2 Days Western Australia Pink Lake Tour

Hutt Lagoon is the headline, but the appeal of this two-day trip is the range of Western Australia’s northern sights along the way: pale dunes, unusual limestone formations, bright coastal water and, finally, a pink lake. You get a driver-guide, a hotel night in Geraldton and a lift between stops that would be a long haul to organize on your own.

I like two things in particular: the variety of the stops makes the drive feel like a proper northern itinerary, and the included drone photos offer a view of Hutt Lagoon you cannot get from the ground. Guides such as Stanley, Tao Tao and Kim have also helped with explanations and group photos, a welcome touch when you are trying to make the most of short stops.

The trade-off is the distance. This is a long road trip with set stop times, not a slow-paced stay in one place. The advertised tour is Chinese-speaking, although some guides have provided English explanations; if you need English throughout, confirm before booking.

At a glance: what makes this tour worthwhile

1 / 10

• Hutt Lagoon with aerial photos: Bring flip-flops if you plan to take pictures in the water. The guide uses a drone to capture complimentary aerial shots.
• Lancelin’s white sand dunes: You have an hour to take photos or rent sandboards or ATVs for an extra-cost ride.
• The Pinnacles Desert: A one-hour stop gives you time to see the unusual stone formations and take pictures.
• A night in Geraldton: The price includes one night at a three-star hotel, with two to three people per stay.
• A driver-guide, not just a transfer: Guides provide commentary and have helped with photography, sunscreen reminders and practical needs.
• A full day on the road: The two-day format handles a route that one tour member described as more than 1,000 kilometers round trip.

👉 See our pick of the 4 Best Guided Tours In Western Australia

From Perth, a changing route north

The tour leaves Perth at 8:00 a.m. from the meeting point in front of Novotel Langley or Duxton Hotel. Arrive at least 10 minutes early. A late arrival or no-show is not refundable, so treat that start time as firm.

You travel in a high-spec tour bus, with the operator describing the trip as a premium small-group tour. The exact group size is not specified, but the vehicle is designed for comfortable seating. Some tour members have found themselves on a full-size coach rather than the medium-sized bus they expected, so vehicle size may vary.

The journey is part of the experience, but it is also a substantial chunk of the trip. You will cover a lot of ground between stops, and the bus is where you can rest between walks. The driver-guide provides commentary along the way, helping break up the drive with local stories and explanations.

Lancelin: white dunes and optional thrills

The first scheduled stop is Lancelin Sand Dunes, at about 10:00 a.m. You have an hour to enjoy the pale, soft sand and take photos. If you want a more active stop, you can rent a sandboard or an ATV. Those rentals are not included in the tour price, so budget for them separately if either is on your wish list.

Sandboarding is an appealing way to make the stop more than a photo break, but it is optional. You can also take a walk on the dunes and enjoy the open views without paying for an activity. Wear shoes you can manage on sand, and expect to brush yourself off before climbing back on the bus.

The schedule gives you time to explore, but not a full morning at the dunes. If sandboarding is your priority, make that decision promptly rather than using most of the hour to browse and take pictures.

The Pinnacles: a striking hour among the stone forms

At around 11:40 a.m., the tour reaches the Pinnacles Desert for a self-guided hour. The formations make this stop visually different from the coast and dunes: instead of open sand alone, you can photograph the individual stone shapes rising from the desert floor.

You are free to explore at your own pace during the stop, while the guide provides commentary as part of the trip. Take water and sun protection with you when you leave the bus. One useful note from the tour’s practical details: the Pinnacles can be sunny, so a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen are worth having ready rather than buried in your bag.

An hour is enough for a look and a set of photos, though anyone who likes to linger over a place may wish for more time. That is the rhythm of the trip: several memorable stops, each with a fixed window, rather than a long visit to one site.

Lunch at Lobster Shack, then a coastal pause

At about 1:00 p.m., you stop at Lobster Shack for lunch. The meal is self-selected and at your own expense. This gives you choice, but it means lunch is not part of the package price. Tour members have particularly enjoyed the fresh lobster, making it a good place to consider a seafood meal if that appeals to you.

The schedule allows an hour here. That is a useful pause after a busy morning and a chance to eat before continuing north. Keep your timing in mind, since you will need to be back with the group when the break ends.

At about 2:00 p.m., the tour stops for 30 minutes at Thirsty Point Reserve, also described as Emerald Beach. This is a short photo opportunity by the water, not a long beach visit. It offers a change of pace after the dunes and desert, with time to walk around and take in the coastal colors.

Geraldton: the overnight reset

The first day ends with accommodation in Geraldton, at a three-star hotel. One night is included, with two to three people per stay. The package does not specify a hotel name or room configuration, so check the booking details if those specifics matter to you.

An overnight stop makes this route more manageable than trying to see the northern sights in one punishing day. You get a bed and a break from the road before heading to Hutt Lagoon the next morning. The tour also promotes nighttime stargazing and photos with the Milky Way as a backdrop. Stargazing depends on having a suitable night sky, and the schedule does not give a fixed time for it, so think of it as a welcome feature rather than a guaranteed private session.

Meals and drinks are not included. Bring the toiletries and a change of clothes you need for the night, plus a water bottle for the next day. The hotel stay is practical comfort, not a resort break.

Hutt Lagoon: the pink-lake moment

At about 10:00 a.m. on day two, you reach Hutt Lagoon for an hour. This is the trip’s central draw, and its unusual pink color makes the stop feel quite different from the previous day’s pale sand and coastal water. Conditions and weather can affect how the place looks in photographs, so keep your expectations flexible and enjoy the setting as it is on the day.

The guide uses a drone to take aerial pictures and shares the shots with the group at no extra charge. That is a real bonus: the overhead view gives you a sense of the lake’s color and shape that a phone camera held at ground level cannot reproduce. Guides have also helped people find photo angles and take pictures for one another, so you need not arrive with a photographer in tow.

If you want photos standing in the water, bring flip-flops. Also pack a change of clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. The stop is self-guided, so you can use the hour for photos and a look around, but it is not an open-ended visit.

The Leaning Tree and Jurien Bay

At about 1:00 p.m., there is a 20-minute stop at the Leaning Tree. This is a brief photo break, and the tour does not describe a longer walk or activity there. It adds another distinct roadside sight to the day, but you will need to be ready to move on when the short stop ends.

The next major pause is Jurien Bay, around 3:00 p.m. You have about 30 minutes for photos by the beaches and boardwalks. The stop is also described as a place known as Jellyfish Sea. If you want beach pictures in swimwear, you can change into your swimsuit, but there is limited time to do so and get your photos.

Jurien Bay is a relaxed end to the sightseeing portion, with time to walk by the water before the return journey. It is a short visit, not a beach day. The bus is scheduled to return to Perth around 6:00 p.m., though traffic and weather can affect the timetable.

Guides, language and the group experience

The tour includes a Chinese-speaking professional driver-guide and live commentary on board. Guides named Stanley, Tao Tao, Kim and Kim Ly have led trips. They have been praised for careful driving, clear explanations, useful local stories and helping people take photos. Some have also offered English explanations alongside the Chinese commentary, but that should not be assumed for every departure.

This guide-led format is especially useful if you do not want to drive long distances or work out the route yourself. You can rest between sights, hear context as you travel and ask for help with photos or practical matters. Solo participants have joined the tour, and the shared transport and organized stops can make a solo booking straightforward.

The schedule is structured. That keeps the two days moving, but it also means you cannot decide to spend an extra hour at the dunes or lake. If your ideal trip is a flexible self-drive with long stops, this format may feel restrictive. If you would rather hand over the driving and see several major northern sights in two days, the structure is a useful part of the value.

What the price covers, and what it does not

The listed starting price is $379.35, while the Join-In package information also gives a starting price of US$329.85. Those figures use different currency labels, so check the currency and final price shown at checkout before comparing options.

The package includes round-trip transport from the Perth meeting point, attraction admission, a Chinese-speaking driver-guide, commentary and one hotel night. For a route covering several far-flung places, transport and accommodation are the biggest practical savings. You do not have to rent a car, plan an overnight stop or manage the long drive yourself.

Food and beverages, personal spending, tips and insurance are excluded. Sandboards and ATV rentals at Lancelin are also described as optional rentals, not included activities. Add those costs if you want them, and allow for lunch at Lobster Shack and any other meals.

Overall, the price is easiest to justify if you want several headline sights in one organized trip and value a driver-guide, hotel night and drone photos. It is less compelling if you only want to see Hutt Lagoon, prefer to drive at your own pace or are trying to keep every meal and activity inside one fixed budget.

Who should book this two-day route

I would look closely at this tour if you are visiting Western Australia for the first time, do not want to drive, or want to combine the Pinnacles, Lancelin and Hutt Lagoon without arranging separate transport and lodging. The mix of natural sights is its strongest feature, and the guide’s role in photography and trip management adds value beyond simply getting you from place to place.

It is also a sensible choice for solo participants and people who like a planned schedule. Families should note that infants and children must be counted in the passenger headcount, and the same price applies to all ages. The activity has no age limit, but it is not stroller- or wheelchair-accessible and is not recommended for people with serious medical conditions, including high blood pressure, epilepsy, heart disease or asthma.

Book with realistic expectations: this is a long-distance coach tour with relatively brief stops. If that sounds like an efficient way to see the north, the combination of a hotel night, varied scenery and complimentary drone photos makes a strong case. If you need accessibility support, a guaranteed English-speaking guide or extra time at each stop, confirm those points before paying.

FAQ

Where does the tour leave from?

It departs from the meeting point in front of Novotel Langley or Duxton Hotel in Perth. You should arrive at least 10 minutes before the scheduled departure.

What time does the tour return to Perth?

The tour is scheduled to return around 6:00 p.m. on day two. Traffic and weather may change the schedule.

Is accommodation included?

Yes. The package includes one night at a three-star hotel in Geraldton, with two to three people per stay.

Are meals included?

No. Meals and beverages are not included. Lunch at Lobster Shack is self-selected and paid for separately.

Is the tour conducted in English?

The professional driver-guide is described as Chinese-speaking. Some guides have provided English explanations, but English commentary is not guaranteed by the tour details.

Are sandboarding and ATV rides included?

No. You can rent sandboards or ATVs at Lancelin, but those rentals are not included in the tour price.

Are the drone photos at Hutt Lagoon included?

Yes. The guide uses a drone to take aerial photos at Hutt Lagoon and shares them with the group.

What should I bring?

Bring a change of clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat or cap, toiletries, a water bottle and valid ID. Wear casual clothes and walking shoes, and dress for the day’s weather. Bring flip-flops if you want to take pictures in the water at Hutt Lagoon.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. There is no age limit, but infants and children must be included in the passenger headcount. The same price applies to all ages.

Is the tour wheelchair-accessible?

No. The activity is not wheelchair- or stroller-accessible. The tour information advises checking the venue’s official website for more information about accessibility.