Where To See Crocodiles in Port Douglas 2024

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Where are the best places to see crocodiles in Port Douglas? There are wild crocodiles in Port Douglas, plus some in captivity. There are several ways to see them on your Port Douglas holiday or vacation. We give you the best way to see (or swim with) crocodiles from Port Douglas.

Saltwater crocodiles and freshwater crocodiles can be seen, wild or in captivity in and near Port Douglas, you can also see crocodile feeding, crocodile shows, a crocodile farm, or enjoy a leisurely crocodile spotting cruise. Check out our list of the best Port Douglas crocodile tours and activities, below.

Port Douglas crocodile show croc — This photo was taken at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures just south of Port Douglas. It’s a replica of a huge crocodile found not far away, a long time ago.

Where To See Crocodiles in Port Douglas

If you have your own vehicle, you can often see wild saltwater crocodiles at the crocodile lookout on the Mowbray River just south of Port Douglas. This is a very good place to see them. (see the photo below). To get there just drive south along the coastal highway (Captain Cook Highway) for 5 minutes, the car park is on the other side of the Mowbray Bridge, it’s free. It’s too far to walk for most people and there are no sidewalks or pavements.

If you don’t have a car there are buses and tours that will take you there. (Details below). This is probably your best option if you’re on a tight budget. There are also cruises and boat trips to see crocodiles from Port Douglas Marina and on the Daintree River, north of Port Douglas.

Port Douglas Crocodile viewing point — This is the viewing point for seeing Crocodiles on the Mowbray River, just south of Port Douglas

Suppose you are visiting Port Douglas on a cruise ship and would like a shore excursion to see crocodiles. In that case, the Lady Douglas river cruise is one of very few Port Douglas activities that will fit with the tender arrival and departure times.

This Port Douglas crocodile tour departs Port Douglas Marina several times per day. Book a Lady Douglas crocodile tour here on Viator, book as far in advance as you can, places are limited particularly when a cruise ship is in town.

You can check availability for a Lady Douglas cruise here. It really is a lovely way to explore our waterways.

Another possibility for cruise ship passengers is to swim with the crocodiles at the Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat. My son did this recently and loved the experience. Visitors entering the crocodile tank also get a backstage tour and the keepers feed the crocs while the swimmer is in the water. Book that here, on GetYourGuide, it’s not available on Viator as yet.

If you’re worried about how clean the water is, swimmers are actually in a different tank.

You can combine your crocodile swim with seeing all of the other local animals at the habitat and even enjoy one of the best breakfasts in Port Douglas, Breakfast with the Birds, to combine dining with brightly coloured lorikeets and parrots. Book that here. Alternatively, use the widget below to book Breakfast, this includes your admission to see the crocodiles, kangaroos, koalas and birds. It’s a wonderful place to take kids.

Your other crocodile option is to drive north of Port Douglas for about an hour to Daintree Village, from here you can book the crocodile river tour we mention below. Alternatively drive south of Port Douglas to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, to see captive crocodiles and a crocodile show, more details below. Hartleys also offers a breakfast deal.

We explore more Port Douglas dining options in our post about Port Douglas restaurants.

Best Ways To See Crocodiles in The Wild in Port Douglas

If you’re lucky and the tide is right, you may be able to spot a wild crocodile or two from the new Mowbray River crocodile viewing platform (with car park) just to the south of Port Douglas, on the highway. This would be a good way to see crocodiles for free. If you don’t have your own vehicle, there is a shuttle service with pick-up from your hotel available sometimes. You may be able to get an Uber.

Although it’s rare, you can sometimes see wild crocodiles swimming in The Inlet, from The Sugar Wharf or Combined Club, but it is rare. There are also crocodiles living in lakes on some of the golf courses in Port Douglas. St Crispin’s restaurant has a great view of the water and Sheraton golf course, you could see one here. St Crispin’s was the old turn-around station for the Bally Hooley train.

Port Douglas crocodile warning — Crocodile warning sign in Port Douglas, on The Inlet

Crocodiles are very, very rarely sighted swimming off 4 Mile Beach. They’ve even been sighted out on the reef, once that I know of.

If you’d like to take a crocodile-spotting cruise from Port Douglas, your best options are these, be sure to book in advance as these boats do get fully booked. You’ll enjoy seeing other wildlife (with luck) on these cruises too. Crocodile sightings are almost guaranteed.

Book a crocodile spotting cruise on Lady Douglas from Port Douglas Marina. This cruise is about 1.5 hours total and drinks and snacks are included. This lovely boat runs several times per day with sunset cruises being in very high demand. Book your spot here.
Book a crocodile spotting cruise on The Daintree River, you will need your own transport to drive to Daintree Village, about 50 km from Port Douglas to the north. Book your Daintree River Cruise Here.
Another option, if you don’t have a car, is to book a tour that combines The Daintree Rainforest and a crocodile cruise. You get to explore the rainforest at the beautiful Mossman Gorge, and spot crocs on the same tour. This easy half-day tour will pick you up from your Port Douglas hotel on request. Take a look, and book, right here.

Best Crocodile Attractions and Shows Port Douglas

Port Douglas Crocodile Show — You can see estuarine or saltwater crocodiles at The Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas, you can even get in the water with them.

Again, there are a few options for crocodile and wildlife shows and feeding, even swimming, in Port Douglas. Choose from the following croc options:

Visit The Wildlife Habitat, in Port Douglas, to see Australian wildlife, including crocodiles. You can hand feed the cute animals here, this is great for kids and this attraction really is worth visiting. Book admission to The Habitat here.
Make your day at The Wildlife Habitat even better, by booking Breakfast With The Birds, this is a great way to start your day! The price includes your admission to the park, and of course, you get to see the crocodiles!
If you’re feeling brave, you can swim with the crocs at The Port Douglas Wildlife Habitat. Places are very limited, so book this now, here.
Visit Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, south of Port Douglas. near Palm Cove and Cairns. This is a big day out and visitors can see crocodile shows, take a crocodile cruise, plus other wildlife experiences. Hartley’s has hundreds of crocodiles and some are enormous. We last visited in September 2022 and had a really fun day out, we added the experience below to our day.
Make your day at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures even better by booking “Breakfast With The Koalas”. You get an early start to your day at the park, (making parking much easier!) we were able to see (and touch) koalas without the crowds while a large croc cruised by. The price includes crocodile shows, your cruise with jumping croc feeding, and full-day admission. With tickets still being valid for the next 2 days should you wish to return. This offer may not always be available, staff will likely tell you about this on arrival. The snake show is really good, as is the croc show.

More Useful Port Douglas Information and Links:

Find out where to eat in Port Douglas, food options and restaurants.
Looking for other tours and trips to book in Port Douglas (discounted)? Browse GetYourGuide or Viator, both are great and we use them ourselves.
Find out which Port Douglas reef trip is best for you in this post.
Need to book a Port Douglas hotel, backpackers, motel, or apartment? See this post.
Shop for reef-safe sunscreen or other vacation necessities on Amazon.

Are Crocodiles a Problem in Port Douglas?

Crocodile warning sign Port Douglas — Crocodiles are present in the Port Douglas area but they shouldn’t be a problem if you’re crocsmart. Follow the rules, look for the signs.

Crocodiles are present in Port Douglas but aren’t a problem so long as you are “croc-wise” or “croc-smart.” Stay away from the edge of any body of water, particularly estuaries and river mouths. Don’t swim anywhere you see a Crocodile warning sign, swim near the lifeguard station in the stinger net (in summer). There are crocodiles in Port Douglas, saltwater crocodiles, and they are dangerous, but crocodile-related incidents are rare. There have been a few tragic fatalities in the region. Yes, there are crocodile sightings along Four Mile Beach. If this happens the surf lifeguards will shut the beach to swimmers until the croc has gone and you’ll see a “recent crocodile sighting” warning sign. Crocodiles have also been sighted on the reef, very, very rarely. Stay safe and remember that residents and tourists swim in and around Port Douglas year-round.

For more on being “crocwise” visit the Queensland Government website.

Thanks for visiting our site and we hope we were able to help you find the best crocodile viewing experience in Port Douglas. As a long-time Port Douglas local, I love sharing our local wildlife with visitors to our part of the world. Seeing the crocodiles is one of the top things to do in Port Douglas, right up there with a trip to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree and the Cape. Enjoy your Port Douglas holiday and maybe I’ll see you out on the reef. Do us a favour, visit our Port Douglas Pinterest board and pin some stuff. Thanks.