Pink Lake Esperance WA

Lake Hillier is a lake on Middle Island, the largest of the group of islands which form the Recherche Archipelago just off the coast of Esperance, Western Australia.

The lake is about 600 meters long and is surrounded by a forest of paperbark and eucalyptus trees. There is a narrow vegetation covered sand dune which separates it from the Ocean.

But this is no ordinary lake. It is pink. Check the photo if you don’t believe us!

The lake was discovered in 1802 by Matthew Flinders when he climbed to the highest part of the island, now called Flinders Peak.

It is likely that the pink colour comes from a dye created by bacteria that lives in the salt crusts. No matter how it got that way, it makes a magnificent sight, with the deep blue of the ocean around it. At certain times of the year, the extra algae in the lake changes the colour to a different shade of pink.

The only way to view the lake is from the air and if you are so inclined, make sure you take in the whole of the Archipelago.

Places to stay:

Esperance Seafront Caravan Park
Top Tourist Park
Goldfields Road Esperance 6450 Western Australia