Hutt Lagoon, located in the Mid West region of Western Australia, is the largest system of algae farms in the world. These farms produce a unique colouring pigment, called Beta-Carotene, which is widely used in food and medicine. Here you can also find farming brine shrimp, salt, and gypsum.
The lagoon is fed by marine waters, but it is separated from the Indian Ocean by a beach barrier ridge and barrier dune system. From the land it's hard to imagine how big and impressive the area is. But from the air you can see huge patchworks of red, pink and all possible tints of these colours.
During summer months evaporation turns the 95% of the surface into a dry salt flat. In winter moderate rainfalls fill the territory again, so you can capture the pinkish waters. Depending on the season, time of the day and weather the spectrum of colours in lagoon changes. The best time to visit the farming grounds is in the morning and during the sundown.
Practical info
When is the ideal season to see the brilliant pink Hutt Lagoon?
The Hutt Lagoon's vibrant pink hue can largely be seen between June and November. Weather conditions are relatively moderate during this time, and the rainfall refills the lagoon with water. Conversely, in summer, evaporating water in the upper 95% of the surface causes the lagoon to resemble a dry salt flat, making it far less visually impressive. Show more
What is the process behind Beta-Carotene production in Hutt Lagoon?
Hutt Lagoon harnesses an algae biofarming process to generate Beta-Carotene, a unique carotenoid pigment commonly found in food colouring and pharmaceuticals due to its powerful health benefits. The process utilises saltwater nutrients, carbon dioxide, and sunlight to grow the algae, ensuring exceptionally high-quality pigment production in a pure environment. Show more
Where geographically can Hutt Lagoon be located?
Hutt Lagoon is located within Western Australia's Mid West region, around 531 km from Perth. Accessing Hutt Lagoon is relatively easy by road, with a 6 hour car trip from Perth to the lagoon. Alternatively, flying into Geraldton, Western Australia's nearest airport, and renting a car for the final 70 km of the journey is another option. Show more
Aside from algae, what else is farmed inside Hutt Lagoon?
In addition to algae, Hutt Lagoon also conducts brine shrimp, salt, and gypsum farming operations. As the world's largest system of algae farms, the lagoon produces Beta-Carotene; a unique pigment mainly used within the food and medicinal industries. Further, the brine shrimp and salt products produced at the lagoon prove commercially important, providing various food industry applications. Show more
How does the weather affect the color of Hutt Lagoon?
Hutt Lagoon's colour changes with the season, the time of day, and the weather. The best time to experience the pink water effect is during the morning or sunset, when the sun is low on the horizon. During moderate winter rainfall, the pink colour becomes more vibrant; however, summer evaporation causes the lagoon's upper 95% surface to dry into a salt flat, resulting in less vibrant pink colour overall. Show more
