About Lake Tyrrell
Lake Tyrrell is Victoria's largest inland salt lake, located about 7 kilometres north of Sea Lake in the Buloke Shire of northwestern Victoria. Covering approximately 20,860 hectares, the shallow salt-crusted lake is renowned for its mirror-like reflections when shallow water is present and for its exceptionally dark night skies. It features a viewing platform and boardwalk, attracts photographers and stargazers, and has a history of commercial salt harvesting and long Aboriginal association.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a vast, flat white salt pan that becomes a shallow reflective lake when water is present. The site has a dedicated viewing platform, boardwalk and lookout accessed from Lake Tyrrell Road, with interpretive signage, parking and toilets. The surrounding landscape is flat mallee country with low vegetation. Visitors can walk on the boardwalk, view the salt crust, take photographs of reflections at sunrise and sunset, and experience dark skies for stargazing at night.
Key highlights
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Victoria's largest salt lake with expansive white salt crust
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Mirror-like reflections for photography when shallow water covers the lake
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Internationally recognised dark-sky location for stargazing and astrophotography
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Purpose-built viewing platform, boardwalk and lookout over the lake
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Birdwatching for waterbirds and mallee species when water is present
History of Lake Tyrrell
Lake Tyrrell is Victoria's largest salt lake, covering about 20,860 hectares. Commercial salt extraction began in the 1890s and continues, with salt harvested from the lake bed. The surrounding lunette and lake area contain evidence of long Aboriginal occupation and use.
Culture & Context
The lake is culturally significant to the Boorong people, Traditional Owners of the area, who have long associations with the lake and surrounding country and are noted for detailed astronomical knowledge linked to the night skies over Lake Tyrrell.
Route
| By air |
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