Spot your stop

Hippo's Yawn at Wave Rock, Lake Magic and the salt pool

Brief answer

Hippo's Yawn at Wave Rock is a hollow granite tor on a loop walk of about 1 km, and Lake Magic is a salty gypsum lake just north of the wave.

Before you go

  • Lake and salt pool: adults $10, kids $57
  • The Hippo's Yawn Loop totals 1710 metres14
  • Do not drive on the lakeside: recovery costs $50029

Check out 20 stops

Wave Rock and the Wheatbelt, pin by pin

Pick a route, then tap a marker or a stop for notes and a Google Maps link.

Map of Hyden with Wave Rock, Hippo's Yawn, Lake Magic and the Wave Rock airstrip

  1. Hyden is home to roughly 437 people and lies 340km east of Perth by the Brookton Highway.

    Google Maps

  2. The Shire puts the rock 5km east of Hyden, and from the car park the wave is a 100m stroll.

    Google Maps

  3. A granite tor that once belonged to the main outcrop, on a loop track of approx 1 km from the car park.

    Google Maps

  4. A clear, salty lake on a gypsum bed, one km north of Wave Rock by Wave Rock Management's figure.

    Google Maps

  5. Flights from Jandakot take one hour, then it is a five-minute drive into Hyden.

    Google Maps

Maps © OpenStreetMap contributors

Wave Rock is the reason for the trip, but Hippo's Yawn at Wave Rock, the colour-shifting Lake Magic and a float in the salt pool are a short walk away. Read on for what each one offers, the entry costs and a relaxed plan.

Editorial team, waverocktour.com · Updated November 8, 2026 · ~8 min read

Main facts

  • Hippo's YawnA hollow granite tor, approx 1 km on foot by the loop path.1,2
  • Lake MagicA clear, salty lake on a gypsum base, one km north of the wave.3,4
  • Salt poolA 20m round, 6m deep gypsum pond 800m from the wave.5,6
  • Lake and pool feesAUD 10 for adults, AUD 5 for kids, at the Wave Rock Kiosk.7,8
  • MuseumsWildlife park open 9am to 5pm daily.9

Hippo's Yawn, the granite mouth beside the wave

Hippo's Yawn is the natural next stop after the wave, and Wave Rock Management lists it as the second most visited site in Hyden.10 It is an oddly shaped granite tor that once belonged to the main outcrop and now stands on its own with a deep hollow opening in its side.1 From the right angle, the hollow and the rounded rock above it look exactly like a hippo with its jaws wide open.

Australia's Golden Outback says the resemblance to a yawning hippo is where the name comes from, and invites visitors to climb through its throat for a photo.11 The inside is a smooth, curved granite shell that holds the shade, and the opening frames the bush behind it like a window. It is a fine place for a family photo, with somebody standing in the mouth for scale and the curved roof arching overhead.

The tor also tells a story about the land. The Shire's brochure links the tor to local history: the town and the outcrop carry the name of a young sandalwood cutter who camped right here in the 1920s.12 Sitting in the hollow, it is easy to see why it made a good campsite: it gives shade, shelter from the wind and a view back towards the main rock. That small piece of local history makes the stop more than a novelty.

Side by side

The sights around Wave Rock compared

SightDistanceCostGood for
Hippo's Yawnapprox 1 km loopWave Rock entry18A quick photo2
Lake Magicone km northAUD 10 adults, AUD 5 kids7Sunrise colours4
Salt pool800mAUD 10 adults, AUD 5 kids8A float6
Wildlife parkWildflower ShoppeGold pass option25Kids9
Walk Circuit3600 metres24On footPrams, bikes26

Distances and prices as Wave Rock Management and the Shire of Kondinin list them; check the kiosk for current fees.7,8,24

Walking to Hippo's Yawn from the car park

Wave Rock Management describes a loop walking track of approx 1 km joining the wave, the car park and Hippo's Yawn, and vehicle access is also provided for anyone who cannot walk it.2 Australia's Golden Outback calls it a 20-minute walk, starting a five minute drive from Hyden.17 Either way it is an easy add-on to the wave, and the same Shire entry ticket covers both.18 The path is broad and gentle underfoot.

For a fuller loop, the Shire's brochure describes the Hippo's Yawn Loop: 1030 metres from the car park to the Yawn and a further 680 metres back, a total of 1710 metres.14 It is well marked, flat and easy to walk. Its interpretation focuses on what the brochure calls Life on the Fringe, the narrow edge between bare rock and soil where plants and small animals find a foothold.19

That edge is worth slowing down for. Australia's Golden Outback points to ancient sheoaks, lichen carpets, creeping mosses and sticky drosera, the insect-eating plants of the granite margins.20 In spring, orchids and other flowers grow around the base of the main rock among the sheoaks.21 Walk early or late in the day in summer, carry water, and stay on the track, as the thin soil at the rock edge is easily damaged.

Walk lengths

How far each walk around the rock goes

  • Wave Rock Walk650
  • Breakers Trail1350
  • Hippo's Yawn Loop1710
  • Walk Circuit3600

Total lengths from the Shire of Kondinin's trail brochure: 650 metres, 1350 metres, 1710 metres and 3600 metres.22,23,14,24

Lake Magic at Wave Rock and its changing colours

Lake Magic at Wave Rock is a salt lake just north of the outcrop. Wave Rock Management places it one km north of the wave, while the Shire gives about 1.5km, a difference that comes down to where you measure from.4,28 Its water is clear but salty, its bed is gypsum and its shore is ringed with pale beach sand.3 Arriving from the dry bush, the sight of a white beach and still water this far inland is a surprise.

The name comes from the colour. The Shire says the lake is known for its water changing colours from green to pink.16 Wave Rock Management suggests getting up early to watch those shifts as the sun comes over the horizon.13 Light, cloud and the depth of the water all play a part, so no two visits look quite the same. On a still morning the surface turns into a mirror for the sky and the low trees on the far bank.

A few practical points. Entry to the lake is AUD 10 for adults and AUD 5 for kids, paid at the Wave Rock Kiosk next to the caravan park.7 Do not drive onto the lakeside: Wave Rock Management warns that cars bog in the soft ground, and getting a vehicle out costs an AUD 500 fee.29 Park where signed and walk down to the water, and give the shoreline a wide berth after rain, when the crust over the mud can look firm and is not.

Short on time?

Which sight to pick when you cannot do them all

Choose by the time you have and what your group enjoys.

  • If I have half an hour

    Hippo's Yawn

    Golden Outback times the walk at 20 minutes.17

  • If I want the photo of the trip

    Lake Magic at sunrise

    The colours shift as the sun comes up.13

  • If I am hot and tired

    The salt pool

    A gypsum pond with buoyancy greater than the Dead Sea.5

  • If I have children with me

    The wildlife park

    Three hectares of bushland, open daily.27,9

  • If I have a pram or a bike

    The Walk Circuit

    Virtually flat with a wide smooth surface.24

Three stops near the wave

Hippo's Yawn, Lake Magic and the salt pool

Short walk

Hippo's Yawn

A hollow granite tor

  • Loopapprox 1 km
  • DoClimb through
  • FeeWith the wave
See the day tour

Sunrise

Lake Magic

Salt lake on gypsum

  • From the waveone km
  • AdultsAUD 10
  • KidsAUD 5
See the day tour

A float

Salt pool

Gypsum pond

  • Size20m round
  • Depth6m
  • From the wave800m
See the day tour

Floating in the salt pool

Next to the lake is the salt pool at Wave Rock, a round gypsum pond built to swim in. Wave Rock Management describes it as 20m round and 6m deep, with buoyancy greater than that of the Dead Sea.5 It sits only 800m from Wave Rock by that operator's figure; the Shire places it 1.5km from the wave, next to Lake Magic.6,54 Either way, it is a short drive or a pleasant walk from the car park, and it pairs naturally with a look at the lake.

The appeal is the float. Salty water holds you up so well that lying back takes no effort at all, and on a hot afternoon after the walks it is the most relaxing hour of the day. Entry costs adults AUD 10 and kids AUD 5, paid at the Wave Rock Kiosk next to the caravan park.8 Bring a towel and a bottle of fresh water to rinse your face, keep salty water out of your eyes, and leave jewellery in the car.

Treat it like any open water: watch children closely the whole time, and never dive into a pond whose depth you cannot see. The salt stings small cuts, and it dries to a white crust on skin and swimwear, so a rinse afterwards helps. Lake Magic is also promoted for floating, but the pool is the place made for it, a contained pond rather than an open shore of soft mud.55 Float there, then walk across to the lake for the view.

An overnight plan

Hippo's Yawn, the lake and the pool in a relaxed loop

  1. Early

    Lake Magic at sunrise

    Watch the colours shift as the sun rises.13

  2. Morning

    Wave and Hippo's Yawn

    Walk the loop: 1710 metres in total.14

  3. Late morning

    Museums and wildlife

    The wildlife park opens 9am to 5pm daily.9

  4. Lunch

    Wildflower Shoppe Cafe

    Lunch, snacks and drinks are sold here.15

  5. Afternoon

    Float in the pool

    The salt pool is 800m from the wave.6

  6. Evening

    Back to the lake

    Watch the evening light on the water.16

The wildlife park, the lace and the toy soldiers

Across from the rock, the Wildflower Shoppe is the gateway to Hyden's small museums. The Wave Rock Wildlife Park covers three hectares of natural bushland and opens 9am to 5pm daily, with entry through the shop.27,9 Its residents include white, grey and silver kangaroos and wallabies and koalas, and native birds and lizards roam freely through the grounds as well.56,57 It is a gentle hour for younger children after the walks.

The collections are eccentric and memorable. The Lace Place holds lace dating back to the 1600s, including an offcut from Princess Diana's wedding veil.58 The toy soldier collection was built by Alex Smith, who gathered 10,000 toy soldiers over 60 years.59 At the kiosk, the Pioneer Town Museum shows everyday objects from earlier decades and a bottle collection going back to 1870.60 Tourism Western Australia says the Lace Place opens daily.61

The caravan park page prices a Gold pass for adults at AUD 15 and for children at AUD 7.50 covering the wildlife park, the Lace Place, the soldier museum and the Pioneer Museum, valid for two days.25 If you come on the site tour, its record lets you pick, after lunch, between the wildlife park, the old lace and the toy soldiers. Pick the one that suits your group, as there is not time for all of them on a day trip.

Video

Wave Rock, Lake Magic and Hippo's Yawn on a road trip

The Hedges Adventures on YouTube · The video waits until you tap play to load.

Lake magic is known for the water changing colours from green to pink
Shire of Kondinin16

Before you go

Ready for Hippo's Yawn, the lake and the pool

Pack3

  • Water and sunscreen for the walks53
  • A towel for the salt pool5
  • A hat and long sleeves in warm weather53

On the day3

  • Pay lake and pool entry at the Wave Rock Kiosk7
  • Park off the lakeside: recovery costs AUD 50029
  • Check the wildlife park hours, 9am to 5pm9

More things to do around Wave Rock

Among the things to do around Wave Rock, the Wave Rock Walk Circuit is the gentlest long walk. The Shire's brochure gives it 3600 metres, almost level and broad underfoot, with 15 interpretive panels about Aboriginal and settler stories, birds, the night sky and the weather.24 It suits families with small children in pushers, and even visitors on bicycles.26

In town, look at Hyden's main-street sculptures. The Shire says they are made from old machinery, implements and scrap metal, and that they tell the town's history from before settlement up to the first tourists in the 1970s.62 They are a pleasant way to stretch your legs before the drive home. For food, the Wildflower Shoppe Cafe sells lunch, snacks and drinks, and picnics are welcome in the wildlife park.15

In spring, the bush itself becomes the attraction. The Shire gives August to October as the season for wildflowers in full bloom, and says Wave Rock, Hippo's Yawn and Mulka's Cave fill with flowers in those months.63,64 Wave Rock Management lists spider, donkey, bee, cowslip, ant, dragon and sun orchids among the local species.65 Further north, the Humps and Mulka's Cave are the area's other great outing, with their own guide on this site.

Fitting it all into your visit

How much you can see depends on whether you come for a day or stay the night. The site tour from Perth runs 12.5 hours and its record lists Hippo's Yawn, a country lunch in Hyden, a museum choice, Wave Rock and Mulka's Cave. That covers the highlights in a single sweep, but it leaves no time for the lake at sunrise or a slow float in the salt pool, both of which reward an unhurried visit.

With your own car and an overnight stay, the area opens up. Walk the wave and Hippo's Yawn in the cool of the morning, visit the museums when it warms up, float in the salt pool after lunch and save Lake Magic for the evening light. Keep the Humps for the next morning before you leave. The Shire's brochure recommends outdoor shoes and a hat, and a rain jacket in winter.66,67

Keep the entry tickets handy. The entry ticket you buy at the wave is valid at Hippo's Yawn too, and Wave Rock Management says Mulka's Cave is included in the Wave Rock pass, while the lake and the salt pool are paid separately at the kiosk.18,68,7 The kiosk sits next to the caravan park, close to the wave, and it is the place to ask about anything on this page before you set out, from pool hours to the state of the lake road.

FAQ

Quick answers to quick questions.

What is Hippo's Yawn?
A hollow granite tor.

It broke away from the main outcrop long ago, and its hollow looks like a yawning hippo.1,11

How long is the walk to Hippo's Yawn?
About 20 minutes.

Golden Outback calls it a 20-minute walk; the full loop is 1710 metres.17,14

Can you swim in Lake Magic?
Yes, you can float.

Wave Rock Management invites visitors to float in its salty water; the salt pool next door is built for it.55,5

What colours does Lake Magic turn?
Green to pink.

The Shire says its water shifts from green to pink, and sunrise is the time to watch.16,13

How much is the salt pool?
AUD 10 for adults, AUD 5 for kids.

Pay at the Wave Rock Kiosk next to the caravan park.8

Is Hippo's Yawn included in the entry fee?
Yes.

The Shire's Wave Rock entry fee also covers Hippo's Yawn.18

When is the wildlife park open?
9am to 5pm daily.

Entry is through the Wildflower Shoppe.9

Sources

  1. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Wave Rock and Hippos Yawn ↩
  2. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Wave Rock and Hippos Yawn ↩
  3. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Lake Magic ↩
  4. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Lake Magic ↩
  5. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Wave Rock Salt Baths ↩
  6. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Wave Rock Salt Baths ↩
  7. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Lake Magic ↩
  8. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Wave Rock Salt Baths ↩
  9. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · The Wildlife Park ↩
  10. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Wave Rock and Hippos Yawn ↩
  11. Australia's Golden Outback (regional tourism organisation) · Hippo's Yawn ↩
  12. Shire of Kondinin · Walk trails at Wave Rock and The Humps (brochure, front and back, PDF) ↩
  13. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Lake Magic ↩
  14. Shire of Kondinin · Walk trails around Hyden Rock (brochure, inside pages, PDF) ↩
  15. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · The Wildlife Park ↩
  16. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock ↩
  17. Australia's Golden Outback (regional tourism organisation) · Hippo's Yawn ↩
  18. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock ↩
  19. Shire of Kondinin · Walk trails around Hyden Rock (brochure, inside pages, PDF) ↩
  20. Australia's Golden Outback (regional tourism organisation) · Hippo's Yawn ↩
  21. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Wave Rock and Hippos Yawn ↩
  22. Shire of Kondinin · Walk trails around Hyden Rock (brochure, inside pages, PDF) ↩
  23. Shire of Kondinin · Walk trails around Hyden Rock (brochure, inside pages, PDF) ↩
  24. Shire of Kondinin · Walk trails around Hyden Rock (brochure, inside pages, PDF) ↩
  25. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Wave Rock Caravan Park ↩
  26. Shire of Kondinin · Walk trails around Hyden Rock (brochure, inside pages, PDF) ↩
  27. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · The Wildlife Park ↩
  28. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock ↩
  29. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Lake Magic ↩
  30. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock
  31. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock
  32. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock
  33. Tourism Western Australia · Wave Rock
  34. Shire of Kondinin · Walk trails at Wave Rock and The Humps (brochure, front and back, PDF)
  35. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Explore the Humps and Mulka's Cave
  36. Shire of Kondinin · Walk trails at Wave Rock and The Humps (brochure, front and back, PDF)
  37. Shire of Kondinin · How to Get Here
  38. Shire of York · History
  39. Wheatbelt Tourism (Shire of Merredin) · Pathways to Wave Rock
  40. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Getting to Wave Rock
  41. Australia's Golden Outback (regional tourism organisation) · Corrigin
  42. Shire of Corrigin · Dog Cemetery
  43. Australia's Golden Outback (regional tourism organisation) · Corrigin Dog Cemetery
  44. Shire of Kondinin · Visiting Kondinin
  45. Shire of Kondinin · Visiting Kondinin
  46. Wheatbelt Tourism (Shire of Merredin) · Pathways to Wave Rock
  47. Shire of Kondinin · How to Get Here
  48. Shire of Kondinin · How to Get Here
  49. Shire of Kondinin · Self Drive Trails
  50. Shire of Kondinin · How to Get Here
  51. Shire of Kondinin · Self Drive Trails
  52. Shire of Kondinin · Holland Track
  53. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Travel Advice Western Australia ↩
  54. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock ↩
  55. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Things To Do Near Wave Rock ↩
  56. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · The Wildlife Park ↩
  57. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · The Wildlife Park ↩
  58. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock ↩
  59. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock ↩
  60. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock ↩
  61. Tourism Western Australia · Wave Rock ↩
  62. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock ↩
  63. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock ↩
  64. Shire of Kondinin · Hyden - Wave Rock ↩
  65. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Wildflowers ↩
  66. Shire of Kondinin · Walk trails around Hyden Rock (brochure, inside pages, PDF) ↩
  67. Shire of Kondinin · Walk trails at Wave Rock and The Humps (brochure, front and back, PDF) ↩
  68. Wave Rock Management (waverock.com.au) · Explore the Humps and Mulka's Cave ↩

More to read

More to read before the long day east

GuideWave Rock entry fee and the real cost of a dayGuideWave Rock day tour from Perth or self-driveGuideIs Wave Rock worth visiting? An honest answerGuidePerth to Wave Rock: distance, routes and the day

Before you go

Hold a seat east, pay later.

Book a seat today and pay nearer the time; plans can still change until a day before. Dates with seats left, and their fares, appear in the box below.

Check dates