Looking for trails open after the bushfires?
5 Feb 2020: Kangaroo Island was devasted by bushfire in January 2020. Some parks and trails remain closed. View our article of 13 walking trails open post-bushfire.
- Distance
- 7.9 km circuit
- Duration
- 3 hours return
- Suitable for
- Walking, Hiking
- Grade 3, Moderate Hike
- Terrain
- Undulating
- Park
- Flinders Chase National Park
- Region
- Kangaroo Island
- Download maps & GPS files
- 1 map PDF
- 2 GPS files
- 1 website link
- Photos
- 18 photosJump to Photos section
- Travel options
- Car
About the Walking Trail
Linked with the Platypus Waterholes Walk, this half-day hike takes you through the diverse habitats of Rocky River. The trail meanders through forest and woodland, providing picturesque views of the river and opportunities to watch for Platypus. Listen for honeyeaters in the forest canopy, and look for delicate orchids in winter and spring.
The hike begins at the walking trailhead at Flinders Chase Visitor Centre and includes the Platypus Waterholes Walk. Alternatively, the trail can be started from Rocky River Bridge on West Bay Road, or the Platypus Waterholes car park off Shackle Road.
Photos
The boardwalk across Black Swamp
Walking along the trail of the Playpus Waterholes Walk and the Black Swamp Hike
Signs and silhoutte cutouts makes discovering the megafauna that used to live on the Black Swamp interesting for kids
Silhouette outlines of megafauna on Black Swamp near the Black Swamp Lookout shelter
Walking along the Black Swamp Hike
Trail map of the Playpus Waterholes Walk. Walkers need to walk anticlockwise (turn right)
Viewing platforms are scattered around the waterhole. Watch and wait quietly to see if you spot the movements of a platypus. Dawn and dusk are the best times to spot one.
Viewing platforms are scattered around the waterhole. Watch and wait quietly to see if you spot the movements of a platypus. Dawn and dusk are the best times to spot one.
Kangaroos on the path on the Black Swamp Hike
One of the many Rosenbergs Goannas (a monitor lizard) seen sunning themselves on the walking trail
Banksias on the Playpus Waterholes Walk and the Black Swamp Hike
Hiking along the trail of the Playpus Waterholes Walk and the Black Swamp Hike
Interpretive signage along the way
The walking path of the Platypus Waterholes Walk is quiet and shady around the waterhole loop
Black Swamp Lookout shelter
The trails are well signposts, so it's easy to stick to your chosen trail route
Paths are well marked making it easy to follow the right trail
All walks leave from the infomation shelter at the Flinders Chase Visitor Centre