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Welcome to the Australian Museum website

In this section, find out everything you need to know about visiting the Australian Museum, how to get here and the extraordinary exhibitions on display. Check out the What's On calendar of events, workshops and school holiday programs.
In this section, there's a wealth of information about our collections of scientific specimens and cultural objects. Come and explore what our researchers, curators and education programs have to offer.
In this section, explore all the different ways you can be a part of the Museum's groundbreaking research, as well as come face-to-face with our dedicated staff. Join us, volunteer and be a part of our journey of discovery!

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Opening Hours: Open Daily 10am - 5pm
Wednesdays Until 9pm
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Where to find us: 1 William Street
Sydney NSW 2010
Australia

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Citizen Science
Streamwatch
Water and catchment
The water cycle

The water cycle

Author(s)

Greg McDonald
Updated

13/12/18
Read time

A minute

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Water cycle diagram

water cycle

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Also in this section

Why is water important?
NSW catchments
Water properties
Drinking Water
Water around the world
The managed water cycle
Be waterwise
What is fresh water?

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What is a catchment?

A catchment is an area of land, usually surrounded by mountains or hills, over which water flows and is collected.

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Salps

Despite looking rather like a jellyfish, salps are a member of the Tunicata, a group of animals also known as sea squirts. They are taxonomically closer to humans than jellyfish

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Freshwater habitats

Freshwater habitats are found throughout the Sydney region.

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Dragonfly life cycle

Dragonflies are insects. They have three stages in their life cycle: egg - larva - adult. Adult dragonflies have a long and slender abdomen, two pairs of wings and three pairs of legs. They also have very large eyes.

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Water properties

Water has unique properties.

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Water-rat

The Water-rat is one of Australia's largest rodents and is usually found near permanent bodies of water.

Hydromys chrysogaster

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Damselfly life cycle

Damselflies are insects. They have three stages in their life cycle: egg - larva - adult. They have a long and slender abdomen, two pairs of wings and three pairs of long legs. They also have very large eyes.

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Water and catchment

Learn about the value of water and how we manage our waterways and catchments.

Water around the world
Water cycle
Managed water cycle

Which species of fish has the shortest lifespan?

The Sign Eviota, Eviota sigillata, a tiny coral reef fish, completes its entire life cycle within an eight week period. This species has the shortest lifespan of any vertebrate.

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Water Spider

Water spiders are found across Australia in a variety of habitats. Many species are free-living hunters, but some make webs.

Pisauridae

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Green and Golden Bell Frog Life cycle

Green and Golden Bell Frogs are amphibians. They have four stages in their life cycle: egg - tadpole - metamorph - adult.

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The managed water cycle

The natural water cycle has been modified by people to ensure a constant water supply and the safe disposal of wastewater.

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The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.
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We pay our respect to Aboriginal Elders and recognise their continuous connection to Country.
This website may contain names, images and voices of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

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Open Daily 10am - 5pm
Wednesdays Until 9pm
Closed Christmas Day
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Australia

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The Australian Museum is a New South Wales Government funded cultural institution.

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The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands.

Image credit: gadigal yilimung (shield) made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden

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On this page... Toggle Table of Contents Nav

What is a catchment?

Salps

Freshwater habitats

Dragonfly life cycle

Water properties

Water-rat

Damselfly life cycle

Water and catchment

Which species of fish has the shortest lifespan?

Water Spider

Green and Golden Bell Frog Life cycle

The managed water cycle

On this page...