Swinging Bridge Park, Cooyar QLD.

Barn Owl

We have visited Swinging Bridge Park a couple of times while driving past but this time we decided to stay the night as the park has resident Barn Owls and sometimes platypus can be spotted as well. We were really happy with our decision because we did see a Barn Owl at night as well as several Brush Tailed Possums.

Brush Tailed Possum

We saw platypus in the afternoon and in the morning. They were shy compared to the ones at Maleny but we managed a quick photo of one peeking out of Cooyar Creek.

Platypus

The camping area is pleasant especially if you are self-contained but there is a toilet block not too far away in Memorial Park.

Swinging Bridge Park Campground

Memorial Park, Cooyar.

The swinging bridge is a pedestrian bridge and makes for a great spot to do a bit of platypus watching.

The Swinging Bridge, Cooyar

There are a surprising number of birds to be seen in a short walk around Cooyar.

Red-backed Fairy-wren

The Cooyar Hotel, established in 1903, is close to the Swinging Bridge Park and serves meals. Every second Saturday of the month there is live music and Pig on the Spit. You can also get a hot shower at the Hotel for $3.

Cooyar Hotel

Details for Swinging Bridge Park Campground:

Where: Swinging Bridge Park, off Fergus Road, Cooyar. Between Crows Nest and Yarraman on the New England Highway. Or about 195 km north-west (2 and a half hours) from Brisbane. 

Access: Suitable for tents and all rig types.

Fees: Free or $5 for power (pay at the Cooyar Hotel), no bookings. $3 showers are available at the Hotel.

Facilities: Picnic shelter with BBQ and Water Tank. No toilets but there are toilets nearby in Memorial Park. Bins. No phone reception.

Pets allowed.

Wildlife: 

Brush-tailed Possum. Platypus. Micro Bats.

Butterflies: Lesser Wanderer, Glasswing, Common Crow.

Bird List:

Barn Owl, Apostlebird, Pied Butcherbird, Cicadabird, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Pacific Black Duck, Australian Wood Duck, Bar-shouldered Dove, Variegated Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Restless Flycatcher, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White Ibis, Azure Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Masked Lapwing, House Sparrow, Double-barred Finch, Red-rumped Parrot, Crested Pigeon, Rose Robin,Grey Shrike-thrush, Welcome Swallow, Eastern Whipbird, Rufous Whistler, Willie Wagtail.