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

By Courtney Spicer
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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.

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Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is about to flood for the first time in years

    By Emily Murphy
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    Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is rising – and so is demand to see it.

    It’s the kind of natural phenomenon that has Australians dropping everything and booking a seat on the next flight to the outback. After years of shimmering silence, Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is coming back to life – in a spectacular, once-in-a-decade kind of way. Fed by floodwaters caused by heavy rain across outback Queensland last month from Diamantina River and Cooper Creek, the usually bone-dry salt lake in outback South Australia is transforming into a vast inland sea, and travellers are racing to see the magic unfold.

    Plane flying over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre

    Don’t miss this rare flooding event. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

    The rare flooding event is already being called one of the most significant in recent memory. Water is making its slow and steady journey across thousands of kilometres of arid inland, eventually pooling in the basin of Australia’s largest lake – a place so vast and flat you can see the curve of the Earth. But when the rains do come, the desert doesn’t just bloom – it explodes with life.

    Birds flock in from thousands of kilometres away, wildflowers erupt in bursts of colour and locals brace for an influx of visitors all eager to see one of Australia’s most remote and remarkable landscapes at its absolute peak.

    Outback Spirit South Australia Lake Eyre

    Heavy rain and floods across outback Queensland last month are expected to fill the lake. (Image: Outback Spirit)

    “This is nature at its most awe-inspiring,” says Cher Lontok, head of product and operations – Australia at APT, which has just expanded its 2025 Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre touring program in response to soaring demand.

    “We’ve launched a brand-new tour and added departures to make sure more Australians have the chance to see it before it’s gone.”

    APT’s new eight-day Lake Eyre and Painted Hills tour (from $7395) includes scenic flights over the lake and the surreal outback landscapes of the Painted Desert – a region that’s usually off-limits to the public. Also on offer is the seven-day Lake Eyre and Flinders Ranges tour, which visits ochre-hued escarpments, ancient gorges and outback towns, with expert guides and luxury stays along the way.

    Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre aerial shot

    Seeing Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is a surreal experience. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

    Another operator, Outback Spirit, is also taking expressions of interest for small-group expeditions to coincide with this year’s event.

    The Ghan is in on the action as well, offering a scenic flight that sweeps over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, the Painted Hills and Coober Pedy as an optional upgrade on its iconic Darwin to Adelaide rail journey.

    For many, it’s a pilgrimage. For others, a chance to witness what scientists call a “hydrological miracle”. For everyone lucky enough to see it – it’s an unforgettable glimpse at Australia’s wildest beauty.

    Outback Spirit Lake Eyre Cessna plane

    Outback Spirit is taking expressions of interest for tours. (Image: Outback Spirit)

    But there’s a ticking clock. Flood events like this don’t last forever. And while Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre hasn’t filled just yet, experts say the incoming waters could make this one of the most impressive inundations in at least six years since the 2019 mark of 8.15 metres. But based on rainfall in south-west Queensland, it’s looking like levels will surpass 2019 and should be similar to 2010 when it almost filled completely.

    So, if you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the desert flood, flocks of pelicans soaring over mirrored salt pans and a landscape reborn, this is your sign. Seats are selling fast, and once the lake dries up, it could be years before the show returns.

    This is Australia’s ultimate ephemeral experience – and the curtains are just about to rise. As the old saying goes, when it rains, it tours.

    Plane flying over Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre

    Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is Australia’s largest lake. (Image: Grant Hunt Photography)