No, your eyes do not deceive you. And no, we haven’t gone crazy in Photoshop. South Australia is home to some of the world’s most vibrant pink lakes, stunning travellers with their dreamlike hues, set against the greens, blues and reds of regional South Australia.
Of course, there’s a logical explanation behind nature’s strawberry milkshakes. It’s the lakes’ high salinity levels, combined with the presence of salt-loving algae and pink bacteria known as halobacteria that turn them bright pink. The less water in the lake, the more concentrated the salt and the brighter the colour.
But enough with the details. It’s time to hit the road and start exploring our lakes for yourself. From the Eyre Peninsula to the Outback, here are our top five South Australian pink lakes.
1. LAKE MACDONNELL, EYRE PENINSULA
Mother Nature’s full palette is on show at the Eyre Peninsula’s Lake MacDonnell with a super-high salt concentration resulting in some seriously intense colours. At the end of this road lies Eyre Peninsula’s beautiful Cactus Beach: an oceanic wonderland, drawing surfers from across the world to its powerful breaks and Southern Ocean swells.
Lake MacDonnell is a 1 hour and 30 minute flight then a 45 minute drive from Adelaide.
2. LAKE BUMBUNGA, CLARE VALLEY
Less than two hours’ drive from Adelaide, Lake Bumbunga’s bubble gum shores draw an eclectic crowd from casual photographers to high-end fashion brands. Located in Lochiel, the lake is known to change colour from pink, to white, to blue, depending on the salinity of the water throughout the year. Stay lakeside at Pink Lake Tiny House then head north-east to the famed Clare Valley wine region where you can quench your thirst with colour-coordinated rosé from Mr Mick, Kilikanoon or Jim Barry.
