Lake Cargelligo  New South Wales

A small western NSW town, Lake Cargelligo sits on the shores of a lake of the same name on the otherwise featureless plains about 115km west of Condobolin.

The lake, which provides water for surrounding farmers, is not only a popular fishing, water-skiing, sailing and swimming spot, but it is also an important bird sanctuary.

It is a seasonal and permanent home for many species of birdlife including pelicans, black swans, wild duck, geese and several varieties of parrot, especially galahs and, occasionally, the rare black cockatoo.

And the lake certainly left a distinct impression on explorer John Oxley when he 'discovered' it on an 1817 expedition to plot the course of the Lachlan River. As he recorded in his log: 'The noble lake before me gave a highly picturesque and pleasing character to the scenery.'