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Crocodiles - A Face to Face Encounter

  • Wildlife

Where to go in the Northern Territory

Crocodiles, must see, gawp, feel the thrill of a face to face encounter with an apex predator

Saltwater crocodile, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia
Saltwater crocodile, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory

Northern Territory Crocodile Facts

  • Northern Territory has the largest crocodile population in the wild, estimated over 100,000 croc predators
  • Two distinct species, the freshwater (freshie) and saltwater (saltie) crocodile
  • Freshwater crocodile is less dangerous due to smaller, thinner head and jaws
  • Saltwater crocodiles can grow up to 6 metres in length and over 1 tonne. Salties have large broad heads, uneven jaws and very prominent teeth
  • Saltwater crocodiles are also known as estuarine crocodiles, Indo-Pacific crocodiles, marine crocodiles, sea crocodiles
  • Crocodiles are very territorial
  • Speed, crocodiles, for short periods of time can reach speeds up to 29 km
  • Deadly predator with 100 million years of evolution under their leathery skin
  • Diet of saltie … cows, buffalo, fish, anything within hunting range

The Northern Territory is the place to be to meet and greet a crocodile. Here’s an itinerary to add a thrill to your Australian holiday. The sheer thrill and adrenaline rush of a face to face encounter with one of nature’s top hunters is an unforgettable experience.

 

CROCOSAURUS – DARWIN CITY CENTRE

Crocosaurus in Darwin’s city centre has a number of salties and freshies swimming lazily in pools. The croc’s are confined in relatively small pools behind thick, slightly scratched glass. You get to view the underbelly of a crocodile as they flip and float past the windows. It’s memorising and the kids will be glued to the window watching the massive predator.

  • SWIM WITH CROCS – Crocosaurus offers DIVE WITH CROCS in a thick clear plastic tube for approximately 10 minutes 
  • VIP tour get to feed baby crocodiles, and hold a baby croc
  • Every croc has a bio describing how they ended up at Crocosaurus
  • A stop on the Darwin Big Bus Hop On & Hop Off route

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Crocosaurus Cove Tours & Entry Tickets – BOOK NOW (free cancellation)

Crocosaurus Cove, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia @crocosauruscove
Cage of Death, Crocosaurus Cove @crocosauruscove

 

MUSEUM OF NORTHERN TERRITORY

(found on the Darwin Big Bus Hop On & Hop Off route)

Sweetheart, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, MAGNT, Northern Territory, Australia @mag_nt
Sweetheart, Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory @mag_nt

Meet Sweetie at 5.1 metres (taxidermied croc) who kept attacking fishing boats. Perished in the relocation process. There is a detailed description of a crocodile’s habitat, food sources, and breeding cycle.

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Darwin Big Bus Tours – BUY TICKETS HERE

 

CROCOBUS – JUMPING CROC TOURS

  • Humorous yet informative guides give visitors a fun introduction to the NT apex predator. Stop at Humptydoo for a selfie and hop aboard for a 1 hour cruise on the Adelaide River. The boat has reinforced steel sides.
  • The croc’s are habituated to the sound of a boat and appear relatively quickly as the boat moves into location for the feeding and subsequent crocodile jump. Meat treats held at height encourage the crocodile to jump. Jumping behaviour is a natural predator move. ‘The crocodiles along our section of river know the sound and sight of our tour boats and know what to expect. We treat each crocodile with the respect they deserve, and do our best to ensure they are not teased or tormented, but instead rewarded for their interactions’ ,,, animal ethics statement from What to expect – Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise.
  • Visitors are virtually guaranteed to observe a wild saltie up close. 
  • Mobility impaired visitors will be able to enjoy the encounter in a safe environment.

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Jumping Crocodile Tours & Cruises – BOOK HERE

Crocodile jumping out of Adelaide river, near Darwin city, Northern Territory, Australia @Spectacular Crocodile Cruises
Crocodile jumping out of Adelaide river @Spectacular Crocodile Cruises

MARY RIVER WETLANDS CRUISES

Crocodile, Jabiru bird and water lillies, Mary River wetlands national park, Northern Territory, Australia
Crocodile, Jabiru bird and water lillies, Mary River wetlands national park, Northern Territory
  • Wild crocodiles inhabit the wetlands of the Mary River wetlands. Visitors picked up in Darwin get the bonus of a trip to Fogg Dam reserve.
  • A glut of bird viewing opportunities from the iconic beautiful Jabiru, herons, birds of prey – sea eagles .
  • You will not view a jumping croc nor a crocodile slowly cruising past you as you view the predator from the safety of a thick glass window.
  • You are not guaranteed to view a crocodile however the cruise operator states ‘we rarely operate a cruise that does not see any crocodiles. The time of year and the time of day that you take a cruise will determine if the crocs are swimming in the water or sunning themselves on the bank’.
  • An superb setting with waterlilies, swamp eucalyptus and plants.
  • Several cruise options, early morning, all day or afternoon / sunset cruises.

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Mary River Wetlands Wildlife Cruise – BOOK HERE

There are several great croc tours offering various options from captive crocs to jumping crocs being offered food treats to observation and tours sighting wild crocs. Check nzjane’s Crocodiles in the Northern Territory where to go for a face to face encounter.

DARWIN CROCODILE PARK

Visit Crocodylus Park on the outskirts of Darwin to see a range of animals including more than 1,000 resident crocodiles. Check the feeding times to see the apex predator on the move.

There are daily crocodile feeding tours and you get a chance at feeding one of the big guys yourself. After every croc feeding tour you are given the opportunity to hold a baby croc and take a free photo.

Reviews & More on TripAdvisor

Salt Water Crocodile Kakadu National Park Yellow Water Billabong, Australia
Salt Water Crocodile

 

DARWIN SWEETS LAGOON CRUISE

Sailing up Sweets Lagoon, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia @jason_barry_
Sailing up Sweets Lagoon, Darwin @jason_barry_

What a thrill, an airboat floats above the lagoon. A luxury option, memorising and lots of fun with new besties who are on the tour with you.

If it’s adventure you’re looking for, why not take a scenic flight with Outback Float Planes and airboat ride up Sweets Lagoon, cruise through the wetlands.

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Darwin Adventures & Activities – BOOK NOW & SAVE up to 47%!

NITMILUK NATIONAL PARK, KATHERINE GORGE CRUISES

A must go destination for Australian visitors is the impressive gorges of the Katherine River. Awesome. And a fun fact, the beautiful gorges were the setting for films Rogue and Crocodile Dundee.

The area is a known habitat for freshwater crocodiles yet, in the wet season salties take advantage of the high water level and decide to take a trip inland. Rangers in the tourist peak season (Northern Territory Dry Season) collect and relocate the salties. The freshwater croc’s are left in place.

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Nitmiluk National Park & Katherine Gorge Trips, Tours, Cruises & More – RESERVE NOW, PAY LATER

Nitmiluk Katherine Gorge sandy freshwater beaches, ready for crocodile lazing, Northern Territory, Australia
Nitmiluk Katherine Gorge sandy freshwater beaches, ready for crocodile lazing, Northern Territory

The well managed cruise operations on the Katherine River will deftly locate and point out freshies. You are not guaranteed to observe a croc and it’s not the focus on the cruise. The cruise is about the breath-taking scenery.

Freshwater crocodiles are found in inland lagoons and Katherine, Victoria and Adelaide River in the Mataranka area.

Bitter Springs, Elsey National Park is a known location for freshies and occasionally the salties. The parks authority will close access if salties have been sighted. Check beforehand park access and stay away from Bitter Springs swimming holes.

Crocodile hunting, shooting a crocodile is prohibited in the Northern Territory, Australia. You must apply for a permit to interfere or kill a croc.

There are plenty of choices to learn about crocodiles in the Northern Territory. Take a leaf out of nzjane’s holiday itinerary and enjoy the crocodile parks, adrenaline encounters to cruises to meet and greet wild crocodiles in the wild.

 

CROCODILES IN ABORIGINAL CULTURE ARE A TOTEM AND REPRESENT STRENGTH AND SKILL

Tiwi Island guide caught in crocodile dance pose, sharing his culture with guests, Darwin, Australia
Tiwi Island guide caught in crocodile dance pose, sharing his culture with guests, Darwin

Hear crocodile dreaming stories about power, jealousy; part of the Aboriginal culture in the Daly River region. Find out how aboriginal babies are allocated a totem during your Tiwi Island tour and enjoy the movement of a crocodile ceremonial dance as the specifics are explained.

There are a number of crocodile legends. Locals are only too happy to share their dreaming tales with visitors.

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Look for crocodile art on rocks and cliff faces

Throughout the two tropical seasons, wet and dry salties inhabit the wetlands of Kakadu National Park. Visitors, with the assistance of local guides will have an opportunity to view wild crocs on banks, sunning, swimming and snapping for a meal.

ALICE SPRINGS ENCOUNTER WITH CROCODILES

Gecko Cave at Alice Springs Reptile Centre, Northern Territory, Australia @Alice Springs Reptile Centre
Gecko Cave @Alice Springs Reptile Centre

Alice Springs does not historically have crocodiles in the wild. Crocodiles don’t swim that far south. Yet visitors will not miss out. ALICE SPRINGS REPTILE CENTRE has Terry and the largest private collection of reptiles in the Northern Territory, alongside goannas, thorny devils, lizards, geckos and snakes.

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Top Adventures & Activities in Alice Springs – RESERVE NOW, PAY LATER

Crocodile leather souvenirs can be purchased in Australia. The crocodile leather is farmed sustainably with the source of the skin documented on each purchase.

Saltwater Crocodile, Daintree National Park, Queensland, Australia
Saltwater Crocodile, Daintree National Park, Queensland

CROCODILE SAFETY

  • Salties can be found up to 200 km in freshwater pools. 
  • Salties have been found up to 1 km on land in concealed positions
  • Don’t attempt to feed any wild crocodiles during your stay, and don’t swim in any waterway or camp, fish or walk in any area where crocodile hazard signs are posted. The best way to avoid getting hurt is to avoid crocodiles in the wild altogether. Check Be Crocwise for more information.

 

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