What To See & Do In Eungella National Park’s Rainforest Mountains

Visiting Eungella National Park wasn’t originally part of our Aussie road trip plans. Mostly because, well, we didn’t really know about it. But during the trip, I met some of my Australian relatives for the first time in Mackay and Airlie Beach, who happened to own a property in Eungella, and they (quite easily) persuaded us to go there.

I’m very glad they did, because it’s a wonderful spot, combining spectacular mountain views with lush, inviting rainforest. And also – it’s one of the limited locations where you have a chance of spotting the shy, elusive platypus!

There are actually two quite distinct areas to explore in Eungella National Park – the lower area around Finch Hatton, and Eungella itself and the Broken River area. I’ve split them up in this guide, as I initially found searching for things to do here got a little confusing between the two areas.

This guide is perfect for anyone planning a day trip or overnight trip to Eungella. I’d personally recommend hitting up Finch Hatton Gorge first, then heading up to Eungella and Broken River for the afternoon. Just before dusk is prime platypus watching time – to avoid potentially heading back down the mountain in the dusk, I’d recommend staying the night there. This is what we did, and despite it getting COLD, it was pretty magical.

Oh, and it’s pronounced ‘yun-guh-luh’, by the way. My Aussie relatives had a big laugh at my initial attempts…

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Getting to Eungella National Park

Getting to Finch Hatton

The town of Finch Hatton is around an hour’s drive from Mackay, but there’s a turn off just before reaching the town that will take you to Finch Hatton Gorge, along the aptly-named Gorge Road.

The road is mostly sealed until the final 3km of Gorge Road. During the dry season (Apr-Nov), 2WD vehicles can usually manage the unsealed road. However, if it’s been raining, 4WD or high-clearance vehicles are recommended (and sometimes, absolutely needed) for the concrete creek crossings. If you’re not sure, I’d recommend hiring a 4WD vehicle in Mackay or booking a tour instead of risking your own vehicle.

Getting to Eungella Township & Broken River

Getting to the top of Eungella National Park takes a little bit of effort (especially when it comes to your vehicle engine…) but believe me, it’s absolutely worth it. Eungella township is only around 17km in distance from Finch Hatton, but allow at least half an hour to get there.

The final stretch of the road to Eungella winds up the mountains of the Clarke Range – the road is sealed so suitable for 2WD vehicles, but there are some pretty damn steep inclines with tight bends to contend with. Pretty sure we didn’t make it above 10mph the entire way.

If our 25-year-old Toyota Hiace full of all our belongings can make it to the top, yours can too! Drive slowly and very carefully, and always be aware of weather conditions – I wouldn’t want to be doing that drive in high winds and heavy rain…

There are no reliable public fuel pumps in Eungella township, so we dropped in at Valley Rural Services to fill our tank (and our van’s snack drawer) before heading up. I’d recommend filling your tank before leaving Mackay to get the best prices (we swore by PetrolSpy during our roadtrip for finding the most budget-friendly gas stops!)

For a slightly more challenging hike, continue on the Wheel of Fire Walk. This moderate-challenging trail is around 4.7km return from the car park, with a rougher track, some rocks to climb across and 300 steps down (and therefore, up again…) to the waterfall and pool. You’ll be rewarded with another waterfall and swimming hole, in an even more secluded location.

For highly experienced bush hikers wanting a real challenge, the Mount Dalrymple Track branches off into the deeper bush, towards the summit of the highest mountain in Central Queensland.

For a more in-depth look at the trail, check out this guide to Araluen Cascades and Wheel of Fire.

Glide through the rainforest canopy

Get up close to the treetops of the Eungella National Park rainforest on a ‘flying fox’ zip line at Forest Flying! Their overhead cable and pulley system goes slower than your average zip line, meaning you can fully take in the up close views through the top of the rainforest. Bookings also include a guided nature walk

Go diving with platypus

A unique opportunity to scuba dive in the home of the platypus! This is a pretty sunder-the-radar thing to do in Eungella, and operating times are limited – visit their website to find out more.

Things to do in Eungella

Look for platypus (and turtles) at Broken River

The chance of seeing platypus in the wild was a BIG selling point for us when visiting Eungella, and on the morning of our overnight trip, we got lucky! No sighting is guaranteed as platypus are famously elusive creatures, but Broken River is one of the most reliable places in Australia to see these mysterious creatures.

For your best chances of spotting a platypus from their viewing platform, arrive at dawn (pre-8am) or dusk (3pm onwards). We had our sighting at the Broken River Bridge, where there are some great vantage points over the water below. You might need to be patient, but look out for telltale ripples on the water to see where they’re likely to surface.

(Unfortunately I didn’t get ANY noticeable pictures of the platypus we saw to share – but trust me that we saw one!)

Take in the views from the Sky Window

We’d already had a taste of the delicious views across the lower areas of Eungella National Park from the drive up, but the Sky Window observation point is the perfect spot to drink it all in!

Hiking trails in Eungella

Both the Sky Window viewpoint and Broken River campground are starting points for a range of trails, for all abilities. We were short on time, so took it easy and just explored the Pine Grove circuit; but for seasoned hikers there are some more challenging options too!

• Pine Grove Circuit – an easy, 1.6km circuit through shady pines.
• Cedar Grove Circuit – an easy, longer 2.8km circuit that takes you over creek bridges, past red cedars and tulip oaks.
• Clarke Range Track – a moderate-challenging 8.2km one-way trail from Sky Window, tracing the top of the Clarke Range to Broken River via the Granite Bend trail. (Remember that you’ll need to head back – the road route back to Sky Window adds another 3.2km!)
• Crediton Creek Track – a moderate-challenging 8km one-way trail through more rugged rainforest alongside Broken River.
• Wishing Pool Circuit – a moderate, hidden 1.7km circuit that leads through serene rainforest canopy to a calm river pool.

Get more detail on trails in Eungella and trails around Broken River.

Where to stay in Eungella National Park

We were lucky enough to be able to stay on a family property just outside the Eungella township – but that’s pretty niche to us, I suppose. If you’re not in this very niche position, there are places to stay in both Eungella and Finch Hatton, with camping, RV and chalet/glamping accommodation available.

• Broken River Campground (Eungella): Camping and RV pitches alongside Broken Rive
• Broken River Mountain Resort (Eungella): Rooms and chalets surrounded by the rainforest
• Platypus Bush Camp (Finch Hatton): Camping, RV pitches, glamping tents and huts in a magical spot alongside the creek
• Finch Falls Retreat (Finch Hatton): Private glamping in the middle of nature

Food & Drink in Eungella National Park

Food and drink options are quite limited here – so I’d recommend bringing snacks, and meals to cook if you’re camping/staying at a self catering spot. However, if you are planning on eating out – these are pretty much the only spots you’ll find:

• Criterion Hotel (Finch Hatton): Aussie pub classics, including schnitzel, pizza and pasta. Open daily until late evening.
• The Gift Shed and Cafe (Finch Hatton): Hot drinks, smoothies and sweet treats, open Fri-Sun until around 3pm.
• Eungella Breakaway (Eungella): This small general store also serves as a small cafe, selling sandwiches and burgers, open Wed-Sun until around 4pm.
• Platypus Lodge Restaurant & Cafe (Broken River): Open Wed-Sun for cafe-style breakfast and lunch by Broken River, open Fri-Sun until around 3pm.
• Pinnacle Family Hotel (Pinnacle): We dropped in here on our way back to Mackay for a proper roadside Aussie pie! Open daily until late evening.

General tips for visiting Eungella

• The best time to visit Eungella National Park is during the drier and cooler months of May – August. Eungella’s wet season runs from November to April, and the frequent heavy rain makes narrow roads and hiking trails slippy, therefore much more dangerous to explore.
• Always check the weather forecast before you go (even during dry season) and check for closures and alerts on the Parks QLD website.
• Temperatures in Eungella can drop dramatically during the night – we experienced near-freezing temperatures in our campervan which we absolutely hadn’t prepared for. Make sure you bring layers and adequate camping gear, especially if you’re stating in the mountaintop township area like we did.
• Drive carefully on the narrow, steep roads in the area – towed caravans and large RVs aren’t recommended.
• Watch out for large wildlife near roads, especially at dawn and dusk – we spotted a couple of kangaroos bouncing around the road just outside of Eungella.
• Leave Mackay with a full tank, and just top up at Finch Hatton, where gas prices are considerably more.
• Make sure you have snacks and drinks for your trip (including enough drinking water), as food and drink options in the area can be limited.
• Bring a pair of binoculars (for platypus spotting), insect repellant and sun protection.
• Leave no trace and be respectful of local wildlife and the local communities in the area.

Summary: Is Eungella National Park worth visiting?

Absolutely yes. We loved the buzzing towns and gorgeous coastline as we worked our way up the east coast of Ausutralia; however Eungella National Park is a definite hidden gem along the route. Heading inland to see such different landscapes to the ones we’d become accustomed to (and experiencing the peace and serenity of an overnight stay there) added an extra dimension to our road trip.

And seeing a platypus was a 100% certified highlight for two wildlife-obsessed travellers!