Walks and Wildlife at Broken River, Eungella National Park, QLD.

Platypus in a deep section of Broken River.

Broken River Bush Camp is conveniently placed on the banks of Broken River. As we crossed the bridge to the River Walk we had excellent views of a platypus. We left the bridge and walked along the River Walk where we could clearly see two platypus. Broken River in Eungella National Park certainly lived up to its reputation for being a premier place to see platypus.

Platypus in a shallow section of Broken River.

There are two campgrounds at Broken River, which I will detail in my next blog. There is also a selection of accommodation in the area.

Day trippers are well catered for as there are two Day Use Areas with large car parks. These pleasant, shady areas have picnic tables and barbecues. There are toilets but no bins. The picnic areas and the River Walk are wheelchair accessible. There is also a kiosk with free WiFi for customers. We saw an Eastern Whipbird foraging right next to the path between the bridge and the kiosk. 

Broken River Day Use Area

Eastern Whipbird

Eastern Yellow Robin

We decided to continue on and combine the Rainforest Circuit (Class 3, 780 m) and the Granite Bend Circuit (Class 3, 1.6 km).

Rainforest Circuit

Once again, we could clearly see another platypus moving about in the river. This platypus was very large, though it's hard to gauge their varying sizes in the photos we took.

Large platypus in Broken River.

Before long we took the track to Granite Bend. 

Granite Bend, Broken River.

We happily watched a female Red-legged Pademelon as it foraged on the walking track.

Red-legged Pademelon, female.

We saw some interesting fungi along the walk.

On our return we made our way to the Platypus Viewing Platform on a section of the River Walk. The signs on the platform stated that the best times to see platypus are in the early morning and late afternoon. However, we had no problem seeing several platypus along different sections of the river during the day time.

Platypus Viewing Platform, River Walk, Broken River.

We didn't actually see any platypus at the viewing platform but we did see some fresh water turtles and a striking blue and orange Azure Kingfisher.

Azure Kingfisher

Turtles at the Platypus Viewing Platform.

That night we went for a walk across the river and we saw several Brush-tailed Possums out and about. 

Brush-tailed Possum

Wildlife seen by us in Eungella National Park: Platypus, Red-legged Pademelon, Brush-tailed Possum, Flying-fox, Fresh water turtles. Ulysses Butterfly. Birds: Australian Brush Turkey, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Pied Cormorant, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Currawong, Bar-shouldered Dove, Grey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Little Friarbird, White-faced Heron, Lewin's Honeyeater, Azure Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Eastern Yellow Robin, Large-billed Scrubwren, Dusky Moorhen, Brown Thornbill, Eastern Whipbird.