, where the sand is brilliantly white and the water as still as a backyard swimming pool.

Not into sun, sand, and surf? Head underground at Mammoth Cave, just one of the region’s many stalactite-filled caves.

Day 7

Burnt Ends event at Pair'd — Farewell the Margaret River.

Pack up your Range Rover with new favourite wines and newfound memories, ready for the three-hour journey back to Perth.

Prebook your discovery journey through the south-west corner of Western Australia with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Everything you need to know about South Australia’s bright pink lakes

Hidden away in the South Australian outback are some of the most spectacular, naturally pink lakes you’ll see.

Which lakes should I visit?

Lake MacDonnell, Eyre Peninsula

Kati Thanda Lake Eyre, South Australian outback

Lake Bumbunga, Clare Valley

Lake Hart, South Australian outback

Lake Albert, Murray River

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The ultimate Margaret River road trip itinerary for food & wine lovers

Time your visit to Margaret River just right, and you can spend the ultimate weekend wining, dining and exploring the region with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Pair’d Margaret River Region is proudly owned by the Western Australian Government, through Tourism WA.