Currawinya Lakes

Currawinya Lakes are among the most important inland waterbird habitats in Australia and are listed internationally as a Ramsar Wetland Site. Two large lakes, separated by only a few kilometres of sand dunes, are the centrepiece of the area. Lake Numalla is freshwater. The slightly larger Lake Wyara is saline (Wyara means bitter water in the Budjari aboriginal dialect). The lakes are important breeding and refuge sites for inland birds. They provide habitat for a spectacular array of waterbirds, including waders migrating through inland Australia and the rare freckled duck. Each lake supports a distinct community of waterbirds due to its differing water conditions.

Lake Numalla is more frequently flushed by floodwaters than Lake Wyara. Carwarra Creek which feeds Lake Numalla can flow both to and from the Paroo River. Floodwaters from the Paroo that flow into the lake can flow back out again when the river level drops. Localised floodwaters can also flow from the lake out into the Paroo.

After good rains in the area, water not only fills Lake Numalla and Lake Wyara, but also the many temporary lakes and claypans between the dunes and low ranges as well as the channels of the Paroo River and its tributaries.