While we don't have a Disneyland Down Under (at least not yet), our country is filled with magical places that look like they’ve been pulled straight out of a fairytale. But which one is the fairest of them all? With its bubblegum-pink waters, Lake Hillier has been crowned as the most ‘otherworldly’ travel destination in Australia – and the tenth in the world.
There’s no simple formula for ranking the most ‘otherwordly’ destinations on Earth, but Slingo took a stab. They analysed destinations frequently featured in round-ups of the world’s most magical places, ranking them based on Google and social media popularity, as well as TripAdvisor reviews describing the place as “magical”. Lake Hillier was the only Aussie destination to make the list, tying in tenth place with La Digue, a breathtaking island in Seychelles, Africa.
Just like a strawberry milkshake, Australia's most popular pink lake is a delight for the senses. You’ll find Lake Hillier on Middle Island in the protected and pristine wilderness of Western Australia’s Recherche Archipelago, around 150 kilometres from Esperance. The natural wonder, shaped like a footprint and 600 metres in length, gets its bubblegum colour from a mix of salt-loving bacteria and algae.
You can truly appreciate the magical contrast between Lake Hillier’s bright pink waters and the dark blue Indian Ocean from the sky. In fact, Lake Hillier is only accessible by air (or scenic cruise – but these are rare), with swimming strictly off-limits.
Lake Hillier is only one of Australia’s mesmerising pink lakes, with other favourites including Hutt Lagoon in Western Australia’s Coral Coast and Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges.
Here is the full top-ten list of most ‘otherworldly’ magical travel destinations:
1. Pamukkale, Turkey
2. Antelope Canyon, United States
3. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
4. Socotra, Yemen
5. Zhangjiajie, China
6. Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand
7. Seljalandsfoss, Iceland
=8. Ilulissat, Greenland
=8. Vatnajökull, Iceland
=10. La Gigue, Seychelles
=10. Lake Hillier, Australia
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