We came here from Kalgoorlie, which isn’t too far away. To get here, you pass through Menzies, a very small outback town that feels like a step back in time.

The road into the campsite is sealed all the way, with only the final stretch being on a dirt track, which is in reasonable condition for most vehicles. If there has been rain, however, the dirt section and campground itself may become unsuitable for camping.

Google Maps will get you there without any issues, and once you reach Menzies there are clear signs the rest of the way, making it an easy spot to find even if it’s your first visit.

Our Experience

When we arrived, there was only one other camper here, so we had our pick of the sites, of which there are plenty. Most are reasonably level on dirt. For us, this was just a short stopover for a few days, so we stayed hooked up.

The toilets are flushing and were clean, which is a nice surprise considering how remote this place is. There is also a dump point on the way in, which is another bonus. There are bins around the campground, but apart from that you will need to be fully self-sufficient.

We stayed for three nights, with the main drawback being the wind. There is very little shelter, so the best you can do is position your van to protect the awning side. Even doing this, we still ended up with dust throughout the van by the time we left.

During our stay, a few new campers came and went each night, with one older couple settling in for a longer stay of about a week.

The other challenge was the flies. When we were there, they were in plague proportions—thick and relentless. Fly nets are definitely recommended.

The main attraction here is the vast saltpan, which was dry during our visit, allowing us to walk out on it without any problems. In some areas it was a little soft underfoot, but still manageable. We were told in Menzies that no one has found all of the sculptures—they are spread across such a large area that it would take quite some time to see them all.

The Salt People: Lake Ballard’s Statues

The crunch is the salt on this vast saltpan. The squelch is the red, red mud that lies below the surface and is soft enough to collapse every time you take a step.

Why wander out onto a salt lake in the middle of the outback? Well, Lake Ballard is home to sculptures created by British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, who strategically placed them across the blindingly white saltpan.

Internationally acclaimed, Gormley is probably most famous for his huge and beautiful Angel of the North statue in Gateshead, in Tyne and Wear, England. He was commissioned by the Perth International Arts Festival to generate a work for its 50th anniversary in 2003. To create Inside Australia, he travelled to the tiny hamlet of Menzies and persuaded 51 locals (and a few drop-ins) to strip naked. He then digitally scanned their bodies, made life-size moulds and then cast them in stainless-steel alloy.

Western Australia.com

Some Pics

Summary

Lake Ballard is one of those unique outback stops that is well worth the detour. It’s easy to access, has more facilities than you would expect for a free camp, and offers something completely different with the salt lake and sculptures.

That said, it does come with a few typical outback challenges. Wind can be an issue due to the lack of shelter, and the flies can be relentless depending on the time of year. Weather is also something to keep in mind, as rain can make the area unsuitable.

Overall, we would stay here again, even if just for a couple of nights. It’s a great place to break up the trip, stretch the legs, and experience something a bit out of the ordinary.

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Thanks for reading Lake Ballard – Freecamp Review. Shadow, the van, and the two of us will catch you at the next campsite.

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