The extensive native gardens, large farm dams and the water quality of the Barrington River, create an ideal environment for a variety of wildlife.
Azure Kingfishers, King Parrots, Black Cockatoos, Rosellas and Blue Wrens are just some of the many birds which can be seen around the cottages and along the river.
At Barrington Hideaway you have the chance to have a memorable encounter with an animal unique to Australia-the furry, warm-blooded, egg-laying mammalian platypus. The resident platypus can be sited frequently from the verandah, the river track or from a kayak.
Check out our social media pages from footage captured at Barrington Hideaway to help you spot the Platypus.
Some interesting Platypus facts to help with your siting…
Mainly a nocturnal animal, the platypus (ornithorhynchus anatinus…) considered to be one of the world’s most unusual animals can best be seen during the early morning and late evening.
Platypus usually emerge from their burrows in the late afternoon or early evening and begin foraging for food. This activity is often interspersed with grooming and scratching.
The Platypus spends about half its time in the water feeding. They spend up to 10-12 hours a day diving and foraging for food, returning to the surface every 30 to 60 seconds to consume food collected and to breath. Appearances at the surface are generally short and last only about 10 to 30 seconds.
Normally a platypus stays underwater for between one and two minutes, but if disturbed it can stay underwater for up to 10 minutes.
Platypus swim by using alternate strokes of their webbed fore-limbs while the hind limbs are held close to the body. The hind limbs and tail are generally used as rudders and brakes. When swimming, platypus create ‘bow-waves’ and diving animals roll porpoise-like beneath the surface.
