Lake Ninan - Wongan Hills - a bonus Free Camp

This will be just a short blog, and a little story about a little dot on the map of Australia, callled Lake Ninan.

Lake Ninan is situated just 10 kms west  of a little place called Wongan Hills, in the wheatbelt of Western Australia.  For those on the road and wanting somewhere to pull up camp for a day or three, this would have to be one of the more amazing places we have seen in our travels, and when we are finished here at Koorda, we are going to take in a few days of the magnificence of this wonderful place.  Talking to some campers there the other day, the sunrises and sunsets are something to behold, and hence the reason for wanting to go back and spend a few days.

The facilities are basic and campers need to be self contained, but if the magnificence, and peace and quiet of the Australian bush are what you are looking for, then this is a must do item on any travellers list.

The Lake is a natural salt lake, but when full is used for many water sports. There is an abundance of bird life, with many unique species.

In days long gone, the ladies of the town were seen to be doing there washing down by the lake.  During 1910 and 1911, the water supply in the developing town of Wongan Hills was very short, and the lake's supply was used for the towns people and the railways to keep the steam trains running. Camels which were in the region doing survey work ahead of the railway construction, carted water from Lake Ninan. They were in service for five months carting water between Goomalling and Mullewa.



Lake Ninan Picnic Area



The lake is one of the most amazing salt lakes you will ever see,  and is just a see of salt crystals, inches deep and rock hard.  Walking across the salt, hearing the 'crunch' under your feet, is something to be experienced.  The pink coloration of the water is due to high levels of carotene, which makes it almost unliveable for fish life, but makes for a spectacular photo.



Water Marker and Buoy



Lake Ninan





Salt Crystal Built Up Around The Roots Of An Old Tree




Salt - Inches Deep, And Rock Hard




The Wonderful Pink Coloration Of Lake Ninan



Local Birdlife

Salt Crystals

So, if opportnity present itself - go and visit this wonderful place, and hopefully in the near future, we will have some great sunrise and sunset photos of Lake Ninan.