Back to previous page

Platypus picnic area

Gibraltar Range National Park

Open, check current alerts 

Overview

Close to the Gwydir Highway, Platypus picnic area gives travellers a small glimpse of Gibraltar Range National Park, with birdwatching opportunities and a place to picnic with barbecues.

Type
Picnic areas
Accessibility
Medium
Entry fees
Park entry fees apply
What to
bring
Drinking water, hat, sunscreen
Please note
Remember to take your binoculars if you want to birdwatch.

Not far from the popular Dandahra picnic area, Platypus picnic area is a quieter alternative for travellers on the Gwydir Highway who want to get a sense of Gibraltar Range National Park without driving too far off the road.

A good pit stop for a leisurely lunch, Platypus picnic area allows you to see wildflowers in spring like the famous Gibraltar waratah. Native birds roost in the trees overhead, making this a tidy spot for birdwatching too. Plus, it isn’t called Platypus for nothing: you might glimpse one of these elusive creatures swimming in Little Dandahra Creek. 

Platypus picnic area has wood barbecues and plenty of table space – all the basics for an enjoyable afternoon. But if this small taste of the park has you intrigued, try the short hike to Anvil Rock, with superb scenic views over the surrounding area. Alternatively, pack the bicycle and hit the service trails.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

 

Subscribe to Naturescapes

Subscribe to our Naturescapes e-newsletter which is packed with the latest information, experiences and events in NSW national parks. Your next park adventure starts here.

A family walk a boardwalk section of Bouddi coastal walk, Bouddi National Park. Photo: John Spencer/OEH.

General enquiries

Operated by

Park info

  • in Gibraltar Range National Park in the North Coast and Country NSW regions
  • Gibraltar Range National Park is always open but may have to close at times due to poor weather, road damage, or high fire danger.

  • Park entry fees:

    $8 per vehicle per day. The park uses a self-registration fee collection system. Please bring the correct change and display your receipt.

    Buy annual pass
See more visitor info