Lake Ballard

Vast, blinding-white and utterly silent, Lake Ballard is one of Western Australia’s most mesmerising outback experiences. This immense salt lake in the Goldfields-Esperance region is best known for its otherworldly art installation, Inside Australia by Antony Gormley – 51 stark iron figures scattered across the lake’s crust, each representing a local resident. The play of light at sunrise and sunset is extraordinary, with the figures casting long shadows across the cracked salt pan. Getting here requires a sturdy vehicle and a sense of adventure, but the reward is a landscape that feels like another planet.

Highlights & What to See

• Inside Australia installation – Antony Gormley’s haunting figures, each one a unique cast of a Menzies local, dot the lake for kilometres. Walk among them for an eerie, moving encounter with art and isolation.
• Salt-crusted lakebed – The pure white surface, cracked into geometric patterns, stretches to the horizon. It’s a photographer’s dream, especially in the golden light of dawn or dusk.
• Stargazing – With zero light pollution, the night sky here is a spectacle. The Milky Way arcs overhead, and the salt flat reflects the stars like a mirror.
• Menzies town – The nearby historic gold-rush town (about 40 km away) offers a quirky pub, a museum, and the famous “Menzies Hotel”. Worth a stop for supplies and a yarn with locals.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most visitors spend 2–3 hours exploring the lake and its art installation, ideally timed for late afternoon to catch the sunset. If you’re camping nearby (there are basic sites around Menzies), you can stay for sunrise the next morning. For a full experience, allow half a day including the drive from Menzies and a walk out to the farthest figures. The lake is remote – plan to arrive with a full tank and plenty of water.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Kalgoorlie-Boulder – The gold-mining powerhouse, 180 km south, with its Super Pit mine, heritage architecture, and lively pubs.
• Kambalda – A smaller mining town with a lovely lakefront and wildflower displays in spring.
• Goongarrie National Park – A rugged outback park with salt lakes, granite outcrops, and historical gold ruins.
• Leonora – Further north, another gold-rush town with the haunting Gwalia ghost town and the Sons of Gwalia mine.
• Great Central Road – For the truly adventurous, this unsealed route leads to the Northern Territory and Uluru, passing through stunning desert landscapes.

Please check official sources for current details.