Hutt Lagoon
There isn't really a lot you can say about a pink lake, other than the fact that it is pink, so I will confine this post to a few facts and photos. If you do ever decide you just can't survive for another minute on this planet without tracking down one of these natural curiosities I can recommend Hutt Lagoon, if only for ease of access.
Where is it?
Hutt Lagoon is on the coast of Western Australia, an hour north of Geraldton and five hours north of Perth. Head out of Geraldton on the main highway toward Carnavon. After 52 kms take Port Gregory Road toward Port Gregory and Kalbarri. The lagoon is 42 kms from the turn-off. George Grey Dr toward Kalbarri runs along the eastern shore of the lagoon while Port Gregory Rd runs along part of the western shore. Port Gregory Road has a couple of safe places where you can pull over, park and walk right up to the water's edge. George Grey Drive doesn't have anywhere to stop safely.
Why is it pink?
The pink colour is created by algae or possibly bacteria, according to Google and Australian Geographic. I am no expert, so if anyone has another theory I am happy to listen - pink hair-dye perhaps, or Martians, or locals creating a tourist attraction!
Is it always pink?
The colour of pink lakes vary with the season, cloud cover and the time of day. As you can see from my photos the colour of Hutt Lagoon progressed from purple to bright pink in the short time we spent there. I have read the lake is most vibrant at mid-morning and sunset. We were there mid-morning on an overcast day. The sun came out just as we were leaving and the lake seemed to be pinker under a blue sky. Some parts of the lake were much pinker than others.
Can you swim in it?
I struggle a little to understand why you would want to when Western Australia has so many stunning beaches but each to his own I suppose. Be warned however, when fellow travel blogger walked out onto the salt crust of the lake to get a better photo she suffered a myriad of painful cuts. You can read her Facebook post about the experience here.
Can you fly over it?
Yes! Click here to book a flight. (Note: If you follow the link to book your flight I will earn a small commission).
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| Me - just to prove we were actually there! |
Other blog posts on Western Australia -
The Kimberley
The Kimberley
The Coral Coast
The South West: Perth to Esperance
- Springtime tulips at Araluen Botanic Park, Western Australia
- Wildflowers in Western Australia: Kings Park, Perth
- Fraser Suites, Perth - a review
- The National ANZAC Centre, Albany
- Albany Harbourside Apartments and Houses
- 7 things to do in Amazing Albany
- 2 Weeks in Western Australia: A road trip itinerary
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I have never seen a pink lake. It's almost the polar opposite of the turquoise glacier fed lakes here in Western Canada. How great that you found it and with easy access.
ReplyDeleteThe glacier lakes are prettier but pink lakes are worth seeing just because they are so unusual.
DeleteHi Lyn,
ReplyDeleteLove those colors.
Really inspired shots too.
I believe bacteria colors the lake, as I once saw on a Nat Geo show. Or read online. Or saw it somewhere LOL.
I also dig the name too; reminds me of Jabba of Star Wars fame.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Ryan
Haha - I didn't make the Star Wars connection, even though I am a fan of the films. I think you are right about the bacteria thing. The cause was once thought to be algae but now it's bacteria or vice versa or something.
DeleteI've been wanting to go there! Looks beautiful. Great post! Xx
ReplyDeleteI hope you see it one day. There is also a pink lake on an island off the coast of Esperance. You can fly over it but I don't think you can go by boat.
DeleteThat is so beautiful! The closest I've seen to a pink lake is probably lake Taupo but that's orange because of the volcano
ReplyDeleteIs Lake Taupo pink? We have been there a few times and I never noticed any unusual colour. Do you have to be in a particular spot to see the pink colour?
DeleteNature is so cool! I'd love to stop by this pink lake one day. I reckon if it was closer to Perth it would be in so many Instagrams but as it takes a little effort to get there it's all the more special. Thanks for sharing on #farawayfiles
ReplyDeleteIt isn't that far from Perth, only about five or six hours which isn't much given the vast distances between towns in Western Australia.
DeleteI have not yet seen a pink lake but I have seen algae blooms that are red / pink. I would like to visit a pink lake like Hutt Lagoon someday. I think the closest thing to it I've seen is in the geothermal regions of New Zealand (all sorts of brilliantly coloured water).
ReplyDeleteThe geothermal regions of New Zealand are stunning but quite different to Western Australia's pink lakes.
DeleteAbsolutely!
ReplyDeleteOh, I want to see a lake like this! I know there are pinkish waters in Yucatan, Mexico. I think that is the closest to us.#TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteI read this morning, on another blog, that the pink lake in Yucatan is that colour because of pollution from mining or industry nearby. I am going there in early 2018 so stayed tuned. Hutt Lagoon is an entirely natural phenomenon.
DeleteThe Hutt Lagoon certainly looks great for photographing! With all the algae and bacteria, can you go swimming in it or is it just for looking at? Would definitely love to visit Australia some time and add this to my places to visit.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you can swim in it. It was a bit too cold for swimming when we were there. I don't think it would be dangerous but there is a great beach just down the road so I don't think anyone would bother.
DeleteOh, I've never been here or knew it existed (I'm West Australian) is it near Hutt River Province?
ReplyDeleteFunny you should mention Hutt River Province. I meant to say something about it in my post but simply forgot. I will put it in when I do a round-up post on our whole road trip. The entrance to the province is about 45 minutes away. I was tempted to go there just for the laugh factor but we had a long distance to drive (not surprising in Western Australia) and just didn't have the time. I remember lining up with other crowds to see Prince Leonard when I was about twenty and he visited the Gold Coast. I was on a holiday with my mother and she wanted to do it. It was ridiculous but one of those things you do just for fun. I googled the province while we were in W.A just to see if it was still there - and it is.
DeleteThis lake looks beautiful ;-) Is it safe for swimming or too much bacteria?
ReplyDeleteSomeone else asked the same thing. I have to be honest, it didn't look very inviting so the idea of swimming in it didn't occur to me. It is very close to the coast and there is a great beach a few minutes drive away.
DeleteI have seen some of the pink lakes, but no one looked so pink when seeing so close like this one. Thanks for sharing #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteOne day I would like to do a scenic flight over one but the pink colour varies with lots of weather related factors so you would have to be lucky to get the kind of photo you see on the internet.
DeleteLaying eyes on a fantastically pink lake sounds like something everyone should do at least once in their life - and this one looks great! #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteI agree. My problem is that one isn't enough. Now I want to see another one somewhere.
DeleteSo I have an entire bucket list dedicated to seeing the bizarre color pink in the world. I have 3 items, a Pink Beach (there are actually several in the world), a Pink Waterfall (hidden in Canada), and a Pink Lake like the one you found in Western Australia. How cool but kind of bizarre. Can you imagine the first people finding this?
ReplyDeleteI read recently about a pink lake somewhere in the Caribbean which sounds pretty amazing. Love the idea of a pink waterfall.
DeleteI visited Hutt Lagoon years ago when I was a kid, I still remember being in awe of it though! Such an awesome place to visit.
ReplyDeleteWow. It is great that it is still pink. Apparently the colour can disappear in some lakes. The inaccurately named 'Pink Lake' at Esperance, for example, hasn't been pink for years.
DeleteWhat a beautiful color that place has! The color of the water is always caused by an external agent, like limestone, different minerals, or algae. This pink may indeed be an algae. I know there is a red algae that causes the water to look like blood. I've seen a small pond on Maui Island, in Hawaii, that has that strange, red color. Hutt Lagoon looks great not only because it's pink, but it also has some contrasting colors around it. Thanks for sharing this post on #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteI believe the pink is caused by bacteria or algae. Whatever the cause you are right about it being lovely to look at.
DeleteDon't think I've been to a pink lake, but I am intrigued... if I am ever up that way I will definitely take a detour!
ReplyDeleteWestern Australia has a couple of pink lakes. There is another than I know of on an island off the coast at Esperance.
DeleteI always expect to see flamingoes around a pink lake. I don't suppose that would happen in Australia though. Beautiful photos, Lyn! Thanks for linking in this week, #wkendtravelinspiration!
ReplyDeleteThere is a lake in Yucatan, Mexico which I gather has flamingos and close by there is a pink lake. I am going there next year so I will let you know. The shame is that the pink lake is the result of pollution from a mine or something rather than a natural phenomenon.
DeleteI learned about the pink lake in Esperance earlier this year. I didn't know there were more! Cool! Seeing a pink lake for myself is on my list.
ReplyDeleteBe careful. The lake called 'pink lake' in Esperance is no longer pink. There is a pink lake but you have to fly over it to see it. I wrote a post on Esperance last year and I put in a link to the scenic flights company. Here is the link to the post - http://www.thetravellinglindfields.com/2016/11/esperance-western-australia-pink-lakes.html
DeleteThe colors of the lagoon are amazing. Would love to visit Australia some day, it is high on our bucket list! You're very lucky to live there. Thanks for sharing in #TheWeeklyPostcard
ReplyDeleteI hope you get here one day. I am sure you will love it.
DeleteWhat lovely colours - great for a photographer! It reminds me of some of the strangely coloured lakes in New Zealand.
ReplyDeleteThe only coloured lakes I have seen in New Zealand are the geothermal lakes. They are stunning but the cause of their colours are quite different to Australia's pink lakes.
DeleteI can see why pink lakes draw you. They are so unusual and the color changes with the light. We were supposed to go to Kalbarri when we were on the west coast but cancelled it because we only had 2 days 1 night for a RT from Perth. It seemed to short. If we come to Australia again, I would like to spend more time or all of our time exploring the West Coast, as it is quite different than anything else. Then we could go see this lake.
ReplyDeleteWe drove through Kalbarri and had a picnic lunch there. The coastline is stunning - red rock cliffs. The National Park apparently has some great gorges but we didn't have time to see them.
DeleteI've always wanted to see a pink lake in person! They look absolutely unreal. Is any marine life able to live in that lake?
ReplyDeleteI don't think the algae or bacteria is poisonous. As far as I know marine life co-exists quite happily with the colour - but don't quote me on this, I am no expert.
DeleteHI Lyn! Western Australua seems to have a lot of cool stuff to discover. The pink lake is just one of them! Thx for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWestern Australia is the most amazing place to explore. I could easily ditch travelling in the rest of the world and just keep going back there.
DeletePretty in pink! But is it safe to swim? Or just interesting to see? Fascinating colors for sure! Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFiles, Erin
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is unsafe for swimming but it didn't look especially inviting either. There is a great beach just down the road.
DeleteI've been wanting to visit a pink lake, and easy access is always nice. Hutt Lagoon seems like a winner. #WkendTravelInspiration
ReplyDeleteOne day I would love to fly over one but driving past was almost as good.
DeleteYet another thing to add on my West Coast Must See list! I love the martians theory about why the lake is pink haha! I suppose it's not chemicals? Just in case I wouldnt be dipping myself in that haha!
ReplyDeleteTake your swimmers and hit the beach just down the road. It looked much more inviting.
DeleteYou put me to shame, living in the west all my life, you have seen more of the state than me. But our aim is to travel much more locally when we retire.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading your posts. W.A is not an easy state to see, especially if you don't camp. One day I would love to see The Kimberley again, maybe on a small cruise ship.
Delete