Lake Hillier – Australia’s Pink Lake
Australia is home of unusual ‘pink lakes’. Lake Hillier is one of them. Located on Middle Island, this body of water is famous for it’s remarkable feature – its bubble gum pink color.
600 meters long, surrounded by a rim of sand and thick woods of eucalyptus trees, this pink lake surprises even scientists. No one really knows for sure why the lake is pink. Researchers can only speculate that a dye created by bacteria that lives in the salt crusts is responsible for the beautiful color.
The lake was discovered by English explorer Matthew Flinders in 1802. Imagine his amazement when he climbed Middle Island’s highest peak and saw the lake for the first time.
Today tourists can explore the islands and wildlife of the Recherche Archipelago on a cruise from Esperance.
Esperance is located approximately 720 kilometres south-east of Perth on Western Australia’s southern coastline.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Lake Hillier, Middle Island, Recherche Archipelago, Western Australia
- Coordinates
- -34.09462, 123.20279
- Access
- Lake Hillier is on remote Middle Island, about 125–150 km east of Esperance. Goldfields Air Services offers a scenic flight and explicitly says it cannot land on the Recherche Archipelago islands. Its FAQ also mentions aircraft or boat access; verify any boat landing permissions with the licensed operator and reserve authority before planning a shore visit.
- Admission
- No lake-only public admission price confirmed. A scenic flight is paid; check the operator’s booking calendar for current fare and availability.
- Time needed
- Goldfields Air Services lists the Lake Hillier–Middle Island scenic flight at approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.
- Best season
- The operator says the lake’s pink colour persists year-round; scenic flights are weather-dependent. It notes early morning is usually less windy.
- Opening hours
- The flight operator lists departures at 09:00, 11:30 and 14:00 daily, subject to booking availability and weather; at least two passengers are normally required.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-26
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-26
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