Lake Magic, Hyden, WA: What is the best time to visit?

The best time to visit Lake Magic near Wave Rock in Hyden, Western Australia, is sunrise or sunset. That’s when you get the spectacle of the changing colours.

Lake Magic in Hyden, Western Australia, is a weird little lake with such a high salt content that you can’t sink in it. In that respect, Lake Magic is a little like the Dead Sea.

To book a Wave Rock tour that visits Lake Magic, click here.

Why is Lake Magic so colourful?

But the other factor that makes Lake Magic so unusual is that it has significant gypsum deposits at the bottom. These help make the lake considerably more reflective than most, and the colour changes with the changing sky.

Lake Magic, therefore, is incredibly photogenic. For much of the day, it is a brilliant turquoise or blue colour, but it takes on different colours as the sun rises and sets.

Best time to visit Lake Magic, Hyden

Therefore, the best time to visit Lake Magic is at sunrise or sunset. The problem with this is that Hyden is in the middle of nowhere, and it takes the best part of four hours to get there from Perth.

So if you want to see it at dawn or dusk, you’re going to need to drive in the dark or stay overnight. The main Hyden accommodation options are the Wave Rock Motel and Wave Rock Caravan Park, both of which are somewhat underwhelming.

Lake Magic, WA: Winter or summer?

The best time of year to visit Lake Magic is in the winter months. This is partly because the Wheatbelt region isn’t as roastingly hot then, but mainly because in summer it can dry to being a glorified salt pan. The spectacle only really happens when there’s sufficient water.

How to get to Lake Magic, Hyden

If you’re not especially bothered about seeing Lake Magic at sunrise or sunset, the best way of visiting is on a Perth to Wave Rock day tour. The lake is about one kilometre north of the far better-known Wave Rock.

Private Wave Rock tours that include a visit to Lake Magic are bookable online.