Lake Bumbunga, South Australia: How can I see this pink lake?

Lake Bumbunga is visible from roadside lookouts in Locheil, South Australia. This pink lake is at its pinkest following rain in late autumn or early spring.

Lake Bumbunga is one of the most accessible pink lakes in Australia. It’s next to Lochiel, an otherwise forgettable town on the Augusta Highway in South Australia.

Lake Bumbunga in Lochiel, South Australia. Photo by Olivia Reynolds.

Where is Lake Bumbunga?

Lochiel is 31km north of Port Wakefield, 132km north of Adelaide and 46km west of Clare. Lake Bumbunga comes pretty much up to the roadside, and there are two good viewing points just north of Lochiel. You’ll pass through on the Adelaide to Port Augusta leg of the drive from Adelaide to Perth or Adelaide to Alice Springs.

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If you’re wondering what the pink lakes of Australia are, then you’ve clearly not spent that much time on Instagram. These are salt lakes, usually found in outback regions. At times of high salinity, algae produces beta-carotene pigment, which has the effect of making the lake look pink. Other examples of pink salt lakes include Hutt Lagoon in Western Australia, Lake MacDonnell near Penong in South Australia, and several options in Victoria’s Murray Sunset National Park.

The best time to see Lake Bumbunga

They aren’t always pink, however, as the salinity of the lakes varies depending on weather conditions.

So driving to Lake Bumbunga in the expectation it will be pink is something of a fool’s errand. During the summer months, in particular, the lake can be entirely dry.

When is Lake Bumbunga pink?

Local knowledge suggests that the best time to visit Lake Bumbunga is either late autumn or early spring. The lake is supposedly at its pinkest on a sunny day that follows a rainy day.

Whether it’s pink, white or blue, you can always stop by to see the Loch Eel. This quirky sculpture deliberately mimics the Loch Ness monster in Scotland, its arched back rising out of the lake.

Lochiel accommodation options include the Pink Lake Tiny House Sakura and the Dandelion Retreat.