Are There Crocodiles in Cairns?
Let’s be real. Tropical Far North Queensland is chock-full of crocs, including Cairns. Both species native to Australia inhabit the freshwater streams and brackish creeks of Cairns: the saltwater crocodile and its freshwater cousin, the—you guessed it—freshwater crocodile. Or, speaking scientifically, the Crocodylus porosus and Crocodylus johnsoni.
Crocodiles have been around since the dawn of time, and in Cairns, we’re lucky enough to see them thrive in their natural habitat. They’re just one of the many natural wonders waiting to be discovered in the region.
What’s the Difference Between a Saltwater Crocodile and a Freshwater Crocodile?
Now that you’re thinking of coming to Cairns, you should get to know the salties and the freshies, their similarities and their differences. Freshwater crocs prefer the waters of lakes, rivers and billabongs. They’re much smaller than their salty brethren, averaging at 2.55 metres with outliers between 2.1 and 3 metres. While most males weigh between 70 and 100 kilos, the females are almost half of that, weighing around 40 kilos on average. They can hold their breath underwater for up to 2 hours and can move at up to 18 kilometres per hour, but only for short distances as they tire easily. Whilst they’re certainly not as ferocious as the salty, you still don’t want to mess with one.
The best way to get up close and personal with a freshwater croc in its natural habitat is at Hartley’s Crocodile Farm. Explore the wild creeks on the best crocodile cruise in Cairns, watch the croc whisperers drop tasty morsels of meat into the depths of their jaws, or have a go at feeding them yourself!
Compared to the freshwater crocs, the salties are giants. In fact, they’re the largest reptile in the world! Female salties can grow up to 3.4 metres in length and males a whopping 7 metres, they weigh an average of 88 and 465 kilograms, respectively. The salty is much faster than its freshwater friend, with top speeds of 29 kilometres per hour — that's on land and in water. Salties are extremely stealthy, cunning, territorial and aggressive. And if all that still isn’t enough to scare the pants off you, put your money where your mouth is with Wildlife Habitat’s Swim With the Salties experience!
Are There Crocodiles in the Great Barrier Reef?
Whilst the big, scary and scaly salties tend to lurk in the murkier brackish water of rivers, creeks, lakes and swamps, they’re also partial to the occasional paddle on the Great Barrier Reef. In fact, in 2020 a couple of snorkellers got the shock of their lives when they saw a small juvenile salty bobbing and weaving through the coral gardens of Agincourt Reef — some 40 kilometres offshore!
Salty sightings on the Great Barrier Reef are incredibly rare, and this was probably a once-in-a-lifetime outing for one young and adventurous croc. Maybe he just wanted to see if life really is better under the sea? So it’s not impossible to see a croc on the Great Barrier Reef, but it’s unlikely you’ll find yourself swimming side by side with those pearly whites on your next snorkelling adventure. The Great Barrier Reef simply doesn’t cut the mustard for their monstrous appetites; the tucker isn’t up to scratch and the water is too clear for them to camouflage when stalking prey.
Crocodile Safety in Cairns
Stay croc-wise by avoiding croc-infested waters; avoid swimming at dusk, dawn and night; keep a five-metre distance from the water’s edge. And keep your eyes peeled for crocodile slides! No, that's not a sixties dance move. Crocodile slides are the marks left by their long and heavy bodies as they crawl down banks to the water's edge. If you’re overly cautious, Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and the local waterfalls are completely safe and croc-free options for a day of swimming!
