Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Gully

Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Gully is a short, easy, fully sealed walk along Platypus Creek behind the Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre. It is shaded and gently graded, with a real chance of spotting a platypus if you time it right, and locals rate it as genuinely dog-friendly for an on-leash stroll.

The walk

The path is wide, sealed and pram-friendly with only a gentle incline, running along the creek towards Kadina Street. Bench seating breaks the route at intervals, and some sections are lit, though it is best treated as a daytime walk. This is a suburban leg-stretch rather than a workout, and it pairs well with the nearby Arboretum track off Oliver Avenue if you want more rainforest under the same lead rules.

Leash status

Dogs stay on leash for the whole gully, since it is a sensitive wildlife habitat protecting platypus and local birdlife. Check the signage near the adjoining sports fields too, because some of those playing areas restrict dogs even though the gully itself allows on-leash walking. For a proper off-lead run, Hepburn Park is the local fenced option.

Water

Platypus Creek runs alongside the path, but the banks are steep in places and it is a wildlife habitat, so it is not a wading or swimming spot for dogs. Bring your own water if you want a guaranteed drink stop.

Pepsi: dawn or dusk is the window for a platypus sighting, and the shade along the creek keeps it comfortable even on a warm Northern Rivers afternoon. Bring the insect repellent though.

Getting there

Access is off Oliver Avenue behind the Aquatic Centre, or via Kadina Street, both with small free parking areas. Northern Rivers Buslines services run along Oliver Avenue if you would rather not drive.

Close by with the dogs

Hepburn Park Fenced Dog Park on Holland Street is the secure off-lead option in Goonellabah, Wilsons Walking Track at Girards Hill is another on-lead walk closer to the river, and Bep cafe covers the coffee stop nearby.

When to go

Mid-morning or early afternoon suits a quiet stroll, since the track is not heavily trafficked outside the early mornings and late afternoons when locals use it. It can turn muddy at the edges after rain, and insect repellent is worth packing for a dawn or dusk platypus watch.