JoelWho has had the awesome opportunity to see a platypus in the wild?
If you have, let us know in the comments 🙂
Best time to spot one: the hours around dawn and dusk typically are best, though some areas you will expect to see them at any time during the day.
How to spot one: being quiet is a good start haha. Stay still as well, and wait to see bubbles appear to the surface and a disturbance on the water.
About the platypus: (Ornithorynchus anatinus) a semi-aquatic, egg laying mammal with webbed feet, can sometimes be confused with a water rat at a distance. Large adult males can reach up to 60cms. Expect the juveniles to appear from late January to early March in QLD, NSW and VIC but about two moths later than that in TAS.
The platypus eats mainly an insect based diet, collecting food under the water, storing it in their cheeks, then eating it as they reach the surface. They’ve been known to hold their breath for more than 10 minutes of scared or alarmed!
Plural for Platypus? Haha, well – it’s fine to say platypuses. If people want to get technical, you can say “platypi” or “platypodes”
We will share with you two specific places we have seen a platypus, but we have heard a few more from others if it helps:
- Carnarvon Gorge, Visitor Centre River, QLD
- Takarakka Bush Resort, Carnarvon Gorge, QLD
- Platypus Bush Camp, Finch Hatton Gorge, QLD (we visited but didn’t see one)
- Wheel of Fire Track, Finch Hatton Gorge, QLD
- Wallaby Creek at the Homerule Falls Campground, Rossville, QLD
- Hidden Valley Cabins, Townsville, QLD
- Nymboida River, Nymboida, NSW
- Bombala River Platypus Reserve, Bombala, NSW
- Lake Elizabeth, Great Otway National Park, VIC
- Mountain Valley Private Nature Reserve, TAS
- Mersey River, Latrobe, TAS
- Jenolan Caves Blue Lake, Jenolan, NSW
- Wingecarribee River, Berrima, NSW
- Canopy Treehouse, Tarzali, QLD
- Limestone Creek, Mole Creek, TAS
- Platypus Waterhole Walk, Flinders Chase National Park, SA
Ultimate Aussie Bucketlist Experience
Eungella National Park – Broken River
Over the years, we had seen a platypus or two in the zoo, which don’t get me wrong, was amazing. BUT, is there anything better than seeing one in the wild?
When we left Brisbane and headed north, we talked about the animals we wanted to see – at the top of the list: Platypus.
Our first prospective opportunity came up when someone recommended Eungella National Park to us. We had planned no going to Finch Hattie Gorge, but never really thought about anything else in the area.
After an amazing couple of days at Finch Hatton, we decided to go to Eungella and book in at the campsite by the river. It was now that we got even more excited because the chance to see a platypus was high.
Following the steep drive up the range, we arrived to Eungella National Park and found our campsite at Fern Flat. It was a bit of a tricky site and we wouldn’t recommend it to larger rigs with caravans, but sites 1 and 2 seem to be first ni best dressed – so site one was ours.
We did a quick set up and headed down to the rivers edge, which was only one hundred meters away. It was getting towards sunset at this point, and we knew it was a great time to spot a Platypus.
Walking alive the rivers edge, we finally stopped at a place where we noticed people sitting quietly – but no sign of the platypus. It was so quiet, you could heard a platypus fart… so we waited with the other.
15 minutes went by, and most people had left – either thinking it was too late, or maybe just a little too impatient. And then we spotted some bubbles near the edge! Quick get the camera! My wife is from Colombia, so seeing a platypus in the wild here in Australia was a pretty incredible moment for her.
There it is! A platypus emerged and swam around for a brief moment, then disappeared into the murky water. My wife had tears of joy as she watched this little animal swim around. It even sat up on a log near us and spent a minute scratching himself.
It was such a magical moment for both of us.
The next mooring we woke early to spot them again. After no luck at the same spot, we went to the next viewing area near the bridge. A father and son walked past us and said they had seen nothing in 30 minutes, so we didn’t expect much. Funny timing, as soon as we got to the bridge, we spotted another platypus swimming around the shore – lucky!
Further along, there is one more viewing platform, but all we seen here was a few turtles and some fish hanging around.
If you want an almost guaranteed platypus sighting – put Eungella National Park on your Ultimate Aussie Bucketlist.
Yungaburra Platypus Viewing Deck – Gillies Range Road
This visit also came with the hope of seeing another platypus. The pressure was on even more as we had another couple traveling with us who were from Colombia… we had to see one!
As we waited at the viewing deck, there was nothing. It was so still, not even a ripple on the water. I decided to walk up on the bridge and have a look – sure enough – a platypus sneakily swam under the bridge, out of view from the deck. I raced back to the others and told them.
Quietly in haste, we hurried down under e bridge and waited… nothing… so then we decided to walk along the river bank. Bubbles! As we were walking along we spotted a platypus swimming past, taking a breath as it was heading down the river.
It was a frantic scramble to get a better view, and then try to get a photo or video. Within five minutes, we actually had spotted a few different ones in different parts of the river. Another magical moment.
What made it even more special was seeing how excited our Colombian friends were seeing one for the first time.
Just to add to the experience, our friend was sitting by the river bank filming a platypus with his GoPro. He had a snake literally slither over his foot! In a fright, he jumped,scaring he platypus and the snake haha, then the snake swam across he river into the grass on the other side. That’s one way to get the adrenaline running!
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