4. Platypus at Eungella
- ilseluypaert
- Jul 6, 2023
- 3 min read
6-7 July 2023, Eungella National Park
Our next stop is 2 days at Broken River in Eungella National Park. Here in and around the river is the habitat of the platypus, a very special and rare animal which lives only here in Australia. We are very hopefull and excited to meet this curious animal
The platypus is one of Australia`s icons. It has fur and produces milk to feed its young, so it`s a mammal. But it lays eggs like a reptiles. It `s one of the weirdest animals on the planet. It has a billed shaped like a duck, a tail like a bever and webbed feet. It also produces venom which come from spurs on the hind legs. They have sturdy claws on their front feet for digging burrows where they nest and raise their young. Their fur is extremely thick and waterproof.
Up goes the long and winding road towards Eungella. The campervans are having a hard time getting up, we go slowly but surely and finally arrive at the top. Only to discover that our friends` campervan is smelling funny and the cooling liquid is boiling...
It is 4pm, almost dawn, the perfect and only time of the day to spot the platypus so we try not to think about the van and let it cool down while going for a walk. Our patience is quickly rewarded!
Upon return we fill the cooling tank and try to start the motor again. Still working....! Let`s cross fingers that we can drive out of here. We make the best of the night while feeling worried about tomorrow.
Next morning we leave before breakfast to watch the platypus again. We see several of them from the viewing decks. We are happy to be here...
Then back to reality, the cooling liquid disappears as soon as the motor starts. We need help and there is no phone nor internet. Stephanie is creative finding a way to call the rental company. At the cabins further down the road is a wifi networks, they agree to give us access, which is helpful to download skype which allows us to finally get in contact with Camperman. They are not friendly at all, a lot of different calls with different people and a lot of waiting music, but finally road assistance is on its way.
Until he leaves again within no more than 5 minutes... leaving us in exact the same situation.
More wifi calls and waiting music with Campervan, who blames us for the break down (it is worth mentioning here the rental van is 700 000km old!) , while no empathy at all. The verdict is simple : the van needs to be towed to a garage.
As we say in dutch `samen uit, samen thuis` . We all skip our second night at Broken River and will stay together wherever we need to go. Destination unknown.
We go for a little bush walk through the beautiful dry rain forest surrounding us, and make sure to be back in time for the towtruck.
Around 2pm our friendly tow truck driver arrives. Off to Mackay we go, a town 2 hours away. We will arrive at a garage around closing time on a Saturday afternoon.... No idea where we will sleep tonight, nor what tomorrow brings.
BUT we have truly enjoyed admiring the platypus, wandering around the river for hours, so beautiful and special, it could not have been better .... we will never forget this day in Eungella !
Yorumlar