Platypus and Rock Pool Circuit

Starting from the Carnarvon Gorge Visitor Centre, Carnarvon Park, this circuit walk takes you to a scenic rock pool along Carnarvon Creek, visiting a Platypus viewpoint along the way. Best viewed after sunrise or before sundown, the platypuses of Carnarvon are waiting for you to capture good photos of them. You’ll get lovely views of the gorge as you make your way to the rock pool, so remember to lift your head up every once in a while. The said rock pool has a surprisingly wide and sandy foreshore, where you can sunbathe and have a relaxing picnic after a good swim. Remember to bring some insect repellent to protect yourself from the mozzies(Australian slang for mosquitoes). Expect to get wet feet in the creek crossings, and try to avoid midday hikes under the blistering sun. Let us begin by acknowledging the Bidjara & Karingbal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

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Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-25.0602838,148.2354231)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Carnarvon Highway, A7, Rewan. Turn on to Wyseby Road, 2 then drive for 18.1 km Turn left onto Obriens Road and drive for another 25.5 km Continue and drive for another 190 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the Carnarvon Gorge Visitor Centre, head towards the creek along the formed walking track. After crossing the said creek, turn right at the first intersection to join the Nature Trail. Follow the said trail as you keep the creek to your right to continue along Platypus and Rock Pool Circuit(clockwise).....

Turn map	Directions & comments
	The starting point of an alternate route. An alternate and shorter route skipping the Platypus viewing area. To take the alternate route turn right here. Details below. Start heading along Big Bend Walk. After 75 m cross the ford. Then cross the stepping stones (about 30 m long) At the intersection of Big Bend Walk & Carnarvon Creek continue straight, to head along Big Bend Walk. After another 30 m cross the ford.
	At the intersection of Nature Trail & Big Bend Walk turn right, to head along Nature Trail. After another 400 m find the "Platypus Viewpoint" (4 m on your right). Platypus Viewpoint Best time to view platypuses is around dusk and dawn.(just after sunrise and just before sunset)
	After another 55 m continue straight, to head along Nature Trail. After another 30 m cross the ford. After another 35 m cross the ford. At the intersection of Nature Trail & Carnarvon Creek continue straight, to head along Nature Trail. After another 125 m cross the ford.
	Continue straight, to head along Nature Trail.
	The alternate route finishes here. Continue straight to rejoin the main route at the 790 m waypoint. Details below. After another 60 m (at the intersection of Rock Pool Walk & Nature Trail) turn left, to head along Rock Pool Walk. After another 650 m cross the ford.
	At the intersection of Rock Pool Walk & Carnarvon Creek veer right, to head along Rock Pool Walk. After another 40 m cross the ford. After another 190 m cross the ford. After another 145 m cross the ford.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. The last strecth towards the gorgeous rock pool. To start this optional side trip turn left here. On returning from this side trip continue straight when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 780 m turn right, to head along Rock Pool Walk. After another 55 m pass the toilet (7 m on your right). Continue straight, to head along Rock Pool Walk. After another 195 m to find the "Rock Pool".
	After another 15 m turn right, to head along Obriens Road. After another 750 m continue straight, to head along Obriens Road. After another 75 m continue straight, to head along Obriens Road.
	After another 330 m turn right. After another 145 m pass the pay phone (10 m on your left). After another 25 m come to a sign. About 20 m past the end is "Carnarvon Gorge Visitor Centre".
	The starting point of an alternate route. An alternate and shorter route skipping the Platypus viewing area. To take the alternate route turn right here. Details below. The end.

The last strecth towards the gorgeous rock pool.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start heading along Rock Pool Walk. After 25 m cross the ford. After another 50 m cross the ford.
	After another 60 m come to the end. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 135 m to the main route.

An alternate and shorter route skipping the Platypus viewing area.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start. Carnarvon Gorge Visitor Centre (about 20 m back from the start). Find the pay phone at the start. Find the sign at the start. After 65 m pass the toilet (7 m on your left). After another 90 m continue straight. After another 15 m pass the toilet (15 m on your left). After another 25 m continue straight. After another 25 m pass the BBQ (about 15 m ahead).
	After another 20 m turn left. After another 110 m come to the "Carnarvon National Park camp ground" (10 m on your right). After another 45 m continue straight, to head along Nature Trail.
	Continue another 95 m to find at the intersection of Nature Trail & Rock Pool Walk at the end. At the end of this alternate route, rejoin the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Platypus and Rock Pool Circuit

Grading

	Class 2/6 Easy track
Length	4.1 km
Time	1 h to 1 h 45 min

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Gentle hills with occasional steps (2/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (2/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (2/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)

Some facilities on route

Camp site: There is one 0 m (plus an extra 360 m along side route) from the start.

Toilet: There are 3 on route, on average they are 1.1 km apart with the largest gap of 2.6 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	0 m + 70 m	[toilet]
Toilet	0 m + 175 m	[toilet]
Camp site	0 m + 360 m	Carnarvon National Park camp ground
Toilet	2.6 km	[toilet]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Rolleston Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
  
  Sunday 22 December
  
  Clear.
  
  Clear. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the evening.
  
  Monday 23 December
  
  19°C → 39°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Slight chance of a shower about the Carnarvon Ranges in the late morning and afternoon. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the south in the afternoon and evening. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to around 19 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: Moderate
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 7:50am to 4:10pm, UV Index predicted to reach 13 [Extreme]
  
  Tuesday 24 December
  
  24°C → 39°C
  Sunny.
  5% chance of rain
  
  Sunny. Light winds becoming southeast to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning then tending northeast to southeasterly in the late evening. Overnight temperatures falling to the low to mid 20s with daytime temperatures reaching 35 to 40.
  
  Wednesday 25 December
  
  20°C → 38°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. Medium chance of showers in the northwest, most likely in the afternoon and evening. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h turning northeasterly during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 17 and 23 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s.
  
  Thursday 26 December
  
  21°C → 37°C
  Sunny.
  0% chance of rain
  
  Mostly sunny. The chance of a thunderstorm in the northwest in the morning and afternoon. Winds northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 19 and 22 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s.
  
  Friday 27 December
  
  21°C → 39°C
  Sunny.
  10% chance of rain
  
  Sunny.
  
  Saturday 28 December
  
  24°C → 41°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 3mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Sunday 29 December
  
  24°C → 39°C
  Shower or two.
  50% chance of rain
  0 → 4mm
  
  Shower or two.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts
- Carnarvon National Park alerts
  Carnarvon Great Walk - closure due to planned burn
  Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) will be conducting planned burns (weather permitting) along the Carnarvon Great Walk during March and possibly June, as part of the fire management program for Carnarvon National Park. Affected parks: Mount Moffatt, Carnarvon National Park; Carnarvon Great Walk; Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon National Park
  Big Bend closed due to structural damage (update 3 Oct)
  Big Bend is closed due to structural damage to the toilet block. Affected parks: Carnarvon Great Walk; Carnarvon Gorge, Carnarvon National Park
  
  Alert kindly provided by © Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service

Weather Forecast

Alerts