Wandering Lake Ballard, WA: Sculptures on the Salt

Golden hour light bathes a hill at Lake Ballard in warm tones, illuminating the small trees across its surface under a soft sky.

In the remote Goldfields of Western Australia lies Lake Ballard – one of Western Australia’s most beautiful and surreal salt lakes. This vast natural salt lake stands at 113km long and 48 km wide and is famous for being home to one of the largest and most isolated outdoor art installations in the world. It is a place that offers, solitude, immersive art, rich culture set amongst stunning natural landscapes.

How to get to Lake Ballard

Lake Ballard is located in the remote Goldfields region of Western Australia, 51kms from the small town of Menzies, or 200kms from Kalgoorlie via sealed roads and accessible to all vehicles. If you are following the self drive of the Golden Quest Discovery Trail this location will be on your itinerary. If you want to explore more of the northern goldfields, we did a day trip from Lake Ballard to the ghost town of Gwalia and you can read about that here.

Art & Nature – “Inside Australia” – Sculptures on the Salt Lake

Sculpture from Antony Gormley’s "Inside Australia" installation stands in the foreground of the salt lake at Lake Ballard, with one of the Seven Sisters Hill rising in the distance.

Renowned UK artist Antony Gormley used Lake Ballard as the location for his work “Inside Australia” part of the 2003 Perth International Arts Festival. This art project consists of 51 metal sculptures covering 10 square kilometres. These haunting life size sculptures are actual digital scans of local Menzies residents. Walking among the sculptures is otherworldly, they shimmer on the horizon, you feel so small in the vast surrounding landscape. Each of these unique sculptures draws you in, urging you to understand the people and their stories behind the sculptures. It is equal parts eerie and peaceful.

It is possible to walk to all the sculptures – however there is no map, no defined paths to follow, only the footprints of visitors before you. To see all the sculptures is ambitious, be prepared to be hitting your step count goals and a full day’s walking!! The 51 sculptures are spaced out across the lake some as far as 500 metres apart. Allow yourself at least two hours to explore the sculptures closest to the campground and day use area.

Aerial view of Lake Ballard with shallow water covering parts of the salt flats, reflecting the clouds and blue sky above.

Best time to visit Lake Ballard

The conditions of the lake vary based on the seasons. The lake in summer is usually dry with a white crust of salt, that glistens in the sun, making it easier to explore this impressive art installation. However, it can be extremely hot, the flies are in abundance and the searing heat is intensified reflecting off the white salt surface. If visiting in the summer, ensure you have sunscreen, hats and protective clothing and plenty of water. Try to time your visit either in the morning or afternoon and avoid the heat of the day.

Visiting during the cooler months April – September you will find the temperatures are much milder, the days are still warm, though the rains can turn the salt surface to a muddy mess. Due to the remoteness and vastness of Lake Ballard it is recommended to never head out onto the lake on your own.

During our visit in June fly nets were still essential and it had recently rained, turning the lake surface to mud, I don’t mean just a little muddy – I mean gooey, sinking, stick to your feet kind of mud. It was a challenge to walk around – we tried with thongs, gum boots and in the end bare feet. We found that the easiest to navigate as the surface was also quite slippery. Whilst this may not appeal to all travellers – we embraced it and honestly being feet deep in the mud, somehow made us feel more connected to our surrounds and it enhanced our experience. It is hauntingly beautiful out there, get out and explore and remember to leave no trace (other than your footprints in the mud).

Bare feet sinking into the cracked, muddy surface of Lake Ballard’s salt flats in Western Australia

A female figure sculpture from Antony Gormley’s "Inside Australia" installation stands partially sunken in the muddy salt flats of Lake Ballard, Western Australia.

The Story of the Seven Sisters

According to the local Wongi/Wangkatha people, Lake Ballard is a sacred place and its islands (or hills as some would call them) are linked to an ancient Dreaming story about the Seven Sisters, also known as the Pleiades constellation. As the story goes, the Seven Sisters were travelling across the night sky when they saw the shimmering Lake Ballard below. Intrigued by its sparkle, they descended to play on its surface. However, a man appeared and began to chase the youngest sister. To escape, the sisters fled and hid, each one taking refuge on a different part of the lake.

The landscape of Lake Ballard, with its seven dotted islands, represents each of the sisters and where they hid. The largest island, found near the camp ground and day use area, is believed to be the eldest sister. It is possible to climb the hills – the easiest to access is the hill closest to the campground. It is not a well-formed path, but you can find your way to the top. We opted not to climb, out of respect for the cultural significance and importance of this location. The drone gave us the birds eye view, so we don’t feel we missed out.

Lake Ballard Photography

Aerial view of Lake Ballard at sunset, with deep red mud in the foreground, low water visible in the distance on the salt flats, a vivid blue sky above, and long shadows stretching across the landscape

Aerial downward view of Lake Ballard showing yellow, brown, and orange mud flats with tree shadows stretching across the surface. Footprints and bike tracks are visible winding through the soft mud.

Sunrise over Lake Ballard with soft golden light illuminating the distant hill, while low scrub bush fills the foreground of the salt lake landscape.

There are endless photo opportunities for keen photographers – the natural landscape is dramatic and the alien like sculptures add a whole other dimension. Visiting and photographing this place anytime is special but experiencing it at sunrise or sunset is something else entirely. Seeing the golden afternoon light stretch across the landscape, the way the light bounces off the sculptures and casts long shadows over the coloured lake.
At sunset, the lake deepens in hue — you can watch the tones shift from yellow, brown, to orange, and even a rich red, brought out by the exposed mud. The contrast between the lake and sky in the golden light is breathtaking. It a sight best experienced firsthand — one we highly recommend. There is also very little light pollution out here, meaning the star filled skies are unbelievable and perfect for astrophotography. Unfortunately it was a full moon during our stay, so that wasn’t an option for us.

Camping Lake Ballard

There are some amazing free camp spots situated on the edge of Lake Ballard. This is a remote location and there are no services at Lake Ballard – so ensure you come prepared with all the essentials including water as there are no drinking facilities. There are long drop toilets, some sites have fire pits (only permitted during April- October outside of the fire restriction period). There is also a day use/ picnic area with picnic tables and bbq facilities. Weekends and school holidays can get busy – so keep that in mind when visiting.

Lake Ballard remains one of our favourite places we’ve explored in Western Australia. There’s something deeply unique about it — a sense of calm and spirituality that settles over you the moment you arrive. It’s a place where nature, culture, and art exist in silent harmony. Whatever it is, Lake Ballard isn’t just a place you visit — it’s a place you feel. If you’re heading through the Goldfields, take the time, make the detour and experience it for yourself.