Danbulla National Park and State Forest Tropical North Queensland

Climb Platypus Rock and view the surrounding forest canopy from the lookout. Photo credit: © Queensland Government

Lake Tinaroo is the heart of Danbulla National Park and State Forest. Photo credit: Karl Seelig © Tourism and Events Queensland

Be inspired: ‘Slow camping’ at Danbulla where families enjoy the ‘little things in life’

‘Because one day you will look back and realise they were big things’. Writer Kurt Vonnegut was so right. Time is fleeting and we wish we could ‘bonsai’ our kids, but before we know it, they’ve grown and flown. Photo credit: Maxime Coquard © Queensland Government

Be inspired: Chasing volcanoes (and waterfalls) in the tropical north

They say ‘don’t go chasing waterfalls’ but we suggest you do, and volcanoes too! Photo credit: Steven Nowakowski © Queensland Government

Be inspired: Legendary fish, aquatic adrenaline and waterfront vistas—Danbulla offers all this and more!

Does the smell of sunscreen and insect spray evoke childhood memories of dangling a fishing line with Dad, bucket-washing the dishes with Mum and building a camp fire with your siblings? Photo credit: Karl Seelig © Tourism and Events Queensland

Be inspired: Queensland National Parks’ best-loved camping areas

We are truly a nation of coast dwellers, so when it comes to camping holidays, where do we head? To the water, of course! Photo credit: © Tourism and Events Queensland

Platypus Rock

Climb the steps onto a huge granite boulder for a unique view of the pine plantation and forest canopy.

Accessible by

  • Conventional vehicle

A short walk through a forest scattered with delicate bowenias leads to the base of a towering granite rock. Bowenias are Australia’s smallest cycad and fossils show they have changed little over the past 45 million years.

Climb the steps to the lookout at the top of the boulder. The landscape looks different from the vantage point so remember to bring you camera to capture this interesting perspective.

If you've organised access in advance, then hang tight on a vertical adventure and rockclimb or abseil this spectacular site.

Stop in at the nearby Platypus day-use area for morning tea before heading off again to exploring all that the feature-packed Danbulla has to offer.

Getting there and getting around

Platypus Rock is in Danbulla State Forest, on the central part of the Atherton Tableland, 70km (1.5hr) from Cairns.

  • The lookout is 4km from the western entrance and 24km from the eastern entrance, on Danbulla Road.
  • Most of Danbulla Road is unsealed but it is accessible to all vehicles.

Refer to number 1 reference on Danbulla National Park and State Forest locality and road maps (PDF, 207.2KB) .

For more information see visiting safely—getting there and getting around.

Wheelchair access

There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities.

Before you visit

Opening hours

Platypus Rock is open 24 hours a day.

Check park alerts for the latest information on access, closures and conditions.

Visiting safely

For more safety information see Visiting Danbulla safely.

  • There are currently no park alerts for this park.

View all park alerts