Lake Thetis is a saline coastal lake near the town of Cervantes, 30 minutes from the famous Pinnacles Desert. Lake Thetis is one of only five sites in WA that feature thrombolites, estimated to be over 3,000 years old. Thrombolites are closely related to stromatolites - the oldest living fossil in the world at 3.5 billion years old.
The area sits within Nambung National Park in the mid-west region of Western Australia. Just like the famous Hamelin Pool stromatolites in the World Heritage Shark Bay area, the thrombolites on the edge of Lake Thetis resemble rocks but are built by micro-organisms that are way too small for the eye to see.
Journey along Western Australia’s spectacular coastline on this 14-day escorted adventure from Broome to Perth. Discover Willie Creek Pearl Farm, ride camels on Cable Beach, and explore the Pilbara’s rugged mining heritage. Cruise the turquoise waters of Ningaloo Reef, meet Monkey Mia’s dolphins, and marvel at Kalbarri’s Skywalk and the striking Pinnacles Desert. Enjoy unique experiences from Rottnest Island to Geraldton, with guided tours, local produce, and unforgettable natural wonders. Featuring luxury accommodation, expert hosts, and 100% carbon-offset travel, this is the ultimate West Coast discovery with Fun Over 50 Holidays.
Journey through Western Australia’s stunning landscapes on this 14-day Gold Class adventure. Explore Perth, Rottnest Island and the Pinnacles, then marvel at Kalbarri’s gorges and wildflowers. Discover Wave Rock, the Tin Horse Highway and the colourful silo art trail before travelling through the Stirling Ranges to Albany’s ANZAC history and coastal wonders. Stroll the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk, cruise the Donnelly River, and savour Margaret River wines, local produce and Aboriginal culture in Ngilgi Cave. With luxury accommodation, scenic highlights and expert guides, this journey captures the very best of WA’s wildflower country and south west.
The thrombolites of Lake Thetis may not look like much at first, but when you consider they are some of the oldest living organisms on Earth, you start to appreciate their importance as a glimpse into an ancient time.
The word thrombolite is from the Ancient Greek words thrómbos meaning clot and líthos meaning stone. Lake Thetis thrombolites are clotted accretionary structures formed in its shallow waters by the trapping, binding, and cementation of sedimentary grains by colonies of micro-organisms, in particular cyanobacteria. The population density of these tiny inhabitants within the structures is 3000 per square metre!
The water in Lake Thetis is alkaline and nutrient-poor but creates the ideal environment in which these bottom-dwelling microbial communities can thrive. The lake also provides a home for species of small fish, amphipods, and crustaceans who have evolved to be able to live in this highly saline location.
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A 30-minute drive from Lake Thetis is The Pinnacles, one of the most visited natural tourist attractions in Western Australia. This unique landscape features thousands of weathered limestone rock spires rising out of the yellow sandy earth.
The area was unknown to most Australians until 1967 when it was gazetted as a reserve and later became part of Nambung National Park. For thousands of years however, the local Aboriginal women knew this as a sacred place to come together for women’s business – giving birth, collecting food, and holding important ceremonies.
The spires date back between 25,000 and 30,000 years. Some of the formations are narrow, jagged spires while others are smooth and curved. The taller pinnacles reach up to 3.5 metres, while the shorter ones look like small gravestones.
The Pinnacles abound with wildlife including Western grey kangaroos, emus, sand goannas, carpet pythons, bobtails, and Baudin’s black cockatoos.
Lake Thetis lies 2 kilometres inland from the Indian Ocean and is situated east of the small town of Cervantes in the mid-west region of Western Australia. It is a two-hour drive north of Perth along the Indian Ocean Drive.
Lake Thetis features thrombolites which are closely related to stromatolites. Thrombolites are believed to be over 3,000 years old, and Lake Thetis is one of only five sites in Western Australia where you can find them.
Stromatolites are the oldest 'living' fossil in the world at 3.5 billion years old and there are only two well-developed marine Stromatolite areas in the world. One is in the Bahamas, the other is Hamelin Pool in the World Heritage Shark Bay area of Western Australia.
Lake Thetis is accessible by a boardwalk and the first part of it passes the best examples of thrombolites in the lake. There is a 1.5-kilometre loop trail around Lake Thetis that takes around 30 minutes.
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