Feature by Simon Webster
Prepare your camera: the pink lakes of Western Australia have to be seen to be believed.
In late 2017, an Australian car advertisement showed a stressed executive choosing “the road not taken” and throwing his mobile phone into a lake so pink that it looked like someone must have tampered with the footage. But there was no need for special effects. The lake is natural and real, and you can find it in Western Australia.
The Kia commercial wasn’t the first shoot to make the most of the otherworldly setting. Hutt Lagoon, located on the Coral Coast, five-and-a-half hours’ drive north of Perth. In 2016, Australian supermodel Jennifer Hawkins was there for Australian department store Myer, while two years before that, fashion blog sensation Gary Pepper Girl was filming there for Lancôme.
“We had a Korean pop video filmed here just recently,” says Sam Hay, who owns and runs the nearby Port Gregory Caravan Park with her husband, Tim. “There have been heaps of ads made, and plenty of social media coverage… it reaches the far corners of the globe.”
Every time the lake makes a media appearance, a new wave of visitors arrives at this quiet corner of Western Australia. And understandably so, because once you’ve seen the pink lake on a screen, you have to see it in the flesh – just to prove that it’s real.
Lake Gregory, near Halls Creek
It's all about the algae
Hutt Lagoon’s striking pink colour is thanks to algae that live in the water, Dunaliella salina. When exposed to sunlight, the algae produces beta-carotene, the red pigment found in carrots and other vegies. Thanks to those colour-producing properties, the algae are farmed for use in cosmetics and supplements, and as a natural food dye.
The lagoon covers a whopping 70 square kilometres, tends to be at its pinkest in the mornings, and changes character according to the weather and the seasons.
“If it’s overcast it might look grey or silver,” says Hay. “Or it could go the other way, and the clouds could turn pink because of the reflection. Some days it’s so bright it’s almost purple.”
In summer, much of the lagoon dries out, and the remaining water tends to be a less vibrant pink. “It’s still beautiful in its own right, but it’s different,” Hay says.
The couple’s tours of Hutt Lagoon use a six-seater buggy to take guests over sand dunes for a high-vantage-point view of the lake and encounters with emus, kangaroos and lizards, as well as on a journey through “miles of wildflowers” in spring.
In summer, the tours drive over the dried-out sections of salt bed, and the buggy reveals its significant advantage over traditional 4WD vehicles: it doesn’t sink. “We do recovery mission after recovery mission of people who try and drive over the salt flats,” Hay says. She doesn’t recommend walking on the lake bed for precisely this reason. “It’s very salty and soft, and can be quite slimy.”
Hutt Lagoon, near Port Gregory
Pink and Rainbow Lakes in Esperance
Esperance offers some of the most spectacular lake colours in Australia, with more than two dozen pink and rainbow‑tinted salt lakes scattered across the region’s farmland and coastal landscapes. While some lakes appear pale or unremarkable from the ground, their soft pastel hues and vivid mineral tones become strikingly visible once you’re in the air. Seen from above, they form an extraordinary patchwork of bubble‑gum pinks, soft pastels and vivid mineral tones - a natural palette visitors remember long after their trip.
Scenic flights from Esperance often highlight these breathtaking lake systems, providing sweeping views over Cape Le Grand National Park and the shimmering salt lakes below. Even when individual lakes soften in colour, pilots adjust flight paths to ensure travellers still witness the region’s unforgettable spectrum.
Scenic Flight over Esperance's iconic pink and rainbow lakes
Current colour status: Lake Hillier & Pink Lake (Lake Spencer)
Esperance is famous for two entirely different lakes, and understanding the distinction helps visitors make the most of their journey.
1. Lake Hillier
Located on remote Middle Island, Lake Hillier has long been famous for its bubblegum pink appearance. But natural variability can influence its colour too. After a major offshore rainfall event in 2022, the lake lost its bright pink colour when its salt levels were diluted, and it remains subject to natural fluctuation.
Scientists expect the vibrant hue to return as salinity increases, but timing cannot be predicted.
2. Pink Lake (Lake Spencer)
Once known for its rosy hue, Pink Lake hasn’t shown its trademark colour for more than a decade. Changes in salinity and water flow mean the lake now appears white or soft grey, and its colour can’t be guaranteed. While long‑term restoration trials may one day bring back its famous pink tones, for now visitors are encouraged to explore the many other salt lakes in the region.
Across the Esperance landscape, these lakes shift through shades of dusty rose, pastel pink and even rainbow hues. Each one shaped by the light, season and natural conditions of the day.
Important Note on Pink and Rainbow Lakes
The colour of all pink lakes in Western Australia is a natural phenomenon. Their hues depend on factors such as salinity, algae, bacteria, sunlight and rainfall. Because of this, pink cannot be guaranteed, even at the most famous sites.
Rainbow Lakes often take on a distinctive egg‑like appearance throughout the year, with rounded shapes and soft colour gradients visible from the air.
Revised by Western Australia in April 2026