It doesn't matter what time of day you choose to put your feet up and gaze out across the shore of this hidden little inland waterway, the view is going to knock your socks off. So you may as well book yourself in for at least a couple of days so you can witness the full gamut of the colour palette. Just by way of warning though, by this time, you're going to be so beautifully relaxed and well fed you won't feel like moving on.
Lake Paika only came on to our radar a few years ago. It never ceases to amaze me how these places slip though my fingers until I really put my mind to intense research around the area. Di Williams runs Lake Paika Accommodation, a worthy member of the Outback Beds regional and outback properties. Di is as helpful and delightful a soul as you'll find and, with her partner Ian, they take great joy in welcoming new and returning visitors into their super comfortable guests' quarters, beside their own historical and stunning home and garden.
The evening meal is a cause for celebration in the ultra comfortable dining room.
A sensational caterer, Di often finds herself feeding large numbers (think a hundred plus!) of guests celebrating a wedding or special occasion in her designer courtyard. However she will never interrupt the peace of her own guests, and delays the booking of a function until no-one is staying!
All in the name of destination research ... Rossy's giving this one the thumbs up.
Lake Paika has five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a big country kitchen and dining room, with a front verandah and lawn area that you're going to get to know really well with something chilled in your hands while you're there.
An overhead view of the homestead and accommodation at Lake Paika.
If you're flying in, land at Balranald. Di or Ian will drive the ten minutes and pick you up and drop you back to the strip after your stay.
Talk to Di before you get there and she will organise catering with you. Like I said, she is a wonderful cook so expect some very memorable honest home cooking during your stay. She might also give you the option of throwing the meat on the BBQ yourselves ...
It's a photographer's dream out here ... early morning is remarkable.
So take a load off and use your energy supervising that sunset over the lake - it's not going to set itself, is it?