With its serene setting on the Bombala River, former Council Tourism Manager and platypus enthusiast Karen Cash says the Reserve is putting the tiny Snowy Monaro town on the international tourism map with visitors from as far afield as New York, Paris and Hamburg.
“It’s a real drawcard, we know that there’s people that come specifically to Bombala for the chance to see platypus and it’s amazing where they come from, overseas and even locals come down here on a regular basis – it’s a real asset for the whole community,” Ms Cash said.
Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said it’s great to see her much loved home region in the tourism spotlight for offering a unique visitor experience.
“With its beautiful plains and pristine rivers the Snowy Monaro is a really special part of regional New South Wales and I’m excited to share it with the rest of the world,” Ms Moriarty said.
“A platypus sighting is such a special experience and investments in projects like the reserve upgrades mean even more people will be able to spot an Aussie icon, and then stay and enjoy our local accommodation, dining and other regional businesses.”
While the site may be generating plenty of buzz amongst animal lovers, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Ranger Rachel Butterworth says its quiet conditions and careful movements that will win you a much-prized platypus sighting.
“A few tips to spotting a platypus, you have to be quiet, still and patient. Sometimes you will see a v-shape bow-wave where they’re swimming or sometimes a ring of ripples created by the platypus diving to look for food on the river bottom,” Ms Butterworth said.
“If you want to get a better viewing position, you wait until they go down and then move your position before they come back up so they don’t see you moving.”
It’s not just platypus lovers who are in for a treat at the Reserve, local Nature Photographer Betty Bruns says the region is rich with bird life including Blue Kingfishers and Kites, and she encourages visitors to bring some binoculars to catch a glimpse of the native fauna.
“There’s all sorts of special birds here for example the Diamond Firetail finch which is a tiny bird that looks like it is in a tuxedo, they’re really quite special,” Ms Brunns said.
The Bombala Platypus Reserve upgrades were funded by a $234,672 grant from the NSW Government and included road improvement works, acccessible pathways and picnic tables.
Local wildlife expert Franz Peters has been involved with Bombala Platypus Reserve since the site was first opened in 1999 and says it’s fantastic to see the area made even more accessible thanks to the upgrades.
“It is one of the most positive things about the work that’s been done out here, reinforcing and hardening the roads and walkways so people in wheelchairs can actually use it rather than rugged tracks that were here before,” Mr Peters said.
Snowy Monaro Regional Council Mayor Cr Narell Davis said the improvements to the Reserve and its growing popularity are benefiting the entire region.
“The Bombala River is an important platypus habitat and these improvements will allow our local and wider visitor community to experience the joy of sighting a platypus in its natural habitat,”
