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
- 13 km one way
- Duration
- 3-4 hours one-way
- Suitable for
- Walking, Hiking, Trail Running
- 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
Follow the shady paths along the pristine Rocky River through to Snake Lagoon. Experience the river bank communities, low woodlands and open forests. Even in the drier months spring-fed pools provide life giving water to birds, reptiles, insects and mammals.
This trail is also the first day’s hike of the five day Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail.
Access the trail from the walking trailhead at Flinders Chase Visitor Centre. The trail 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 waterfall along Rocky River is beside the walking trail and easily found and explored
Pools of water on the Rocky River Hike
A kangaroo drinking from one of the rock holes along the Rocky River
Walking along the Black Swamp Hike
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
The boardwalk across Black Swamp
Walking along the trail of the Playpus Waterholes Walk and 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.
Silhouette outlines of megafauna on Black Swamp near the Black Swamp Lookout shelter
The trails are well signposts, so it's easy to stick to your chosen trail route
A description of the Rocky River Hike
During dryer times you can walk along the river edge, or when wetter along a higher track. The detour is about 400 metres long
Paths are well marked making it easy to follow the right trail
Black Swamp Lookout shelter
All walks leave from the infomation shelter at the Flinders Chase Visitor Centre