About this tour
Head inland from Airlie Beach into the misty highlands of Eungella National Park on this 8.5-hour guided eco-tour. Drive through cane country and into the Clarke Range's cool tropical forest, where you'll position yourself at Broken River's viewing platforms for a genuine shot at spotting wild platypuses—a rare experience anywhere on Earth. Walk rainforest tracks alert for wallabies, freshwater turtles, and native birds whilst your guide unpacks the ecology and cultural heritage of this cloud-wrapped landscape. The tour wraps with lunch at a legendary local pub famous for its meat pies.
Highlights
- Watch for platypuses at Broken River's dedicated viewing platforms
- Walk through pristine rainforest alive with wallabies and native wildlife
- Learn rainforest ecology and Aboriginal connections from local guides
- Famous Pinnacle Pie included at historic family hotel
- Two-hour scenic drive through cane fields into mountain highlands
- Spot rare blue freshwater crayfish in cool streams
What to expect
You'll spend the morning driving south towards the Clarke Range, gradually climbing into cooler, wetter terrain. At Broken River, the focus shifts to patient wildlife watching from established platforms—platypuses are shy, so success isn't guaranteed but this remains one of the world's most reliable spots. Between sightings, you'll explore walking tracks at your own pace, guided commentary filling gaps with rainforest facts and stories. Lunch at the Pinnacle Hotel is a proper local experience: the pie is genuinely well-known among regulars. Expect soft conversation over snacks, cool mountain air, and genuine rainforest immersion rather than crowds or rushed transitions.
Good to know
The drive to Eungella takes 2 hours 20 minutes each way. Bring sturdy shoes for muddy forest tracks and a camera with a decent zoom. Platypus spotting requires patience and quiet—early morning conditions favour sightings. From April 2026, a fuel surcharge applies at check-in ($5 per person standard tours).
Tour sold and operated by its supplier via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original AU & NZ Travel summaries, not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.