Lake Gairdner is a saltwater lake situated in South Australia close to Adelaide in the Lake Gairdner National Park. With many water landscapes in Australia, Lake Gairdner stands out for its excessive content of salinity and the picturesque view it provides. The remarkable feature of the lake is that once the lake dries up in summers, the salt bed can be walked upon. The fourth largest salt lake in Australia is surrounded by red sand dunes giving one a theatre of colours to capture. Go through this handy guide to know more about the mystical Lake Gairdner.
Best Time To Visit Lake Gairdner
If one wants to capture the mirror images of the far horizon, December to March are the best time to visit the lake. The average temperature during spring is about 20℃ and the lake looks beautiful from one of its islands. In another case, if one wants to experience the epic walk on the salt bed, summers; especially in the month of May serves as the best time to visit Lake Gairdner. It is best to avoid the rainy season as the surroundings turn into swamps making it difficult to reach the lake.
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About Lake Gairdner
Lake Gairdner is vast stretching up to 160 km in length and about 50 km in breadth. The lake is formed due to the influx of water from the nearby creeks such as the Garden Well Creek and the River Lea which flows only in spring. The lake is more of a shallow basin filled with salt. Even when filled, the water stands only about a couple of feet deep. The presence of the excess salt in the area is unexplained as the area surrounding the lake are pure red sandhills. When the lake sees some water inflow due to rain, the shores bloom with greenery and fauna such as red kangaroos and emus. During sunrise and sunsets, the lake turns to shades of pink which is a sight to behold.
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Things To Do In Lake Gairdner
You’re surely in for a treat if you have sufficient idea about this stunning lake in Australia and going prepared is surely going to be more fun than anything else.
1. Bush Camp
Lake Gairdner camping area is famous for bush camping. It is open for tourists who are self-sufficient with caravans, recreational vehicles or motorhomes. The camping site is 5 kilometres away from the Cradle Mountain C132 road and has absolutely no facility and maintenance.
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2. Dry Lake Racing
Every year when the waters evaporate from the lake a dry lake racing competition is conducted at Lake Gairdner in Australia. Since the salt crust has no traction, it makes it hard for the driver to control the vehicle during the race. It is more of a skill competition and the highest speed at which one has driven on the lake to date is at 320 km/hr. The racers have to follow a strict rule of not polluting the lake with red sand from the shores.
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3. Gawler Ranges National Park
The Gawler Ranges National Park is the only other sightseeing spot located near the Lake Gairdner. One can visit the national park for some birdwatching or hiking. The Lake Gairdner National Park also houses two more similar lakes that are hard to reach making them the best places for hiking.
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How To Reach Lake Gairdner
Lake Gairdner is a recently discovered land which means reaching it needs some excursion. The nearest civilisation can be found at Mount Ive station which is a 3-hour drive from Port Augusta. One should not expect food and accessories in the region except for fuel. Kimba is the nearest town located 120 kilometres from the lake where one can find a night’s accommodation. Adelaide is the closest major city of Australia connected to Lake Gairdner. It is about four hundred and odd kilometres from Adelaide which takes about 6-8 hours considering the mud routes leading to the lake.
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If you’re looking for an off the beaten track experience while touring Australia, Lake Gairdner would make the best choice. Whether one wants to spend some quiet time in the wilderness or be part of the thrilling race, plan your trip to Australia and get your dose of adventure in this beautiful land that has it all!
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