Why Lake Ballard is the best family camping spot

We've all stayed at those coastal campsites with the kids, and whilst they are lovely, sometimes you just want to escape the crowds and the bouncing pillows and experience something a little more off grid with your kids.

If you're thinking about taking a trip to Kalgoorlie Boulder, you can mix up your stay with a combination of camping and hotels; but our biggest tip for a camping spot has to be Lake Ballard. Situated about 1.5 hours from Kalgoorlie, this remote salt lake is an incredibly unique place to set up camp for the night.

The huge salt lake stretches as far as the eye can see; and scattered across it are 51 steel statues created by UK artist Anthony Gormely. He stated: “I just wanted somewhere with an absolutely flat, more or less 360-degree horizon. [I chose] the west of Lake Ballard, which is an extraordinary lake 70 miles long and 30 miles wide, with this sodium crust that makes everything stand out absolutely clearly. It’s an amazing place."

Children will love the freedom of the expansive lake, and can run around exploring to their hearts content. There's a hill in the middle of the lake, which makes for a fun scramble with epic views at the summit.

The camp facilities are basic; you'll find a long drop toilet and each site has it's own firepit. So don't forget the marshmallows! You need to be prepared, so bring lots of water and supplies. Get the campfire going early and enjoy the incredible view as the sun sets.

Depending on the season in which you travel, you will experience a different covering on the salt lake. In the drier summer months, you can expect a dry, cracked salty surface which is easy to explore and walk upon the crust. The blue skies above it makes for an amazing contrast in colour, and this will have you walking around for hours. Winter brings rain, and this again changes the texture of the lake. The rain softens the crust, turning it into a sticky, muddy, consistency, which can make exploring slightly harder, although fun! We do recommend either attempting this barefoot or with boots suitable for this environment. The watery covering shimmers in the sunlight peeking between the clouds, and the pink colouring starts to show through. The in-between seasons of Autumn and Spring are the perfect time to visit, as this is when the weather is perfectly suited for this type of adventure.

As the sky darkens, you'll be treated to a truly epic sky show. With so little light pollution you'll see a sky bursting with stars, and if you're lucky, the Milky Way.