Are crocodile tours safe?

Crocodiles, or “salties”, are Australia’s most terrifying predators and are ubiquitous to Australia’s northern swamplands. From Queensland across to Northern WA these prehistoric predators roam the waterways, looking for a feast and a place to hang out in the sun (though preferably the former!).

Thankfully, Australia’s dedicated biologists are happy to share their knowledge of crocodiles and their whereabouts, taking eager tourists on crocodile tours in places like the Adelaide River, Daintree Rainforest and Kakadu National Park.

Australian crocodile tours are considered very safe bar any unforeseen passenger stupidity. This means, you can very safely enjoy a croc-spotting adventure, even an Adelaide River jumping croc cruise, without the risk of losing your arm!

There are great croc-spotting tours to choose from, including:

The Adelaide River

The Adelaide River tour is the original jumping croc spectacular, the place where the guides lure these beasts out of the murky depths with offerings of raw chickens, allowing them to leap high in front of the eyes of thrilled (or terrified) passengers!

This isn’t your average river cruise: it’s one of Australia’s top thrill seeking activities; an unforgettable experience that will leave you in awe for many years to come. Not only that, but it is also highly educational, as your tour guides will talk you through the lives of these magnificent beasts and their living habits.

Yellow Water tour (Kakadu)

As if Kakadu wasn’t already Australia’s most enchanting natural landscape, but they can also throw in a cheeky crocodile cruise in the mix, too! Kakadu is home to literally thousands of crocodiles, making spotting them among their swamps and rivers a pretty simple endeavour.

Lucky for us, we can take a tour that makes it all the more easy. The Yellow Water tour is the ideal way to see a good handful of the 10,000 crocs that lurk around Kakadu, once again with a knowledgeable guide to talk you through their lives and what they are up to in the billabong…

The Daintree

Gee, crocs really know how to choose a home, eh? Some croc, millions of years ago, must have said to its croc family, “why not pack it up and move to the Daintree?” and there they have been ever since.

Crocs love the Daintree River and this makes it another ideal place for a croc-spotting tour. Jump aboard, learn about this awesome species, spot a couple on the way and then continue a magical Daintree jaunt – not a bad idea, hey?

Cameron Ward

Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.