Secret outback pink lakes are opening to campers for the very first time

A sprawling outback property in Far West NSW will soon be open to campers, bushwalkers and birdwatchers as the state government brings pink lakes into the national park system for the first time.

Pulgamurtie Station, out the back of Bourke, was bought by the Minns and Albanese governments to protect the outback landscape and more than 70 threatened species in the area.

Among the rare species relying on the 74,000-hectare property are brolgas, pink cockatoos and the slender darling pea flowering plant.

NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said the purchase was a "critical investment in conservation" that will safeguard the landscape, its wildlife and its cultural heritage for generations to come

"This is a once-in-a-generation conservation and tourism opportunity that will protect these spectacular landscapes and allow more people to experience them," Ms Sharpe said.

"Few places capture the scale and diversity of the NSW outback quite like Pulgamurtie, where a mosaic of wetlands, lakes and rolling arid plains exist side by side."

While exact plans for the property have not been confirmed, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) said it will "explore a range of potential visitor experiences".

These include having campsites near the larger lakes, walking trails, scenic drives, birdwatching sites and viewing platforms overlooking Koonenberry Range.

The state government said national parks play "a vital role in supporting Western NSW communities and economies", contributing $433 million to the region each year and supporting almost 9000 jobs.

As the cost of living continues to limit travel options for Australians, camping and caravanning trips are becoming more popular.

Australians took 17.3 million caravan and camping domestic overnight trips in 2025, which was a 14 per cent increase in one year.

The most striking feature of Pulgamurtie is its pink lakes, which are among the state's most stunning natural wonders.

Pink lakes are not common in NSW, and some only appear seasonally.

The distinctive colour is created by naturally occurring microorganisms, such as algae and bacteria, that thrive in very salty water and produce pink pigments.

Aside from its show-stopping pink lakes, the landscape also has sweeping outback plains, sand dunes and thriving wetlands.

Thousands of waterbirds, including migratory species that travel between Australia, Russia, China and Japan, use the lakes and wetlands as feeding and breeding grounds.

Malyangapa Native Title Board representative member Mark Sutton said the acquisition of Pulgamurtie ensures that the landscape and Aboriginal cultural heritage will be protected.

The state government said Pulgamurtie Station was on the market for about two years before it was bought by NPWS after it failed to meet its reserve at public auction.

However, some locals aren't happy about it.

Graziers in the area have argued that the state government's growing outback estate is driving up land values and pricing young farmers out of the market.

But NPWS maintains its strategy is selective, saying it acquired just five of the 60 properties sold across Far West NSW in 2024 and 2025.

The national parks service will undertake ecological and cultural heritage surveys to determine the property's future.