AUSTRALASIAN
Tropical Freshwater
 (rivers, lakes & wetlands)

The freshwater wetlands, lakes and rivers of New Guinea and northern Australia...

Plants include...

Reptiles include...

The 'Australian Freshwater Keelback' Tropidonophis mairii is a fairly slim snake and not dangerously venomous. It is notable for being one of the few snakes in Australia that can eat Cane Toads and not die. They can be seen swimming on surface in various waterbodies, including into urban areas. It is found along east coast from south-east Queensland and intro tropics right across Australia into Kimberley and New Guinea. 

The many native species of birds that can be found around freshwater in tropical Australasia include...

Anas superciliosa, 'Pacific Black Duck'.

Aythya australis, 'Hardhead', 'White-eyed Duck'.

Nettapus pulchellus, 'Green Pygmy Goose'.

Antigone rubicunda, 'Brolga'. Large and tall. Distinguished from similar Sarus Crane by having less red on the head and neck, having a dark neck flap, and having grey (rather than red) legs.

'Pied Cormorant'.

Anhinga novaehollandiae, 'Australasian Darter' 'Anhinga'.

'Australian White Ibis'.

Plegadis falcinellus, 'Glossy Ibis'.

'Nankeen Heron'.

'Pied Heron'.

'Whistling Kite'.

Myiagra nana, 'Paperbark Flycatcher'.

places to experience Australasian tropical freshwater wetlands

The largest tropical freshwater area in Australia (and the most famous) is spread across Kakadu, the Northern Territory, with easy access and a great boat on Yellow Waters. The biggest single freshwater body in tropical Australia is probably Lake Argyle, Western Australia, next to Kununurra. One of the most spectacular freshwater areas in Australasia is the difficult to reach Sepik River and floodplains, in Papua New Guinea.