Some items on theĀ Australian bucket list are harder to tick than others, and it can particularly be true for spotting native wild animals. You can find a wild kangaroo only a few minutes out of a major Australian city (or even less… did you hearĀ the story about the one on Sydney Harbour Bridge?!). But finding a platypus in the wild is a whole other story.Ā 

It took me more than six years and hours of patience to finally see a platypus in the wild. But when you know where and when to go, it’s no that hard.

Learn from my experience and read on for my tips on where to find a platypus to finally tick off all the boxes on your Australian wildlife bucket list.

Responsible travel tip: Like many native Australian animals,Ā platypuses face conservation threats. Droughts, clearing vegetations, polluted waterways, predatorsā€¦ They struggle in some places. But if you like spotting platypuses, you can help! Have you ever heard of citizen science? During your travels, you can help researchers by providing data. Check this out:Ā platypusSPOT

Broken River Mackay Platypus
From a platypus-viewing platform along Broken River

Where to find a platypus in the wild

Platypuses need permanent and clean water with banks where they can construct dirt burrows.

Bombala Reserve seems to be the best place to find a platypus in the wild if you’re travelling between Sydney and Melbourne.

If you’reĀ near Sydney, head to the Blue Mountains and check out the Blue Lake atĀ Jenolan Caves.

If you’re headedĀ towards Brisbane,Ā check out this Platypus Walk near Byron Bay*Ā or try your luck at the Rocky Creek Dam viewing platform inĀ Byron Bay Hinterland. We weren’t lucky the day we went there.

We also tried our luck at Platypus Hole, in Boonoo Boonoo National Park, about three hours south of Brisbane. A couple arrived there before us and said they spotted one. We waited until dark but didn’t see any.

In Victoria, you can try your luck with a detour to the OtwaysĀ during your drive on theĀ Great Ocean Road.

In North Queensland, near Mackay, not too far from theĀ Whitsundays, you canĀ makeĀ a detour to Broken River, in Eungella National Park. You’ll even have the opportunity to scuba dive in platypus waters to learn more about the world they live in. If you’re closer to Cairns, Yungaburra has a platypus platform.

Seeing platypus in the wild in Broken River (QLD)

We got extremely lucky when we visited Broken River. Most of the time, platypus go out at dusk and dawn to hunt. But when we visited, they ended up being extremely active in the middle of the day. We didn’t even need to wait to see one. We spotted two of them when we crossed the bridge that led to the platypus-viewing platform. We saw about a dozen different platypus that day from the few platforms along Broken River.

Turtle and Platypus in Broken River near Mackay

Among all the places we visited in Australia to spot a platypus, Broken River was the best one. There are plenty of them in the river, and we could also spot turtles when the platypuses were busy hunting. The platforms are near the bank of the river, and the platypuses sometimes come very close. I never imagined it could get that good.

Not far from Broken River, we scuba dived in platypus waters. Seeing a platypus while scuba diving is more than rare. Still, we found the experience interesting. We learnt a lot about the special animals during the talk and got a glimpse of what they like underwater: so many shrimps!

Seeing platypus in the wild in Bombala (NSW)

And I almost skipped this opportunity. As we were on aĀ road trip on the NSW Coast for our Xmas holiday, we had the option to make a detour on our way from the coast (Narooma) toĀ Mount KosciuszkoĀ to try to spot a platypus at the Bombala Reserve. We first decided it wasn’t worth it as, many times, we wasted hours trying to see the shy creature. But closer to the intersection, we hesitated. We stuck to the plan for a few hundred metres before turning around to follow the sign to head towards the Platypus country. One of those days when our hearts speak in unison louder than our reasonable minds.

Half an hour later, we arrived in Bombala. It looked promising: all the signs in town had an image of a platypus. Although we weren’t there at the best time to see a platypus, we finally got lucky!

Not only did I see one platypus in the wild that day, but I saw at least four of these one-of-a-kind animals!

Platform to see a platypus in the wild at Bombala

Seeing a platypus in the wild in the Blue Mountains (NSW)

The best place to see a platypus in the wild near Sydney is at the Blue Lake near Jenolan Caves, in the Blue Mountains. But it’s on another side of the park than the famousĀ Three Sisters in Katoomba. Be ready to drive for at least one hour on a winding road.Ā 

We hesitated. We already spent the day exploringĀ the best lookouts of the Blue Mountains, and we had to wake up early forĀ canyoning the next day. Driving one hour at the end of the day to potentially see a platypus was a bet. If you have time to visit Jenolan Caves that day, it would make a lot more sense to go there.Ā 

I’m glad we decided to give Blue Lake a chance. First of all, the lake is actually very blue, so it was lovely to walk around it. And we did see a platypus. Apparently, the chances of seeing it are quite high, if you go there at the right time.

We were really close to the shore and could see the platypus very well in the transparent water.

Blue Lake, Jenolan Caves (Blue Mountains, NSW)

How to find a platypus in the wild

Platypuses are wild and shy animals, so always keep your expectations low when you plan to see one. However, there are a few things to know that will increase your chances to see a platypus in the wild.

Platypuses are nocturnal. 

We could see a platypus in the middle of the afternoon at Bombala Reserve, with light rain and a bit of wind. And they were super active late in the morning at Broken River.

However, the best time to see a platypus is at dawn or dusk and when there is no movement in the water. At Jenolan Caves, we saw it a few minutes after sunset.

Broken River, Queensland

That’s the time when the elusive animals get out of their burrow to look for food. Platypuses dive in to catch invertebrates like shrimps and go back to the surface to breathe. Just before they go back up, you may spot big bubbles at the surface. When they’re swimming at the surface, they make a V shape in the water. That’s my best tip to spot a platypus.

Platypus V shape in the water
Platypus doing a V shape in the water

Platypuses scare easy.

Remember not to get your expectations too high: platypuses keep their distance. You’ll increase your chances by staying quiet and not moving much. It felt like bird watching.

At Bombala, we were on a high platform, quite far away from the river banks. However, the height was great to see the shapes in the water better. Without binoculars, you’d only see shapes moving. At Jenolan Caves and Broken River, we were really close to the shore and the platypus didn’t seem too shy – it felt exceptional.

Did you know the first time British scientists saw a platypus, they thought it was a hoax?

I found this info too funny not to share it. For their defence, platypusesĀ areas fascinating as bizarre. If you want to learn more about this very special animal,Ā read this page from the NSW Government.

Responsible Tip: Platypus can drown if they get entangled in litter.Ā Picking up rubbish left by others during your walks can save animals. Plus, it is one more step towards keeping pristine waterways.

Have you ever seen a platypus? Where was that? Share your experience in the comments below!

Where can you find a platypus in the wild in Australia?

I created this map from what I have heard from other travellers I met who also tried to spot a platypus in the wild and succeeded. If you know other great places where to find a platypus, please share it in the comment below so I can add it to the map!

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Where to find platypus and how to spot them

Eloise

Eloise is the creator and writer of MyFavouriteEscapes.com. She writes about her experiences exploring exotic destinations and finding hidden gems closer to home. Her goal is to share tips and stories to inspire and encourage others to go on their own adventures. She loves outdoor and nature-based activities like scuba diving, hiking, kayaking, and sailing. She grew up in France and has lived in England and Turkey before calling Australia home for the past decade. So let's get ready for another adventure!

This Post Has 16 Comments

  1. Iuliana Marchian

    I must admit that I haven’t known how a platypus looks like until now. Tips for spotting it into the wild remind me of my jungle walk in Chitwan, Nepal. We were given the same advice when it came to rhinos and crocodiles.

  2. Vibeke

    I lived in Australia for 3 years and never saw a platypus in the wild. I didn’t specifically look for it either. I wish I knew about the Platypus Walk near Byron Bay. I really miss Australia, especially Byron Bay, such a beautiful place. Hope I can go back soon. I would be sure to check out for the Platypuses when I go šŸ˜€

  3. Sarah Kim

    That is so funny that the British thought it was a hoax. I can kind of see why if all you can see a shape run away quickly. Thanks for all the tips! I hope I see one.

  4. Sandy N Vyjay

    Platypus are indeed unique creatures. Only one of 5 of the extant mammals that lay eggs. Indeed so precious for anthropology and zoology.. You are so lucky to see these unique creatures, your pointers will come in handy when we get a chance to get into the wild and see these amazing creatures.

    1. Eloise

      True! The echidna also lay eggs and it’s another native animal from Australia. Weird! šŸ˜‰

  5. umiko

    What a unique experience! I have never seen a Platypus in a real live. Only through children’s program on TV about animals I believe. Thank you for sharing how to spot them and I didn’t know that they hard to find.

    1. Eloise

      Thanks, Umiko. They hide a lot which makes them really hard to find šŸ˜‰

  6. katherinefenech2017

    This is awesome, I’m from Australia and I don’t think I’ve ever spotted a platypus in the wild. I’m probably too loud and disoriented. I’ll have to use some of your tips!

    1. Eloise

      Thanks, Katherine! I don’t think you can spot a platypus if you’re not looking for it, to be honest šŸ˜‰

  7. Laureen

    Perfect timing on this I am headed to Australia TODAY! Pinned for future reference. Iā€™d love to see one of these crazy animals.

    1. Eloise

      That’s awesome, Laureen! I hope you’re having an awesome trip and that you’ll tick Platypus off the Australian bucket list šŸ˜€

  8. John

    Saw one in basically farmland a stream that ran through a farm near Devonport, Tasmania near a bridge. There was a sign that said platypus were in the area, so I stopped and got out. Soon as I did i saw one swimming basically under the bridge! I watched it for a good ten minutes I’d say. Pretty cool to see one, and on private property too, but still basically in the wild! As someone from WA my opportunities to see platypuses weren’t that many. Tas is a great place for spotting wildlife in general.

    1. Eloise

      Thanks for sharing your experience, John! Tasmania is indeed a fantastic place to spot wildlife (maybe the best in Australia!). I wonder if you got super lucky or if this platypus is always around happy to show himself! Great story šŸ™‚

  9. Carol Hill

    I saw my first platypus in the wild at Mt Field National Park Tasmania, just below Horseshoe Falls, in April 2018. It was mid afternoon on a quiet walking trail and we sat and watched it feeding for 10 mins or so. One year on and I have just caught a fleeting glimpse of another along the lower stretch of the Hopkins River, Victoria. Being close to midnight it was difficult to keep an eye on, but enjoyed it all the same ?

    1. Eloise

      Hi Carol! Thanks for your testimonial! šŸ™‚ It’s always exciting to see a platypus. We’ve just spent a weekend at Broken River and spotted many, I’ll have to update this article. They’re so special!

  10. Michelle

    Platypus are at Paluma, 2 hrs from Townsville. Hidden Valley Cabins do small groups for viewings. We actually stopped on the small bridge on the way and looked down into the creek and their he was. When we did get to our river bed, we sat very still for an hour and he popped up about 10 times.

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