Category Archives: Coongie Lakes

The Coongie Lakes, like Goyders Lagoon to the north – is an almost forgotten fresh water lake system hiding in the shadow of a flooded Lake Eyre.

Home to over 470 plant species -52 of which are considered rare – 180 species of birds, 20 native animal species, 12 native fish and 10 frog species, the Coongie lakes (and there’s hundreds of them ) are a desert wonderland filled from water that falls far away in south-western Queensland.

The lakes are recognised as having international heritage significance.

While thousands flock to see Lake Eyre in flood, they would be well advised to make the extra effort to see these freshwater lakes while they are teeming with wildlife.

The Coongie Lake System is almost full at the moment but the water levels will drop in the the coming months.

Cruisin’ down the Cooper Creek, a bunch of adventurers head for Lake Eyre.

A quick wave, a chat on the radio and they’re on their own again, with a long way to travel.

Like giant fingers, the dunes of the Strzelecki Desert reach far into the waters of the Coongie Lakes.

Canon 5D. Lens Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L USM. Shot at f5.6, 1/500th sec, ISO 200

The contrast once again between the Coongie Lakes and the previous photo from Lake Eyre.

Both are very beautiful. Lake Eyre perhaps having the edge.

But to me the contrast is the abounding life in the Coongie system and the lifelessness of the Lake Eyre salt water.

A partly submerged sand dune north-west of Innamincka

It’s almost impossible to convey just how much water is in the Coongie Lakes at the moment.

It just goes on an on, almost as far as they eye can see in every direction. Hundreds of islands amid a thousand lakes.

Hard to imagine this is a formidable desert most of the time.