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Esperance Beaches, pink lake from above

Pink Lake Esperance: A Guide to Visiting the Beautiful (But No Longer Pink) Lake

Last Updated on 2 February 2025 by Ariana Svenson

There are some magical pink lakes in Western Australia. One of the most famous is Pink Lake Esperance, which is unfortunately no longer pink!

This guide will help you plan your visit to Pink Lake Esperance and make the most of your time in this stunning part of the world. Keep reading to find out what makes this spot so special!

Esperance Beaches, pink lake from above
Pink Lake Esperance

Pink Lake Esperance Vs Lake Hiller

Pink Lake Esperance and Lake Hiller are separate lakes. Both can be visited from Esperance and are mentioned in this post. Pink Lake Esperance is the easiest lake to visit. It’s just 3km from Esperance. Lake Hillier is 120km from Esperance and is located on Middle Island. Access to Lake Hillier is limited to scenic flights and boat tours (boat tours currently paused).

Pink Lake Esperance

One of the famous pink lakes in Western Australia is Pink Lake Esperance (also known as Lake Spencer), located 3km west of Esperance.

Famed in the past for its pink waters, lying adjacent to the ‘turquoise’ Indian Ocean and surrounded by stunning beaches and island greenery, it’s a pretty fantastic place to visit.

Spring is generally the best time to visit Pink Lake Esperance. The region’s dry climate means that the lakes often experience extremely low water levels by summer or may even dry up entirely.

Currently, though, Esperance Pink Lake is no longer a vibrant pink colour due to what is believed to be salinity issues caused by human activity. To be pink, the temperature and light conditions must be perfect for the algae (dunaliella salina) to accumulate the red pigment (beta carotene) and produce pigment at high concentrations to turn the lake pink. Despite this, the salt is still 99.9% pure. It’s extracted by WA salt supply and sent to be processed in Fremantle.

pink lake esperance is now white
The pink lake has turned white!

However, advances in science or nature might just put the pink back into Spencer Lake in the future. The local council is invested in helping achieve this goal, too. “Pink Lake is part of our identity,” Dale Piercey, a local councillor, stated during a meeting to discuss investment in the future of Spencer Lake. There’s a trial where salt crust is being collected from the lake, and salt brine is being pumped in from Lake Warden. The hope is that Esperance, WA’s pink lake may turn pink again as conditions change.

It’s worth noting that you can also visit Lake Hillier, which is 120km from Esperance on Middle Island. The only ways to visit Lake Hiller are by boat (currently paused) or scenic flight from Esperance.

Is Pink Lake Esperance Worth Visiting?

Despite the current lack of pink water, Pink Lake in Esperance is still a beautiful place to visit. The lake remains a picturesque and serene destination worth adding to your itinerary.

The lake is beautiful, and there are also stunning white beaches, coastal walks, and plenty of interesting places to visit close by that will make your trip a great experience.

beach in esperance, great ocean drive
There is so much to explore in Esperance

Just a short drive away, you’ll find some of Australia’s best beaches, scenic coastal drives, and opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and wildlife spotting.

Highlights like the Great Ocean Drive, Lucky Bay, and Cape Le Grand National Park are all within easy reach, giving you plenty of reasons to stick around and make the most of your trip.

How to Get to Pink Lake Esperance, Western Australia

Once you arrive in Esperance, visiting Pink Lake via car or taxi in around 10 minutes is super easy. You can also arrange tours of the lake, and operators will usually collect you from your accommodation.

esperance town things to do
Esperance town

Hiring a car can be a great way to get from Esperance to Pink Lake, allowing you to explore the area at your leisure.

If you’re coming from Perth, you can drive to Esperance, which takes about 7.5 hours, or you can opt for a short 1.5-hour flight. Regional Express (Rex Airlines) offers direct flights to Esperance from Perth, and car hire is available at the airport. Have you considered a road trip? The Perth to Esperance road trip is one of the top road trips from Perth.

What to Do at Pink Lake

Wondering what to do when you arrive in Pink Lake Esperance? Here are the best ways to explore Pink Lake and the beauty of the surrounding areas:

great ocean drive flyer
Great Ocean Drive Brochure, Esperance

Enjoy a Hike

Head to Pink Lake for a hike and admire the beautiful lake and birds as you wander by the water. The lookout point is on the southern part of the lake on Eleven Mile Beach Road, where you can take a break and enjoy the view. The 9km Great Ocean Walk from the Esplanade to Twilight Beach also passes the lake.

The drive past the lake (part of the Great Ocean Drive) is beautiful, too, with crystal clear water and stunning coastal views.

A Scenic Flight

Taking a scenic flight via a small plane or helicopter is probably the most exciting way to see Pink Lake Esperance and the surrounding area – though I suspect your main destination would be Lake Hillier, not Pink Lake.. This way, you’ll have a bird’s-eye view of Pink Lake as well as the mind-blowing beaches of Great Ocean Drive and Cape Le Grand National Park.

There are several tours to choose from, including:

My top recommendation is the 4X4 tour and scenic lakes flight! You’ll also enjoy morning tea on the beach and a remote landing for lunch.

Flights depart from Esperance Airport, just 20 minutes from the town. View all the scenic flights here.

pink lake port gregory, australia
Pink Lake Hillier

Hop on a Boat Tour (Nearby Lake Hillier Only)

Discover the pink lakes and islands of the archipelago and see wildlife by boat. Plenty of tours are available, including visits to other islands, such as Middle Island, where Hillier Lake is located.

Lake Hillier is another pink lake near Esperance (120km away). Esperance Island cruises usually run boat tours there, but due to soil from the surrounding island flooding the lake, this lake is currently no longer pink either!

Your tour guide can explain the area’s history and know the best places to spot wildlife, such as sea lions, dolphins, and sea eagles.

Observatory Point Beaches in Esperance Western Australia

What Else Is Nearby?

Visiting Pink Lake near Esperance is well worth it, but you’ll also want to see more the region offers if you’ve travelled to Western Australia. For a more detailed list, read my guide to the best things to do in Esperance.

Here are the top four areas to explore:

Great Ocean Drive

A spectacular 40km scenic drive with beautiful beaches takes in several excellent spots along the coast, including West Beach, 4th Beach, Salmon Beach, Twilight Beach, and, of course, Pink Lake.

There is also a cycling and walking lane along Ocean Drive, where you can stroll or hire bikes.

You can read my full guide to Great Ocean Drive here >>>

lucky bay in western australia, great ocean drive in esperane
Lucky Bay

Lucky Bay

Known as Australia’s whitest beach, Lucky Bay is a must-see and one of the top Esperance Beaches. Located in Cape Le Grand National Park, the stunning white sand and turquoise-coloured waters are the main attraction, but you can also enjoy camping and fishing nearby.

Take a picnic, enjoy the beach, and you may even see an inquisitive kangaroo or two roaming the shores.

NOTE: Lucky Bay is not dog-friendly. If you’re bringing your dog to Esperance, make sure you read my guide to the top dog-friendly beaches in Esperance.

Cape Le Grand National Park

Apart from Lucky Bay, it’s worth exploring this national park itself. Aside from the beautiful beaches and scenery, you can also go hiking and rock climbing, with Frenchman’s Peak being an ideal spot for these activities and delivering spectacular views.

white sand beach
Cape Le Grande Esperance

Woody Island

Jump on the 60-minute ferry to Woody Island. There are plenty of walking trails and opportunities to see the local wildlife, fish and snorkel.

The island also has visitor facilities, so you can visit the Visitor’s Centre, drink at Black Jacks Bar, and even spend a night or two in a safari hut or tent one of WA’s Best Glamping experiences

woody island

Pink Lake Tourist Park

If you’re looking for somewhere cosy, comfortable, and convenient to stay in Esperance, Pink Lake Tourist Park ticks all these boxes. Located only around 2km from the centre of Esperance, the park has cute villas and rooms with balconies available, depending on your requirements.

Facilities include a children’s playground, picnic area, and garden views. The Esplanade Beach is only 1.7 miles away, and the marina is just 2 miles away.

Make sure you read my guide to the top places to stay in Esperance to discover your perfect accommodation option.

esperance town

Final Words

I hope this in-depth guide to Pink Lake Esperance will help you plan a fantastic visit + plan how best to spend your time there and in the surrounding Esperance area.

FAQs About Pink Lake Esperance

Can you swim in the Pink Lake in Esperance?

Swimming in Pink Lake is not advised due to the high levels of salinity in the water, which can cause irritation and damage to your skin. Many pink lakes, including Lake Hillier, are also out of bounds for conservation reasons.

white like in esperance, not pink anymore

Is the Pink Lake still pink in 2025?

The salt concentration is critical to the lake’s pink hue, so at the moment, Pink Lake Esperance is not pink due to salinity issues. That said, advances in science and nature’s unpredictability could mean that the lake returns to its bright pink colour in the future.

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