Lake Lefroy, Kambalda: Size, land-yachting & scenic flight

A giant salt lake in the Western Australian outback near Kambalda, Lake Lefroy is best seen on a land yacht or a scenic flight from Kalgoorlie.

Lake Lefroy is one of the few sights worth stopping for on the drive from Kalgoorlie to Norseman in Western Australia. If crossing the Nullarbor, this ephemeral salt lake is one of the last sights before the epic slog along the Eyre Highway.

Where is Lake Lefroy, Western Australia

Lake Lefroy lies just east of the settlement of Kambalda, and for the vast majority of the year, it has a twinkling layer of salt over it. Occasionally – just occasionally – there is enough rain for it to make a passable impression of a real lake.

The people who use Lake Lefroy the most, however, don’t want the water. Lake Lefroy’s claim to fame is as a land-yachting hotspot. The 510km size of the lake gives plenty of space, while the flatness and texture of the salt are ideal for building up speed.

Don’t want to drive the Nullarbor? Then consider a ten day camping adventure tour from Perth to Adelaide (or in the opposite direction).

Land yacht speeds on Lake Lefroy

The land yachts on Lake Lefroy can often build up speeds of around 80km/h.

The best way to see Lake Lefroy, however, is from above. That’s when you can take in the enormous scale, and get an idea of how the sun’s light glares off the twinkling salt pans. It can look like a glacier surrounded by desert.

Lake Lefroy scenic flights from Kalgoorlie

It’s possible to book an hour-long scenic flight from Kalgoorlie that flies over Lake Lefroy. It also takes in the Super Pit in Kalgoorlie, one of the biggest open cut mines on earth. Here, you can see the layers cut into the ground like rings on a tree.

These Lake Lefroy scenic flights are not exactly cheap. Tickets cost from $430, and can be booked online.