The Best Places To See Crocodiles In Australia

Crocodiles hold a place in our imagination because, just like sharks, we fear them. Unless you stupidly enter the habitat of a saltwater crocodile unprotected, however, you have very little to fear. Media like the Crocodile Hunter television series and news reports of misadventure resulting in random deaths of locals over the years has no doubt informed a popular understanding of a misunderstood creature.

Check out one of these notable places and ways to safely see crocodiles while you are backpacking in Australia:

Jumping crocodile, Adelaide River, Northern Territory, Australia

Mary River, near Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory

The Mary River system has the highest number of wild saltwater crocodiles per square kilometre than any other place in the world. You can do a wildlife crocodile cruise to see large crocs baking themselves on river banks and swimming. It’s quite different seeing a wild crocodile going about its business here than in a confined place.

Adelaide River, near Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory

You are better off going to the Mary River, but in the wet season this contrived spectacle is the main way to see crocodiles. Bits of meat are hung over the river and the crocs ‘jump’ out of the water as the meat is pulled away out of their reach. It makes for an easily accessible, guaranteed wild croc experience.

Australia Zoo, Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Recently Australia Zoo (the late Steve Irwin’s tourist wildlife attraction) won the 2008 Australian Tourism Award for Major Tourist Attraction. Depending on your point of view, Steve loved teasing crocodiles for fun and audiences worldwide seemed to enjoy it too. Accordingly, he built an arena called the ‘crocoseum‘ to showcase his ability to dangle a dead chicken in front of a hungry crocodile.

Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park, Broome, Western Australia

Malcom Douglas was a crocodile hunter before Steve Irwin got his first pair of khakis. His original crocodile park is a low-fi experience compared to the ‘crocoseum’. Get there for the daily feeding time at 3pm.

These reptile cousins to the Dinosaurs have perfected their hunting methods over 100 million years

Hartleys Creek Crocodile Farm, near Cairns, Queensland

Important features of Hartleys include its educational focus, location and site extending over reclaimed and re-generated land. The fact that it is a working crocodile farm enhances its credibility.

Crocosaurus Cove, Darwin, Northern Territory

Perhaps the ultimate crocodile attraction in Australia is the ‘Cage Of Death‘. You can get dipped into a pool in a clear cage to be confronted by a 5.5 metre crocodile. You are perfectly safe but it is as close as any backpacker can get to a crocodile without being munched.

Johnstone River Crocodile Park, Innisfail, Queensland

My personal favourite. Mick, who owns the croc park, is a real character and the video says it all. Please, don’t try this yourself - ‘Gregory’ is 17 feet, 8 inches and not necessarily so kind to anyone who wants to sit on him.

Comments

• giselle garcia says:

  well im studying freshwater crocodiles found in Australia and it is very interesting . well i am looking foward for you guys to plz give me information of pages where i can find great information.
  
  THANKS FOR READING!!!! :)

  12 days ago

• giselle says:

  well im studying freshwater crocodiles found in Australia and it is very interesting . well i am looking foward for you guys to plz give me information of pages where i can find great information.
  
  THANKS FOR READING!!!! :)

  12 days ago

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