Connells Lagoon Conservation Reserve - NT

Connells Lagoon Conservation Reserve is situated in the heart of the Barkly Tableland. It is the only Reserve in Australia established primarily for the conservation of Mitchell Grassland communities. Situated north-east of the Barkly Homestead, on the eastern boundary of Brunette Downs Station, it covers an area of approximately 256 square kilometres. The landscape is extremely flat, broken only by shallow watercourses in the north and occasional, barely perceptible gravelly rises.

Access: Connells Lagoon Conservation Reserve can be reached via a gravel 2WD road between Brunette Downs and Alexandria Stations on the Barkly Tableland. The road may be closed after heavy rains.

What to do: A 4WD track exists within the Reserve which provides access to observe the native flora and fauna. The Reserve is dominated by perennial Mitchell Grass. Trees are found only in the watercourse and floodout areas with Bluebush dominating the wettest areas. Parks and Wildlife carried out the only major biological survey in the region in 1982. Even though the Reserve looks flat and uninteresting, 189 species of plants were found.

Native animals found included: the red kangaroo, the long tailed Planigale, several native rodents (including the rare Long-haired Rat), and the dingo.