Hutt Lagoon, also known as The Pink Lake, is a beautiful place to stop on the road from Geraldton to Kalbarri. At 14km (8.7miles) long and 2.3km (1.43miles) wide, this salt lake takes on different pink hues depending on the season, water levels and cloud coverage of the day.
The pinkness is due to the presence of the carotenoid producing algae, Dunaliella salina. This algae is useful. It is a source of Vitamin A in cosmetics and supplements. It is also used as a food colouring agent.
There are quite a few pink lakes in Australia. The pink Lake Hillier is also Western Australia, although further north and a lot smaller.
Where is Hutt Lagoon? 515km (320miles) north of Perth, near Port Gregory. About a five and a half hour drive north of Perth. This lake is known as the bubblegum pink lake.
Can you swim in the lake? Yes, but is not advised. The algae is harmless but the water is very salty. The bottom of the lagoon has a thick layer of salt crystals. If you step on these the layer may break and the crystals could cut your feet. Wear reef shoes if you are going to tread into the Lagoon.
If you do swim here, remember it is very salty. Anything that comes in contact with the water will have salt residue and form a salty crust as it dries. Fortunately the ocean and the town of Port Gregory are nearby where you can wash off the salt.
There is a Pink Lake Viewpoint on Port Gregory Road. This is the best spot to get up close and personal with the lake. There is a path down to the edge, and plenty of long parking areas for caravans and motorhomes.
The best time of the day for photographs of the strawberry pink lagoon is at midday, when the sun is directly overhead. There are companies that can fly you over the Lagoon for the perfect views from above. My photos here were taken with a DJI Mavic drone.
I loved the contrasting colours from the beautiful whites and pinks of the salt, the long sweeping paved roads, the dark dirt, the greens of the coastal scrub, out onto the beautiful blues of the nearby ocean and the lighter clear blue skies.
Hutt Lagoon has the world’s largest microalgae production plant. Look to the right in the photo below and you can see their darker pink production areas.
Hutt Lagoon is visually stunning and definitely worth a stop on your journey.
Happy Travels!
