Booking choice: The Crocodile Express cruise, 1 hour from Daintree Village. Book this Tour details
The Daintree River is home to saltwater crocodiles, the big ones. A cruise is how most visitors see them, either as part of a day tour or as a one-hour trip on their own.
The cruises all leave from the south bank, so you do not need the ferry. What changes from one to the next is the stretch of river, the boat and the timing.
The quick answer
Daintree River cruises last about an hour and leave from Daintree Village or near the ferry, south of the river. Crocs are easiest to see in the cooler months, roughly June to September, when they bask on the banks. Nothing is guaranteed. If you are driving, the Crocodile Express pass covers two routes over 14 days.
Are there crocodiles in the Daintree River?
Yes. Estuarine, or saltwater, crocodiles live in the river, its creeks and along nearby beaches.
The Queensland Government's Crocwise advice is that crocodiles live in tidal rivers, along some beaches and in freshwater, and are active at any time. Their breeding season runs from September to April. That is why you see croc warning signs at boat ramps, beaches and creeks all through the Daintree.
On a cruise, the skipper keeps a respectful distance and knows where to look.
Which Daintree River cruise is best?
There is no official ranking. Choose by where you start, the length you want and the boat: all the main operators leave from the south bank.
These are the established operators. Check each one for current times before you go.
| Operator | Length | Leaves from | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crocodile Express | About 1 hour | Daintree Village or the Ferry Gateway | Two routes; the pass is valid 14 days |
| Solar Whisper | 1 or 2 hours | South bank by the ferry | Bills itself as zero emission; free return trip if no crocs are seen |
| Bruce Belcher's | 1 hour | Private jetty on the Mossman to Daintree road | Family-run since 1987; closed in February |
All of them work. If you want quiet, the electric boat is the one. If you want birdlife as well as crocs, an Upper Daintree trip from the village is the better route.
An hour on the river with a naturalist, and a pass that covers the second route within 14 days.
Book this Tour detailsHow long is a Daintree River crocodile cruise?
About an hour on most cruises. Solar Whisper also runs a two-hour trip.
The same hour is built into most Daintree day tours. Here is how each full-day tour on this site handles the river, according to its listing.
| Day tour | River time on the listing |
|---|---|
| Daintree and Mossman Gorge | Daintree River wildlife cruise, 1 hour |
| Premium small group | One-hour Daintree River cruise |
| 4WD day tour | One-hour cruise from the Daintree Cruise Centre |
| Port Douglas tour | One hour of croc and wildlife spotting, plus Cooper Creek |
| Best of Daintree | Daintree River wildlife cruise |
| Tour with zipline | One-hour mangrove river cruise |
What is the best time of year to see crocodiles?
The cooler months, roughly June to September. Crocs come out to bask on the banks; in the warm months they stay in the water and are harder to spot.
Crocodiles cannot make their own body heat, so on cool days they haul out into the sun. That is when cruises see the most. In summer the water is warm enough that they rarely need to, and sightings drop. The wet season also brings high water and floods, and Bruce Belcher's closes for all of February.
The cooler months are the dry season too, which is the best time for the rest of the Daintree. More in the best time to visit.
One hour with a naturalist on the Daintree River, south of the ferry, with no transfer needed.
Book thisWhat time of day is best for a croc cruise?
A cool, sunny morning or a sunny afternoon after a cool night. There is no official answer, so ask the operator when you book.
Basking is about warming up, so the first sunny hours after a cool night are a good bet. Tide plays a part too, because low water exposes more mud bank, but tides shift every day. The skippers know their stretch of river better than any rule of thumb. Ask which departure they would choose on your date.
How likely are you to see a crocodile?
Likely in winter, less likely in summer, and never certain. They are wild animals.
Some guests see several crocs in an hour. Jodie, on the Crocodile Express cruise, wrote: "we spotted 4 crocs and our guide was so knowledgeable and friendly." Others see one, or none. Solar Whisper's offer of a free return trip if you see nothing tells you that blank days happen.
Even without a croc, the hour is not wasted. The river holds birds, snakes in the overhanging branches and a wall of mangroves, and the guide fills the gaps.
Upper or Lower Daintree: which route should you take?
The Upper Daintree for birds and crocs in a narrower river; the Lower Daintree for the mangroves near the river mouth. The Crocodile Express pass covers both.
The Crocodile Express runs both routes. The Upper Daintree trip leaves from Daintree Jetty in the village. The Lower Daintree trip leaves from the Ferry Gateway, close to the ferry. The two are about 13 km apart by road, both south of the river. You check in at the Crocodile Express shop at 5 Stewart Street, Daintree, and the pass stays valid for 14 days from first use.
A tip: do the Lower route on your way north, then the Upper route on another day when you are passing the village.
Can you swim in the Daintree River?
No. Saltwater crocodiles live there. The official advice is to never swim where crocodiles may live, even if there is no sign.
The same applies to the creeks and the beaches north of the river, which are unpatrolled. Box jellyfish and other stingers add to the risk at sea. If you want a swim on your Daintree day, choose a tour that uses a freshwater spot the operator has picked: the Best of Daintree tour stops at a creek the listing describes as free of crocodiles, and the Cassowary Falls tour ends at a waterfall pool on private land.
A private waterfall and pool on the Upper Daintree, reached by an off-road ride, with only your group at the falls.
Book this Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
Do you need the ferry for a croc cruise?
No. The cruises leave from the south bank, from Daintree Village or near the ferry. You can do one without crossing.
Are Daintree croc cruises wheelchair accessible?
It depends on the boat and the jetty. The Crocodile Express listing gives conflicting information, so ask the operator before you book.
Do croc cruises run in the wet season?
Most do, weather allowing. Bruce Belcher's closes for February, and floods can stop cruises for a few days. Crocs are harder to see in the warm months.
Can I combine a croc cruise with Cassowary Falls?
Yes. Both are south of the river near Daintree Village, so a cruise and the Cassowary Falls tour fit into one day by car.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Check the live listing for your date.
Crocodile Express Daintree River Cruise
One hour on the river, two routes, a pass valid 14 days
Cassowary Falls Adventure Tour
Off-road ride to a 21 m waterfall on private land
Daintree & Cape Tribulation from Port Douglas
- Port Douglas hotel pickup
- Mossman Gorge, ferry and guided walks
- One hour of croc and wildlife spotting
