Dimboola - A Lake in Two Colours
It is summer 2023. We are on our way back from a two-week road trip we had planned to Kangaroo Island, and we’re now on our second day of driving back home.
The trip had been great so far. Everything had gone as planned. But there’s one more stop marked on the map. A place we’d missed on the way out, maybe because of poor signal or just being too distracted by the road.
But this time, we can’t miss it.
It’s one of the few pink lakes in Victoria. Probably not as scenic as Lake Tyrrell, but after missing that one due to bad timing and bad weather (apparently the algae that turns the water pink needs just the right conditions), we told ourselves this was the one. So we drove slow.
The map said we were close, and soon after we saw the sign. Quick U-turn. Parked on the opposite side of the road.
I grabbed my camera and walked to a spot where I could see the lake. But... nothing interesting. Yes, the lake looked pink, but the colour was dull. I couldn’t see the image I had in my head. I felt like I had missed another one.
Jade had gone for a walk near the lake’s edge. I stood there wondering: do I go closer to see more of the colour, or try a different approach?
I chose the second.
Back to the car. Put the camera down. I think I even deleted the photos. I felt frustrated. I grabbed the drone. The sky wasn’t the brightest and it was a bit windy, but I felt like I had to try. I had nothing to lose.
And I was right.
From the air, the lake took shape. Its colour came to life. The higher I went, the more vibrant it became. Then I noticed something else. Something different.
On one side of the lake, the pink began to shift. Subtle at first, but the closer I got, the clearer it became: the lake was turning orange.
The mental image I had was now overpowered by the beauty in front of me. I started taking photos. Of the lake’s shape, the colours, everything.
The moment didn’t last long. Maybe 10 minutes of battery. But I made the most of it.
Back on land, I felt grateful. Grateful I didn’t give up. Grateful I chose a different angle.
Here are some of the photos from that flight.
