Platypus viewing at Broken River,
Eungella National Park
Broken River is recognised as the world’s most certain place to see these crazy critters in the wild. All you need is a bit of patience. There are many things you can do to improve your chances, but here are some key points:
- Look during dusk and dawn, or a cloudy day. The platypus do not favour direct sunlight as it makes them vulnerable to attack from birds of prey.
- Look in the river (Broken River) from the designated platform or from under the traffic bridge. These are regular spots for the platypus to feed.
- Don’t just glance on a walk by. Platypus can hold their breath for up to 10 minutes, so if it is hard to find food, that is how long you could be waiting.
- Don’t just look for the platypus itself. They only come to the surface to chew and swallow, often not more than 30 seconds. However, it is possible to know where to look before the platypus appears. As they scurry the river bottom for food they release bubbles and stir the mud. This trail can give an indication of where the platypus is heading, so get ready. When they are on the surface chewing, concentric rings are often the first thing that is seen before the platypus itself.