Platypus spotting at Broken River, Queensland

Spotting a platypus in nature is pure joy.

Woody Spark from Grumpy Turtle Creative went in search of these amazing animals at Broken River in Eungella National Park, Queensland.

Set amid the lush rainforest, Broken River is one of those rare places where spotting a platypus is almost guaranteed.

A hidden track leads through the forest alongside Broken River, providing the perfect hiding spot to camouflage and wait for platypuses to appear.

The best time to spot one is at dawn or dusk. Watching the sunrise over Broken River as platypuses zig-zag across the water, returning home after an evening of foraging, is pure magic.

The Grumpy Turtle Creative team visited Broken River in August, which is platypus mating season in Queensland.

The platypuses were active most of the day, and we were lucky enough to see a pair in a courtship ritual, with the male biting the female on the tail as they swam entwined together.

To spot a platypus, look for ripples and tiny bubbles on the surface of the water.

When we are on the lookout for a platypus, we wake up an hour before the sun does, head to the river and pick a quiet spot to sit and wait for the platypus to paddle by.

The most wonderful feeling is when a platypus pops up right beside you — so close you could almost touch it — without any warning. We sit, holding our breath and trying not to make any sound or movement that might scare them back underwater.

Learn how you can spot a platypus in your local area, and help researchers, with ACF's platy-project.

Broken River is home to a huge variety of wildlife including fresh-water turtles. Saw-shelled turtles spend most of the day lazing in the sunshine on protruding logs, as platypuses swim in the surrounding water.

More than 200 species of birds have also been recorded in Eungella National Park too. We spotted a little pied cormorant most mornings, drying its wings in the morning sunshine after diving in the water to hunt for small fish.

The Azure kingfishers are a telltale sign that a platypus is about. The kingfishers follow a platypus along the river, flying down to snap up any insects that the platypus dislodged while foraging for food.

Against the forest background, these birds glint like blue jewels in the trees.

You’ll never forget your first platypus encounter. Check out more tips on how to spot one.

Don't forget to sign-up and upload any sightings to the platy-project map — you’ll be helping researchers understand more about healthy platypus habitats and how to protect them.