‘I don’t believe this’: Queensland visitor amazed at finding platypus swimming in Hobart Rivulet

An avid birdwatcher strolling along the Hobart Rivulet received the surprise of her life when she saw a platypus frolicking in the city’s urban stream.

AN avid birdwatcher strolling along the Hobart Rivulet received the surprise of her life when she saw a playful platypus frolicking in the city’s urban stream.

Launceston-born Annette Tyson, who now lives in Bundaberg in Queensland, was taking her grandson for a walk along the rivulet last week when she saw what she first thought was an animated log.

“I’m looking at this log thinking ‘why is it moving’?” she said.

“Then I got a closer look and thought ‘I don’t believe this — it’s a platypus in the middle of Hobart.”

With camera in hand, Ms Tyson followed the playful platypus down the rivulet for 30 minutes until she reached Hamlet Cafe — where she lost sight of it.

A platypus in the Hobart Rivulet. Picture: ANNETTE TYSON

“It was having the most beautiful time,” she said.

“It’s difficult to see a platypus in the wild, so I was not expecting to see one in the middle of Hobart.”

A delighted Ms Tyson posted the photo on Instagram with the caption: “Hobart must be the only city in the world where you can see a platypus in the wild. Photographed in Hobart Rivulet this afternoon. What a gorgeous linear park. Congratulations Hobart.”

It’s not the first time a platypus has been spotted in the rivulet.

In September last year, West Hobart man Ollie Burdon walking home from the CBD just before 6pm when he spotted a monotreme in the Hobart Rivulet off Barrack St.