Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
er rainforest areas for thousands of years and now boast several unique species including
the orange-sided skink and the charming Eungella gastric-brooding frog, which incubates
its eggs in its stomach and gives birth by spitting out the tadpoles.
Most days of the year, you can be pretty sure of seeing a platypus or two in the Broken
River. The best times are the hours immediately after dawn and before dark, but you must
remain patient, silent and still. Platypus activity is at its peak from May to August, when
the females are fattening themselves up in preparation for gestating their young. Other
river life you're sure to see are large northern snapping turtles and brilliant azure kingfish-
ers.
Finch Hatton Gorge
About 27km west of Mirani, just before the town of Finch Hatton, is the turn-off to Finch
Hatton Gorge. The last 2km of the 10km drive from the main road are on unsealed roads
with several creek crossings that can become impassable after heavy rain. A 1.6km walk-
ing trail leads to
Araluen Falls
, with its tumbling waterfalls and swimming holes, and a fur-
ther 1km hike takes you to the
Wheel of Fire Falls
, another cascade with a deep swimming
hole.
A brilliantly fun and informative way to explore the rainforest here is to glide through
tours see you harnessed to a 350m-long cable and suspended up to 25m above the ground;
you control your speed via a pulley system. Bookings are essential, and you must weigh
less than 120kg.
The following places are signposted on the road to the gorge:
Platypus Bushcamp
(
07-4958 3204;
www.bushcamp.net
; Finch Hatton Gorge; camp site $7.50, dm/d $25/75)
is a true-blue bush retreat hand-built by Wazza, the eccentric owner. The basic huts
have barely-there walls, with the rainforest at your fingertips. A creek with platypuses and
great swimming holes runs next to the camp, and the big open-air communal-kitchen-eat-
ing area is the heart of the place. There are wonderful hot bush showers and a cosy stone
hot tub. Bring your own food and linen. WWOOFers welcome.
The only luxury accommodation in Eungella National Park is the
Rainforest B&B
(
07-4958 3099;
www.rainforestbedandbreakfast.com.au
;
52 Van Houweninges Rd; cabin $300)
. There's a touch of
Balinese to this rainforest retreat with its garden sculptures, wooden cabin and romantic
