5 Most Snake-Filled Bodies Of Water In Australia

Australia is well-known for its snakes, boasting at least 100 venomous species along with numerous non-venomous ones. The continent features some of the most snake-rich habitats in the world. While many prefer dry grasslands, deserts, or forests, several lakes and wetlands are teeming with snakes due to the abundant prey, shelter, and access to water. From strongholds of tiger snakes to wetlands filled with aquatic hunters, here are some of the most snake-infested lakes in Australia.

Herdsman Lake

Located in Perth, the capital of Western Australia, Herdsman Lake is one of the country’s best-known snake-filled wetlands. The lake is especially dense with tiger snakes (Notechis scutatus), which are highly venomous and recognizable by their olive, brown, or black bodies often marked with pale crossbands. Some individuals appear plain black, while others display bold striping. Growing up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) long, tiger snakes thrive among the lake’s thick reed beds, where frogs, small fish, and birds are abundant. Despite the urban location, Herdsman remains a hotspot for both wildlife enthusiasts and those wary of its dangerous reptilian residents.

Loch McNess/Yanchep Lake

Just north of Perth in Yanchep National Park, Loch McNess—often called Yanchep Lake—is another haven for tiger snakes. Like Herdsman, the lake’s dense rushes and ample frog population support a large number of these reptiles. On sunny days, tiger snakes are often seen basking on logs or gliding silently through the shallows. They are usually olive-brown to black with pale yellow bands, but coloration can vary widely. Dugites (Pseudonaja affinis), a slender species of brown snake that can also appear grey or green, are also occasionally encountered on the drier margins of the lake. They sometimes have black scales and can reach up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) in length. Though not as common as tiger snakes here, dugites are highly venomous and should be treated with equal caution.

Lake Moondarra

Near Mount Isa in Queensland, Lake Moondarra is notorious for dramatic snake encounters. It is home to the olive python (Liasis olivaceus), a massive non-venomous constrictor that can exceed 13 feet (4 meters) in length. With its glossy olive-brown coloration and pale underbelly, the snake is well adapted to hunting in shallow water. Olive pythons feed on fish, birds, and reptiles, and Lake Moondarra became famous after one was filmed overpowering and swallowing a freshwater crocodile in 2014. The five-hour battle became a viral sensation, highlighting the olive python's remarkable strength and endurance. The sight of these powerful snakes basking near the shoreline or swimming through the lake has cemented its reputation as a "snake lake."

Lake Alexandrina

In South Australia, Lake Alexandrina sits within the Murray-Darling Basin and supports a wide variety of wildlife. Among its most notable inhabitants are tiger snakes in the reed beds and eastern brown snakes (Pseudonaja textilis) in the surrounding grasslands. Eastern browns are slender, fast-moving, and typically light to dark brown in color, sometimes with banding. Reaching lengths of up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) like the dugite and tiger snake, they are among the world’s most venomous species, responsible for more fatalities in Australia than any other. Combined with the already formidable tiger snake population, Lake Alexandrina is one of the country’s most snake-populated freshwater systems.

Carnac Island 

Though not a freshwater lake, Carnac Island off the coast of Perth is worth mentioning for its extraordinary concentration of tiger snakes. Researchers have estimated up to three individuals for every 25 square meters of habitat on the island. These snakes, often olive to jet-black with faint banding, feed heavily on seabirds and their eggs. The island’s dense snake population illustrates how, given the right conditions, snakes can dominate a landscape—even one so close to a major city.

Final Thoughts

From Perth’s urban wetlands to South Australia’s vast inland lakes, these bodies of water support some of the most snake-rich environments in the country. Whether it’s a highly venomous tiger snake lurking in the reeds or a giant olive python swimming in search of prey, snakes play a vital ecological role in these ecosystems. They regulate populations of frogs, rodents, and even reptiles, ensuring balance in habitats that are as beautiful as they are dangerous. For visitors, these lakes are places of natural wonder best treated with both caution and respect.