Adelaide River crocodiles
Sixteen-foot saltwater crocodiles launching out of the water, an hour up the road.
Duration
4 hrs – 5 hrs
Best time
Dry season, in the morning
Open
Every day
Entry price
To confirm
The Adelaide River holds one of the highest densities of saltwater crocodiles in the world. They are the largest living reptiles: males pass five metres and a tonne, and they were close to extinction before protection in 1971 — there are now over a hundred thousand in the Northern Territory.
Boat trips make them jump clear of the water for a suspended bait. The practice is contested: it teaches the animals to associate boats with food, in a river where people fish. Some operators have dropped it in favour of straightforward observation, and it is worth asking.
Getting there
Sixty kilometres south-east of Darwin, an hour by road on the Arnhem Highway.
What the price covers
paid cruise, price depends on the operator
Rules on site
Never go near a riverbank anywhere in the Northern Territory: saltwater crocodiles strike from the water with no warning. Ask the operator whether they do jump-feeding if the practice bothers you.
