Pink lakes of South Australia: Why is Lake MacDonnell pink?
A combination of algae, bacteria and high salt content gives the Lake MacDonnell pink lake near Penong in South Australia its pink colour.
South Australia is home to several spectacular lakes, many of which don’t even have water in them. The biggest salt lakes are in the South Australian outback. You can take a scenic flight over Lake Eyre, or drive up to Lake Hart on the Stuart Highway near Woomera.
But there are also some salt lakes at the western end of the Eyre Peninsula. They’re between Ceduna and Head of Bight on the drive across the Nullarbor Plain.
Don’t want to drive the Nullarbor? Then consider a ten day camping adventure tour from Perth to Adelaide (or in the opposite direction).
Lake MacDonnell pink lake
The most famous of these South Australian salt lakes is Lake MacDonnell. And that’s because Lake MacDonnell is often pink.
The closest town to Lake MacDonnell is Penong, home to the bizarre Penong Windmill Museum. Around 15km after turning off down the Point Sinclair Road towards surfer haven Cactus Beach, you’ll reach a causeway. This causeway stretches across Lake MacDonnell, with the pink lake on one side and the green lake on the other.
The pink colour is most intense on clear days, and it’s the result of a salt-loving algae called dunaliella salina. This combines with a halobacteria, which also secrete carotenoid red pigments. These red pigments turn the water pink, and as there’s hardly any water, it mixes with the dazzling white of the salt pans to create a glaring pink effect.
How to get to Lake MacDonnell
To be perfectly honest, the only way anyone’s realistically going to see Lake MacDonnell is if they happen to be passing. If you’re coming for a surf pilgrimage at Cactus Beach or driving across the Nullarbor, then maybe.
If you’re not doing that, but you absolutely insist that driving across the Lake MacDonnell pink lake is the perfect quirky South Australian activity for you, there’s the option of flying into Ceduna. Regional Express runs sparsely-timetabled flights to Ceduna from Adelaide.
Ceduna accommodation tips
Ceduna is a logical place for an overnight stay whether you’ve just crossed the Nullarbor or are about to. You can search for places to stay in Ceduna here.
However, the following are the best options:
- For central, waterfront location: Ceduna Foreshore Hotel Motel.
- For family-friendly spacious cabins: Big4 Holiday Park.
- For a pool: East West Motel.
More Australian lakes
A Canberra Segway tour around Lake Burley-Griffin.
Swimming in Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island, Queensland.
The ghostly river red gums in Lake Mulwala near Yarrawonga, Victoria.
Nature and wildlife on a Hattah Lakes tour from Mildura, Victoria.
The Wallis Lake walking track in the Booti Booti National Park, New South Wales.