I Road Tripped to Victoria’s Biggest Pink Lake

We Are Explorers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place, who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

I’ve had photographing a pink salt lake high on my bucket list for a long time now. So when the chance came to road trip out to Victoria’s Lake Tyrrell with the new Renault Duster, I didn’t think twice. My calendar was cleared in record time, and I was already mapping out the adventure.

Lake Tyrrell is never the same twice. The colours shift with the light, time of day, and weather, from soft pastel reflections to bold, fiery skies. That’s what makes it so magical. And along the way, I found far more than just the lake itself.

We packed the Duster and set off from Melbourne, with the Grampians as our first stop. The drive was entertaining with canola-lined highways, silo art in tiny towns, coffee stops, and the odd dirt road detour to keep things interesting.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Day 1 – Road Trip to the Grampians

Day one kicked off with the car packed and snacks close by. We detoured to Halls Gap for a halfway stop. A mountain-framed town in the Grampians that feels especially epic in winter.

The Renault Duster made the drive easy: comfy seats, loads of room for all our ‘just in case’ weekend gear (because being spontaneous is my favourite way to live), and enough zip to make the long stretches of highway fly by.

Arriving in Halls Gap, we were met with rugged mountain formations that made us feel very small (the Duster’s hill descent control came in handy around these parts!). To top it off, we booked a tiny home stay. Because nothing says ‘immersed in nature’ like sleeping in a secluded paddock with nearby wetlands and starry skies. It made for a perfect road trip pit stop.

After a few hours of driving, we were pretty keen to tuck in and leave early the next morning for Lake Tyrrell – but not before stargazing on the deck. Winter in the Grampians offers the clearest skies.

Day 2 – The Grampians to Lake Tyrrell

We woke early to catch first light spilling over the hill, coffee firmly in hand, while plotting our route to the salt lake. After our short but sweet stay in the Grampians, we waved goodbye to the kangaroos and rolled on, passing through the old gold mining town of Stawell.

The drive carried us along long stretches of open road, past farmland, golden canola fields, and through small country towns like Birchip and Wycheproof, which proudly claims the smallest registered mountain in the world.

Fuel stress wasn’t even on the radar. The Duster has a range of up to 900km, which was a huge relief considering my track record of being easily distracted by detours. We happily pulled over more than once to stretch our legs and check out the incredible silo art, too.

The town of Sea Lake was a welcome sight after a long stretch of highway and some very questionable country sing-alongs, thanks to the Duster’s wireless phone charge feature, and music control courtesy of Apple CarPlay on the 10.1” multimedia touchscreen.

This small country town is surrounded by endless fields of wheat, barley, and canola, so driving in, we were greeted with a patchwork of lush green and golden yellow crops.

As we arrived, the sun started to dip, so as a photographer with a clear obsession with golden hour, we headed straight to Lake Tyrrell, just ten minutes from the centre of town.

With the sun lowering and gumboots on, we waded into the shallow waters and watched as the light shifted across the lake. Locals call Lake Tyrrell the ‘sky mirror’, and I could instantly see why people travel far and wide to see it. 

The lake is shallow and perfectly still, reflecting the sky like a giant, natural mirror and presenting the most breathtaking sight. It was really special, quietly capturing the landscape until the first stars appeared.

And then, the sky lit up in a new way. Never have I seen so many stars as we did here! Lake Tyrrell has prime astrophotography conditions, with minimal light pollution and dark skies. And with no moon and the core of the Milky Way visible, it was perfect timing for a killer shot. 

We could drive the Duster right down to the lake, which made setting up gear much easier. We set up our tripods and cameras along the lake’s edge, hoping to capture what promised to be a spectacular night. I think we did alright!

If you’re chasing the Milky Way, aim for the cooler months (April-September). Winter nights often bring the clearest skies, and from May to August, the Milky Way core is at its most visible in Australia. Try to plan around the new moon for the darkest conditions; your photos will thank you for it.

Hot tip! Gumboots are a lifesaver. The salty mud has a habit of suctioning your feet down, so I hope you don’t have an emotional attachment to your car mats. Luckily, the Duster has rubber mats we could hose off… more than once.

A head torch is also essential, and extra layers are a must because it gets cold fast.

Day 3 – Chasing Pink Around Lake Tyrrell

Lake Tyrrell isn’t always that dreamy, bright pink you see splashed across Instagram. The colour changes throughout the year, and after chatting with a few locals, we learned the best time to catch it in full rosy glory is late September to early February.

Rain plays a big role, too. It washes fresh nutrients into the lake, feeding the naturally occurring algae that, mixed with the shallow water and high salt content, create those incredible colours people travel hours to see.

Early the next morning, we decided to take the off-road tracks that loop around the lake, searching for that magnificent pink. The tracks were dusty and empty, lined with tough, little purple shrubs and the occasional abandoned tyre. Hard to believe this was once the Mallee Rally Racetrack, now it’s just left for curious drivers like us.

The Duster was right at home. We flicked on sand-driving mode (one of its five driving modes, including mud, snow, and off-road), rolled the windows down, and breathed it all in. The car handled everything without drama! Smooth, steady, and with that extra bit of ground clearance that made me confident.

Eventually, our sand mission paid off. We found the famous ‘Pink Pond’ and yes, it lives up to its name. I actually squealed when I saw it – hidden treasure!

The sand deposits give the lake’s surface an abstract Mars-like appearance. It was so exciting to find. 

Fingers and toes crossed, I hoped our last visit to the lake would be a good one. Arriving before first light to capture that mirror effect, we watched and waited as colour slowly grew in the sky. I spent an hour chasing the light and colour as it all intensified. 

Hot tip! If you’re visiting outside of the warmer months, I highly recommend setting multiple alarms to be there at first light, not sunrise; the intense colours happen before the sun breaks the horizon.

After our successful early morning mission, we grabbed a bite at Juke Café in Sea Lake, and a few friendly locals pointed us towards Green Lake, just 12 minutes out of town. It’s a freshwater spot with camping all around the banks, suitable for tents, caravans, and motorhomes.

With the Duster’s modular roof bars offering two different configurations, you could throw on a rooftop tent and stay for days! Green Lake’s also a favourite with swimmers and water-skiers once the weather heats up.

We parked by the water with chicken sliders and yuzu lemonade, and listened to the birds chattering across the lake. After the salt flats at sunrise, it felt like the perfect balance. Soft, green, and fresh compared to the wide, stark beauty of Lake Tyrrell. Sitting on the banks, it was a perfect little pause that made a road trip feel complete. 

Now all there was to do was fire up the Renault Duster and sing country songs all the way home.