The Pink Lakes are a defining feature of the wider Murray-Sunset area: their colour appears in late summer, while abandoned salt mine remnants and piles of salt along the shores recall earlier work. There is also a walking loop, historical insights and various ways to explore the outdoors. When planning, you can distinguish between the approximately 45-minute walking loop and drives requiring a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Pink Lakes: colour and walking loop
The Pink Lakes get their name from their colour in late summer. Algae release the red pigment carotene, and the colour varies depending on conditions. In Murray-Sunset National Park, Lake Hardy is considered the pinkest of the Pink Lakes. Abandoned salt mine remnants and piles of salt lie around the edges of the lakes. Operations ended in 1979—the traces also tell the story of the landscape’s earlier use.
A 1.7-kilometre walking loop around Lake Hardy is classified as Grade 3 and takes about 45 minutes. The distance, classification and approximate duration offer different points of reference for planning; the time is not exact. If you are interested in the landscape and the Pink Lakes, you can consider this specific walking option alongside the longer drives in the region.
Salt mining and life in the region in earlier times
The Kline Loop Nature Walk shares the history of long-running salt mining, the harsh conditions faced by workers and life in a remote part of the state. The focus here is on working history. The historic Shearers Quarters Cottage tells the story of a different way of life in earlier times: it served as sleeping quarters for men who drove livestock through the region. Together, these two subjects offer insights into salt production and livestock droving without presenting them as the same story.
Walking routes and drives in the wider area
The Pink Lakes are on the Mallee Highway, 60 kilometres west of Ouyen. From there, an all-weather gravel road runs 13 kilometres to the main campgrounds at Lake Crosbie. The Pink Lakes are also accessible from Linga via a gravel road in two-wheel-drive vehicles.
Pioneer Drive also runs through the Pink Lakes area, from Lake Crosbie via Lake Kenyon to Lake Becking. In a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you can drive to Mount Crozier Lookout or the old Mopoke Hut. It is advisable to check current road conditions before setting out on these drives.
Nature and activities
Murray-Sunset National Park is home to, among others, Malleefowl, Regent Parrot, Red-lored Whistler and Mallee Emu-wren; all four species are native to this area. This offers another perspective on the landscape beyond the lakes and their salt history. These species are part of the region’s natural character, although a sighting cannot be guaranteed on any one visit.
Canoeing, boating and fishing are possible in the floodplain areas around Walpolla, Lindsay and Mulcra Island. Local conditions can affect access. This gives you different options: you can focus on the colour and history of the Pink Lakes, explore historic routes and former working life, or plan water-based activities in the named floodplain areas. Check the relevant conditions before setting out on drives and activities.
Discover more destinations: Speed, Ultima, Rosebrook, Chelsea, Ovens, Lynbrook, Newhaven, Willaura.
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