Hip Aussie destinations you've never heard of

Hutt Lagoon featured in a Lancome advertisement styled by social media star Nicole Warne (aka Gary Pepper Girl). Picture / Luke Shadbolt, Supplied

They are isolated areas that can be difficult to get to but many tourists are venturing beyond Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef in search of stunning locations in Australia — thanks to social media.

Once-quiet areas of the country that many Australians have never even visited or even know about, are experiencing an economic boost thanks to becoming "Insta-famous".

Here are some of the hip destinations you've never heard of.

LAKE TYRRELL, VICTORIA

In the right conditions, this isolated salt lake in regional Victoria becomes so still it creates a mirror of the sky and makes for stunning photos. It's also very shallow in some areas so you can look like you're walking on water.

Chinese tourists in particular have flocked to this isolated attraction in search of the perfect holiday snap, much to the bemusement of locals.

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#laketyrrell ❤️

A post shared by lin zhu (@mmmmmmmango) on Jul 18, 2015 at 9:55pm PDT

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Walking on water at Lake Tyrrell on my way back to Melbourne from the family farm. This area has recently become very popular with tourists after photos were shared on Chinese social media being with the lake being called the “sky mirror”. During the winter months the large salt lake near the town of Sea Lake in Victoria’s northwest fills with water at a depth of about 5cm providing visitors with the opportunity to “walk on water.” @australia @visitmelbourne @adventureme @natgeotravel #sonyimages

A post shared by Axil Lonergan (@axil.photo) on Sep 6, 2016 at 12:47am PDT

FIGURE EIGHT POOLS, NEW SOUTH WALES

This became a popular attraction a few years ago when it gained Instagram notoriety and became a 'bucket list' destination.

The pools in the shape of a figure eight are one hour drive south of Sydney and require a steep hike into the Sydney's Royal National Park near Burning Palms Beach. It can also be quite dangerous as freak waves have injured many people desperate to capture the perfect photo. Timing is also important as the tide and swell have to be quite low if you want to see the pools.

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Here it is. The final image from my top 10 of 2017. Well, this year the countdown wasn’t really in any particular order as I couldn’t pick a favourite image. So this is a location that I was excited to finally capture which was one of the highlights of the year but also what you guys seemed to like the most from 2017!

A post shared by Daniel Tran (@_danieltran_) on Dec 28, 2017 at 12:26am PST

PINK LAKES, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The pink lakes of Western Australia have become an increasingly lucrative attraction for the remote state.

Visiting unique locations has become a status symbol for the Chinese in particular as they are becoming more adventurous and seek experiences outside of the traditional trips to Sydney's Opera House or the Great Barrier Reef.

In particular a flight over Hutt Lagoon at Port Gregory near Geraldton in Western Australia is popular, and a visit to the bubblegum pink of Lake Hillier, located on an island near Esperance is also drawing crowds despite its remote location that requires a six-hour boat ride.

"All of a sudden, these pink lakes are getting quite a following in China, largely through social media," Tourism Western Australia chairman Nathan Harding told Australia China Business Review.

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🇦🇺 L A K E H I L L I E R 🇦🇺 That colour contrast!!! 🤩 Lake Hillier was discovered in 1802 and is situated on the largest Archipelago in Western Australia. This truly jaw-dropping lake keeps it’s precious rose colour all year round Its pigmentation is due to the presence of Dunaliella Salina, a type of micro-algae known for its antioxidant activity! 🙌 beauuuuutiful! Photo by @jaimenhudson 📸 #lakehillier #Australia #jacksflightclub #JFCBooked

A post shared by Jack's Flight Club (@jacksflightclub) on Mar 24, 2018 at 12:00am PDT

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I know where I want to spend my weekend! Happy Friday Folks ✌ #BambaExperience #ExperienceLife @bucketlistbozo

A post shared by bamba travel (@bambatravel) on Jan 26, 2018 at 3:15pm PST

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Breathtaking place to escape from reality — Pink Lake 💕

A post shared by Zoelle (@yihuigann) on Dec 9, 2017 at 4:39am PST

"They are in relatively remote locations and I'd dare say that there are probably a lot of people in Perth that haven't been to see the lakes," Mr Harding said.