Blue Mountains National Park

🇦🇺 Australia

🦫 Watch for Platypus in Mountain Creeks

🌍 #142 Global · 3.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #11 in Oceania #15 in Temperate Forest

Australia, Australia 714 spp. recorded

Blue Mountains National Park is a protected temperate forest situated inland from Sydney in New South Wales. Deep sandstone canyons, eucalyptus valleys, and towering cliffs define this rugged Australian reserve, separating it from coastal and tropical parks through its cool mountain climate and vast forest canopy.

-33.837° S 150.493° E

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Cacatua galerita

70–80% · Very likely

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Macropus giganteus

30–40% · Possible

Common Wombat

Vombatus ursinus

20–30% · Possible

Duck-billed Platypus

Ornithorhynchus anatinus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Crimson Rosella

Platycercus elegans

60–70% · Likely

Eastern Spinebill

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

60–70% · Likely

Australian Magpie

Gymnorhina tibicen

60–70% · Likely

Red Wattlebird

Anthochaera carunculata

50–60% · Likely

Pied Currawong

Strepera graculina

50–60% · Likely

Brown Thornbill

Acanthiza pusilla

50–60% · Likely

Grey Fantail

Rhipidura albiscapa

50–60% · Likely

Laughing Kookaburra

Dacelo novaeguineae

40–50% · Likely

Mountain Dragon

Rankinia diemensis

40–50% · Likely

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Caligavis chrysops

40–50% · Likely

Australian Water Dragon

Intellagama lesueurii

40–50% · Likely

Coconut Lorikeet

Trichoglossus haematodus

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Macropus giganteus

30–40% · Possible

Common Wombat

Vombatus ursinus

20–30% · Possible

Duck-billed Platypus

Ornithorhynchus anatinus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Short-beaked Echidna

Tachyglossus aculeatus

20–30% · Possible

Swamp Wallaby

Wallabia bicolor

20–30% · Possible

Common Brushtail

Trichosurus vulpecula

20–30% · Possible

Common Ringtail Possum

Pseudocheirus peregrinus

20–30% · Possible

Red-necked Wallaby

Notamacropus rufogriseus

20–30% · Possible

Wallaroo

Macropus robustus

10–20% · Possible

Greater Glider

Petauroides volans

10–20% · With luck

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

10–20% · With luck

Brown Antechinus

Antechinus stuartii

10–20% · With luck

Long-nosed Bandicoot

Perameles nasuta

10–20% · With luck

Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby

Petrogale penicillata

10–20% · With luck

Koala

Phascolarctos cinereus

10–20% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Cacatua galerita

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Crimson Rosella

Platycercus elegans

60–70% · Likely

Eastern Spinebill

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

60–70% · Likely

Australian Magpie

Gymnorhina tibicen

60–70% · Likely

Red Wattlebird

Anthochaera carunculata

50–60% · Likely

Pied Currawong

Strepera graculina

50–60% · Likely

Brown Thornbill

Acanthiza pusilla

50–60% · Likely

Grey Fantail

Rhipidura albiscapa

50–60% · Likely

Laughing Kookaburra

Dacelo novaeguineae

40–50% · Likely

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Caligavis chrysops

40–50% · Likely

Coconut Lorikeet

Trichoglossus haematodus

40–50% · Likely

Satin Bowerbird

Ptilonorhynchus violaceus

40–50% · Likely

Australian King-Parrot

Alisterus scapularis

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Mountain Dragon

Rankinia diemensis

40–50% · Likely

Australian Water Dragon

Intellagama lesueurii

40–50% · Likely

Eastern Water Skink

Eulamprus quoyii

30–40% · Possible

Southern Water Skink

Eulamprus heatwolei

30–40% · Possible

Jacky Lashtail

Amphibolurus muricatus

30–40% · Possible

Red-bellied Black Snake

Pseudechis porphyriacus

30–40% · Possible

Highlands Copperhead

Austrelaps ramsayi

20–30% · Possible

Blotched Bluetongue

Tiliqua nigrolutea

20–30% · Possible

Cunningham's Skink

Egernia cunninghami

20–30% · Possible

Common Bluetongue

Tiliqua scincoides

20–30% · Possible

Lace Monitor

Varanus varius

20–30% · Possible

Broad-tailed Gecko

Phyllurus platurus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Peron's Tree Frog

Litoria peronii

30–40% · Possible

Common Eastern Froglet

Crinia signifera

20–30% · Possible

Striped Marsh Frog

Limnodynastes peronii

20–30% · Possible

Verreaux's Tree Frog

Litoria verreauxii

10–20% · Possible

Blue Mountains Tree Frog

Ranoidea citropa

10–20% · Possible

Pobblebonk

Limnodynastes dumerilii

10–20% · Possible

Leaf Green Treefrog

Ranoidea phyllochroa

10–20% · Possible

Red-crowned Toadlet

Pseudophryne australis

10–20% · With luck

Spotted Grass Frog

Limnodynastes tasmaniensis

10–20% · With luck

Eastern Dwarf Treefrog

Litoria fallax

0–10% · With luck

Broad-palmed Frog

Litoria latopalmata

0–10% · With luck

Smooth Toadlet

Uperoleia laevigata

0–10% · With luck

Animal Events

🦌

Platypus Watch

JunJulAug

Cool winter waters increase platypus activity, offering prime spotting opportunities along the creeks.

Duck-billed Platypus

Ornithorhynchus anatinus

10–20% · With luck

🐦

Bird Spectacle

SepOctNov

Spring brings a burst of wildflowers and a chorus of birds, making the valleys vibrant with colour and song.

Superb Fairywren

Malurus cyaneus

40–50% · Likely

Grey Fantail

Rhipidura albiscapa

50–60% · Likely

🦎

Reptile Radiance

JanFebMar

Summer heat drives reptiles to bask openly, creating spectacular displays on rocks and trails.

Australian Water Dragon

Intellagama lesueurii

40–50% · Likely

Mountain Dragon

Rankinia diemensis

40–50% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

30–40

30–40

30–40

40–50

30–40

40–50

30–40

30–40

40–50

30–40

20–30

30–40

10–20

10–20

20–30

20–30

30–40

30–40

30–40

30–40

30–40

20–30

30–40

20–30

Duck-billed Platypus

10–20

10–20

0–10

0–10

0–10

10–20

10–20

10–20

10–20

10–20

10–20

10–20

Crimson Rosella

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

Eastern Spinebill

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

Australian Magpie

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

Brown Thornbill

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

40–50

30–40

30–40

40–50

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

Laughing Kookaburra

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

Mountain Dragon

60–70

50–60

30–40

20–30

<5

<5

0–10

10–20

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

30–40

20–30

30–40

50–60

60–70

50–60

40–50

60–70

60–70

50–60

40–50

40–50

Australian Water Dragon

50–60

50–60

50–60

20–30

0–10

<5

<5

10–20

30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

Coconut Lorikeet

50–60

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

30–40

40–50

30–40

Animal Events

🦌 Platypus Watch

🐦 Bird Spectacle

🦎 Reptile Radiance

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent

🦫 Watch for Platypus in Mountain Creeks

🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

442

🐒 Mammals

98

🦎 Reptiles

123

🐸 Amphibians

51

714 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

43 Threatened 365 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

3.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

57%

📊

Coverage (170 species at ≥5% of 714 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

24%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (10 bird, 2 reptile)

47% Global avg

37%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

93

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

16

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

22

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