pink lakes and border towns: a guide to the outback mallee region

THE PINK LAKES

Murray Sunset National Park

A rose-coloured gem of the Australian Outback, the Pink Lakes of North-West Victoria are one of the few places in the country to experience this untouched natural phenomenon. Located 50km south of Mildura in the heart of the Murray Sunset National Park lies Lake Cosby and Lake Kenyon, two of the four intriguing pink lakes. The alchemy of desert heat, salt and algae creates the pink-blush hue of the water most vibrant on a cloudy day.

Set up camp on the salty banks of Lake Cosby and watch the colour spectrum of the lake shift with the day from a glistening white to bubble-gum pink and occasionally lilac. As the sun sets, with a cup of tea in hand watch in awe at how the melting light softens the harsh terrain of the desert. Fall asleep under the night sky aglow with stars and be awoken by the song of native birds at first light.

Bring a good book, photography gear and your hiking shoes and prepare to unplug from the rest of the world as the grounds have no mobile reception. No fees or booking is required to camp and toilets, fireplaces, picnic tables are provided.

Kline loop nature walk 4.8km

This moderate bush track loops through the four magical lakes taking around two hours to complete. Signs around the track detail a history of salt mining in the park and passes an open-air museum of rusted machinery and remaining salt mounds from the 1970s. Start the track a few hours before dusk as the coolness of the evening sets in and keep an eye out for local wallabies and echidnas as you wander.

Remote Sunset Walking track 58km

Take three days to fully immerse yourself in the richness of the semi-arid desert by following the 58km Sunset Remote Walking Track. The track starts at the pink lakes and trails throughout surrounding mountains and bushland and is best completed between the cooler months of autumn and spring. This trek is a level 4 walking track and requires advanced preparation as well as confirmation with the park ranger. 

THE BORDERTOWNS

Mildura

There isn’t much that beats the charm of a country town: the local comfort food, historic architecture and quirky shops. Mildura is no exception. Situated on the border of NSW and Victoria and along the serene Murray River, Mildura is about a 5-hour drive from Melbourne and one of the larger towns closest to the National Park. The historic Mildura Grand hotel is an art-deco style haven with a pool and rose garden and is an easy three-minute drive from the railway station. Welcome the morning with a specialty brew from Blk Mlk Coffee before your day of exploring. Then enjoy a glass of local red and hearty northern Italian feast in the evening from Stephano’s located within the cellar doors of the hotel. 

Red Cliffs 

Located 16km south of Mildura is the richly historic town of Red Cliffs, the name attributed to the 70-metre-tall coloured cliffs along the Murray River that border the town’s east. Once home to the largest irrigation station and soldier settlement in Australia, Red Cliffs is a treasure trove of colonial remains, historical steam train tracks and local wineries.