Pulgamurtie Station: Pink Lakes and Camping Potential

A 74,000-hectare outback station with two pink lakes could become a new spot to pitch a tent and explore Far West NSW, following its purchase by the NSW and Australian governments.

Pulgamurtie Station sits along the Silver City Highway, about 235 kilometres north-east of Broken Hill. It’s been acquired for addition to the NSW national parks estate, with lakeside campsites and scenic drives among the possibilities being considered.

Sounds like a promising addition to an outback trip, right? There’s still a bit to work through, though. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) says planning is in its early stages, with camping arrangements, access to existing station tracks and an opening date all yet to be confirmed.

Pink lakes and plenty of outback country

The purchase will bring pink lakes into the NSW national parks estate for the first time.

Pulgamurtie’s two seasonal pink lakes are surrounded by sweeping plains, rolling sand dunes and wetlands. The pink colour comes from naturally occurring microorganisms, including algae and bacteria, that thrive in highly salty water.

Remember, they’re seasonal, so don’t expect the lakes to look like the photos all year round.

There’s plenty happening beyond the pink water, too. The property will protect habitat for more than 70 threatened species, including brolgas, pink cockatoos and the slender darling pea. Its larger lakes and wetlands provide feeding and breeding grounds for thousands of waterbirds, including migratory species travelling between Australia, Russia, China and Japan.

The station also holds significant Aboriginal cultural heritage. It forms part of important Dreaming songlines and contains stone artefacts, hearths and grinding stones.

Will we be able to camp or explore the station tracks?

That’s what we wanted to know, so we put the questions to NPWS.

“While it’s too early to determine exactly what form visitor access will take, we recognise the strong interest from campers, road trippers and 4WD enthusiasts and will consider a range of appropriate visitor opportunities as planning progresses,” an NPWS spokesperson told Unsealed4x4.

“Potential visitor experiences could include campsites near the larger lakes, day-use areas, walking trails and scenic drives.”

Camping beside an outback lake certainly sounds appealing. But whether you’ll be able to bring a camper trailer, caravan or motorhome is still up in the air.

NPWS also said the future use of existing station tracks hasn’t been determined. Scenic drives are on the list of possibilities, but there’s no confirmation of dedicated 4WD access, campground layouts or facilities yet.

Another stop on an outback NSW trip?

With a location along the Silver City Highway and destinations such as Packsaddle nearby, Pulgamurtie could give travellers another reason to spend a few extra days exploring Far West NSW.

“Together with high and growing visitation to national parks in Western NSW and close proximity to visitor destinations such as Packsaddle, Pulgamurtie can become an important stop on the NSW Outback touring routes, encouraging visitors to spend more time exploring the region and supporting local communities and businesses,” the spokesperson said.

The pink lakes might grab the attention, but birdwatching, wetlands and views towards the Koonenberry Range could make it worth sticking around once visitor access is sorted.

What needs to happen first?

Before visitor plans take shape, NPWS will undertake ecological and cultural heritage surveys to get a better understanding of the property.

Those surveys will help guide everything from protecting threatened species and cultural sites to tackling feral animals and weeds, as well as deciding where visitor activities would be appropriate.

Once the property is formally reserved, a plan of management will guide how it’s managed and used. NPWS says the community will have a chance to comment during public consultation, including on potential recreational opportunities.

The service will also work with members of the Malyangapa Aboriginal Community, neighbouring landholders and other stakeholders as planning progresses.

Mark Sutton, a representative member of the Malyangapa Native Title Board, welcomed the purchase.

“The acquisition of Pulgamurtie ensures that representative landscape types and Aboriginal cultural heritage will be protected,” he said.

“We look forward to engaging with National Parks and Wildlife Services to create another recreational destination for locals and visitors alike.”

When can we visit Pulgamurtie Station?

There’s no opening date yet, so hold off on adding it as a campsite for your next trip.

“We’re excited to explore opportunities that will allow visitors to experience this incredible landscape, but we will take the time to get this right,” the NPWS spokesperson said.

So for now, it’s one to keep an eye on.