About Lake MacDonnell
Lake MacDonnell is a large natural salt lake near Penong on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, about 13 kilometres south of Penong and 75 kilometres west of Ceduna. Famous for its striking pink coloration caused by salt-loving algae and bacteria, the lake is bisected by a gravel causeway creating contrasting pink and blue-green waters. It is adjacent to Australia's largest gypsum mine and is a popular photography stop on the Nullarbor route.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a vast shallow salt lake with vivid pink water on one side of a gravel causeway and blue-green water on the other, set in a flat, arid coastal landscape. The lake bed is white salt crust with gypsum deposits. There are no buildings on the lake itself; visitors view and photograph from the causeway and roadside parking area. The site is open and exposed with no shade, offering panoramic views of the coloured waters against the outback backdrop.
Key highlights
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Striking pink coloration due to halophilic algae and bacteria in high-salinity water
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Gravel causeway dividing the lake into contrasting pink and blue-green sections
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Vast white salt and gypsum lake bed - site of Australia's largest gypsum mine
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Popular photography location with vivid colour contrast
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Scenic outback coastal setting near Cactus Beach and the Nullarbor route
History of Lake MacDonnell
Lake MacDonnell contains one of Australia's largest gypsum deposits and has been mined for gypsum since 1919. Gypsum extracted from the lake bed is transported to the port at Thevenard near Ceduna for processing and export, supporting a long-standing mining operation in the region.
Culture & Context
The lake lies on the traditional lands of the Wirangu people of the far west coast of South Australia.
Route
| By air | Fly to Ceduna Airport then drive approximately 75 km west via Flinders Highway to Penong and Lake MacDonnell Road |
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