PEOPLE fascinated with Western Australia's pink Lake Hillier near Esperance have one opportunity in the next year to see it up close with a cruise to Middle Island off the coast of Esperance on January 11.
There is only one cruise per year to Middle Island because of its distance.
According to Esperance Island Cruise manager Jaimen Hudson it is "a really special tour".
"Very few people have the opportunity to get up close to Lake Hillier because it's extremely isolated - it takes about two hours to cruise there from the Duke of Orleans which is 100 kilometres east of Esperance."
Usually, the only way to see Lake Hillier is by taking a scenic flight with Goldfields Air Services or by chartering a plane or boat.
Research has shown that Lake Hillier's vibrant pink colour comes from 10 species of salt-loving bacteria, archaea and several species of Dunaliella algae that are almost all pink, red or salmon-coloured.
Guests will be able to marvel at the phenomenon from the lake's viewing platform.
The cruise also includes a stop at the campground ruins of Australia's only recorded pirate, Black Jack Anderson who used Middle Island as a base.
The 60-foot vessel is limited to 40 passengers and the full-day tour costs $320 per person and includes lunch, tea, coffee and water.
Find out more about the Middle Island cruise here
Top five things to do in and near Esperance
1. Visit Australia's whitest beach, Lucky Bay situated within the Cape Le Grand National Park where the landscape changes from massive granite outcrops to freshwater pools and unbelievably white sandy beaches with views over many islands. Don't forget to say g'day to Lucky Bay's resident kangaroos, often found sunbaking on the beach.
2. Take a cruise among 100 or so untouched islands that make up the Archipelago of the Recherche, known by the locals as the Bay of Isles, where you can see amazing wildlife including the second largest predatory bird in Australia, the white-bellied sea eagle that has a wingspan of 220 centimetres, barren geese and colonies of sea lions and fur seals. The Recherche Archipelago is pristine wilderness at its best.
3. Visit the stunning Fitzgerald River National Park, a UNESCO recognised international biosphere with over 1,800 beautiful and unique species of plants, 22 species of mammal, 200 bird species as well as 41 species of reptiles. It is one of the largest and most botanically significant national parks in Australia.
4. The scenic Great Ocean Drive is a 40-kilometre self-drive loop past stunning beaches, rocky headlands, steep cliffs, small bays and hidden ocean pools. Stop at Nine Mile Beach to watch colourful windsurfers float across the water's glassy top, and make time to see Twilight Cove, where you'll spot spectacular rock formations that curve and loop out of the water. When you finally arrive back in town, head to the Rotary lookout for a view back across the coastline.
5. Check out the Ravensthorpe installation of the Silo Art Trail, a 25-metre high wildflower inspired mural painted across three CBH Group silos.
