Spot the platypus

Mackay has many natural wonders and hidden charms and one of those is the Eungella National Park.

The park is home to the rarest of creatures - the elusive platypus - a small, furry mammal with a duck-bill and webbed feet that lives in the slow moving beauty of the Broken River. It is one of only two egg laying mammals in the world. The other is the echidna.

These shy mammals are best viewed at dusk and dawn when they are most active. You can be almost certain to see a platypus close to the Broken River bridge and camping ground. A range of tours are available to sneak a peek at this curious creature.

Eungella (pronounced "young-gulla", meaning Land of Clouds) is Queensland's largest rainforest National Park covering nearly 500 square kilometres of the Clarke Range.

Along with the platypus, another half a dozen animals and plants are unique to Eungella. These are the Eungella honeyeater (a bird), the orange-sided skink (a lizard), the Mackay tulip oak (a tall, buttressed rainforest tree) and three species of frog including the Eungella gastric brooding frog.

The park is well-known for its beautiful waterfalls, crystal clear streams and creeks and quaint townships. Bushwalking trails wander though lush rainforest to spectacular mountain lookouts atop the 1280 metre Mount Dalrymple. Other attractions include Finch Hatton Gorge with its wonderful swimming hole and the nearby Araluen Falls and Wheel of Fire Falls.