Lake Elizabeth platypus tours: Canoeing in the Great Otway National Park
Lake Elizabeth in the Great Otway National Park is one of the best places in Australia to see a platypus. Take a dawn or dusk canoeing tour to see the Lake Elizabeth platypus just off the Great Ocean Road in Victoria.
Why visit Lake Elizabeth?
Lake Elizabeth, just inland from Apollo Bay on Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, is one of the best places in Australia to see a platypus.
The weird monotremes are notoriously elusive, tending to live away from developed areas. They also come out at night, meaning the best chance you’ve got of spotting one is at dawn or dusk.
7 fantastic Great Ocean Road experiences
1. Crowd-beating reverse direction tour. 2. Surfing lessons in Anglesea. 3. Split Point Lighthouse climb. 4. Shockwave Zip-Coaster. 5. Guided wildlife walk. 6. Budj Bim National Park tour. 7. Great Ocean Road by motorbike.
Lake Elizabeth platypus tours
At Lake Elizabeth in the Great Otway National Park, the best way of seeing platypus in the wild is in a canoe. Otway Eco Tours runs dawn and dusk canoeing tours on Lake Elizabeth. Given that most visitors won’t have their own canoe with them, this makes exploring Lake Elizabeth considerably easier.
The Lake Elizabeth platypus tour starts with a 1km walk up to the lake. That walks passes tree ferns, tall eucalypt forest and – if you look carefully – koalas snoozing in the trees.
The paddling is deliberately tranquil. This tour is not about covering as much ground as possible. It’s about being alone on the calm waters, in the middle of the bush, taking in the serenity.
There’s an argument that the dawn tours are better, as this is when the birdlife is most active. However, do the dusk tour, and you’ve got good odds of seeing glow worms light up as the sun goes down.
Pick the right Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne
- For wildlife and nature focus: One day tour with koalas and guided forest walk.
- To beat the crowds: Reverse direction Great Ocean Road day tour.
- For adventure: Two day camping and surfing trip.
- For backpackers: One day highlights tour aimed at younger travellers.
- For exclusivity and flexibility: Private tour where you can pick the sights you want to see.
- For an extended trip: Three day Melbourne to Adelaide tour.
Lake Elizabeth canoe tour prices
Otway Eco Tours claims a 95% success rate in spotting platypus. The Lake Elizabeth canoe tours cost $85 for adults and $50 for children. For further information, visit the Otway Eco Tours website.
Other things to do in Apollo Bay include kayaking with seals, walking to Hopetoun Falls and tackling the Otway Fly treetop adventure course. After all that action, you’ll have earned a beer or four in the Apollo Bay Hotel.
Other good spots to see platypus include Yungaburra in the Atherton Tableland near Cairns, and Broken River in the Eungella National Park, Queensland.
More Victoria travel
When is the best time to see penguins on Phillip Island?
Spot kangaroos in Gipsy Point, near Mallacoota.
Check out the galleries and cafés of Fish Creek, South Gippsland.
What to see on the drive from Bendigo to Echuca.
Stop in Port Fairy or Koroit on the Portland to Warrnambool drive.