Kangaroo Island, South Australia, How to see a Platypus

One of the Highlights of visiting Kangaroo Island is the amazing amount of protected wildlife that can be seen in such a small place. The Star of the show, without a doubt, is the Platypus. These little guys are absolutely adorable, quite rare, shy, and their numbers are dwindling. If you would like to see one in its natural habitat, There is a platypus walk located in Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island.
The best times to see the furry little guys are day break and dusk. The main visitor center did not open until 9:00 am leaving us stranded for a little bit waiting to pay for our park fee and acquire the much coveted morning coffee. The café is quite good and the visitor center is informative and well maintained.
The path begins just behind the main visitors center and is a flat easy 4.5 k return trip. There are look outs, and viewing platforms to ensure you have the best view possible. Please remember they are very shy and any noise will frighten them away. When approaching a platform please whisper to avoid scaring them.

If you are lucky and do spot one of them- make sure you stop in and fill out a sighting form. They are currently under study. Your chances drastically increase by going at day break. You will be rewarded for sacrificing those extra hours of sleep by the amount of wildlife and their activity level along the pathway that is not seen during the day. It is Absolutely worth the splurge of vacation dollars to get to Kangaroo Island.
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