All across Australia, you can find an incredible natural phenomenon — pink lakes. One of the most famous is Hutt Lagoon, also simply known as Pink Lake. Located in Western Australia, about a 5.5-hour drive north of Perth, this lagoon is a true sight to behold.
Spanning 14 kilometres in length, the Pink Lake displays the most incredible bright bubblegum colour imaginable. That’s why it’s often a focal point on D’Guy Journeys’ Kalbarri Day Trips! However, we’re often asked the question: is the Pink Lake in Australia always pink all year round?
The answer to that is varied! The clarity, brightness, and even the hue of the Pink Lake are dependent on weather conditions and seasonality. That’s why we’ve created this blog to guide you through the best time to see the Pink Lake, so you have the optimal chance to see it in all its glory. Keep reading to find out the details, or feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
How the Pink Lake Got Its Colour
The Pink Lake, or Hutt Lagoon, is a marine salt lake. Thanks to its high salinity levels, a very special organism thrives here — Dunaliella salina. This algae produces carotenoids, which play a role in photosynthesis and give off bright colours. It’s due to carotenoids that pumpkins, flamingos, carrots, and pink lakes get their colour! Hutt Lagoon is in fact home to the world’s largest microalgae production plant, where Dunaliella salina is farmed for its pigment.
If you want to find out more about the other pink lakes you can find in Australia, read our blog on Western Australia’s Incredible Pink Lakes.
Best Season to See the Pink Lake
The colour of the Pink Lake is impacted by seasonality and climate conditions. While the clear skies of summer would provide the optimal lighting to witness the lake, Hutt Lagoon experiences lower water levels and may even dry out in the heat, leaving only salt pans behind and no pink water.
In the winter months, there is a much higher water level but also greater cloud cover, which can diminish the intensity of the colours.
Although you can’t go wrong visiting any time of year, you would probably experience the best conditions for seeing the Pink Lake in the spring. Falling between the months of September and November, you’ll experience a happy medium between water levels and cloud cover, allowing you to witness this beauty at its most vibrant.
Best Time of Day to See the Pink Lake
Now that we’ve narrowed down the season, another factor to keep in mind when visiting the Pink Lake is the time of day. Of course, you’ll want to time your visit for a sunny day with minimal cloud cover when the colours will be at their brightest. This also means you’ll want to visit when the sun is higher up in the sky, usually between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM. It’s also recommended that you visit around sunset, when the hues of the lake mingle with the soft orange colours of the sky, creating a scene straight out of a painting!
Best Way to Visit the Pink Lake
There are a number of ways in which you can visit the Pink Lake, the most common being by vehicle. It’s easy and straightforward to explore the Pink Lake on an independent day trip. The lake is located right next to State Route 139, which connects Kalbarri and Northampton. There is a main viewing point located near the small port town of Gregory where you can safely park your car and go walking near the lake. Have a look at our Pink Lake Destination Guide for more ideas on how to spend your day trip.
If you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous, you can join a Pink Lake Buggy Tour! Hitch a ride on one of these buggies and go driving around the lagoon and onto the sand dunes above, where you can enjoy excellent views of the lake and contrasting blue ocean.
Should you want a view from above, you can also take a short flight over Hutt Lagoon with Kalbarri Scenic Flights. Departing from Kalbarri, you’ll enjoy a panoramic vista of the bright pink lake. Don’t forget your camera!
To make the most of your time on the Coral Coast, you can’t go wrong with a guided tour. At D’Guy Journeys, we offer our Coastal Cliffs and Pink Lake Tour from Kalbarri, a half-day adventure that also explores the spectacular Kalbarri cliffs. With a guide, you’ll get to learn fascinating facts about the lake and have someone assist you in taking the best possible photos!
An important thing to note is that as tempting as it may be, it’s recommended that you don’t swim in the Pink Lake due to the high salinity levels.
Explore More of Western Australia with D’Guy Journeys
While the Pink Lake is often a highlight of most excursions in Western Australia, there are a number of other incredible attractions in this region. If you want to experience the Pink Lake and its surroundings on your terms, we can arrange a Custom Tour in Kalbarri that’s tailored to your preferences. If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We can’t wait to show you Australia’s gems!
