7 epic Daintree River cruises to help you spot a croc

Want to see a salty in the wild? There’s no better way than with one of the best Daintree River cruises.

Renowned as Queensland’s crocodile country, the Daintree Rainforest’s Daintree River is littered with snappy predators. The most risk-free way to spot one? By jumping on board one of the best Daintree River cruises. From savvy vessels built to care for this stunning environment, to speedy ventures that know precisely where to peek, our list of the most highly regarded tours is your ticket to adrenaline-pumping adventure.

1. Daintree River Cruise Centre

The Daintree River Cruise Centre ’s Ultimate Wildlife Experience Tour showcases every wonderful aspect of the Daintree – from huge estuarine crocodiles and flocks of tropical birds to schools of fish, native mangrove species and everything in between.

Running from 60 to 90 minutes, the Daintree River cruise is led by local guides who impart their knowledge while morning or afternoon tea rolls out. The trips leave several times each day and tickets cost $40 per adult and $20 per child.

Don’t forget to pack a poncho as sideways rain may hit, and spritzing mozzie repellent before you join is also a good idea as tiny blood suckers run rife up here.

Why we love them: The team are recipients of multiple eco-tourism accolades, plus they allow pets on board and they’re wheelchair accessible. Just give them a buzz prior to your tour to share your circumstances.

2. Bruce Belcher & Son Daintree River Cruises

a crocodile in the wild, Daintree River — See a croc up close on a Bruce Belcher & Son Daintree River Cruise. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Keen to keep things, er, snappy? Bruce Belcher & Son Daintree River Cruises offer daily one-hour tours down the river between March and January. Keep your eyes peeled for tree snakes, pythons and unique birdlife between sniffing out a croc or few as guests typically take to the vessel’s front deck to immerse themselves in the experience.

There are six cruises per day and the chance of spotting a croc sits at an impressive 98 per cent, especially during the cooler months. Tickets cost $35 for adults and $16 for children, plus the team throws in a slushie and tea and coffee on every journey out.

Why we love them: Bruce has a keen eye for spotting wildlife due to his 32+ years of experience as a tour guide on the Daintree River and more than 40,000 trips. If you get Bruce’s son, Griff, spearheading your expedition, expect similarly expert leadership.

3. Solar Whisper

the Solar Whisper cruising the Daintree River — Solar Whisper is the only zero-emission boat on the Daintree River. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Solar Whisper offers one-hour or two-hour Daintree River cruises that glide quietly through that fascinating mangrove ecosystem thanks to the company’s solar electric vessel. The one-hour option runs six times daily, whereas the longer option is operated upon demand and intended for budding wildlife photographers or keen twitchers.

The company boasts a 99 per cent success rate for spotting crocs, particularly when it’s low tide where they struggle to hide. If you don’t spot a giant on your first attempt, they’ll keep taking you out until you do. Tickets start from $29 per adult.

Why we love them: Solar Whisper is the only zero-emission boat on the Daintree River, so rest assured you’re indulging your bucket list while also preserving this very special corner of the country.

4. Crocodile Express

spotting a croc during Crocodile Express Daintree River Cruises — Spot a croc along the mud banks and mangroves. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Crocodile Express is the only cruise operator that covers two entirely unique sections of the Daintree River, giving guests the chance to experience the Daintree’s diversity.

The Lower Daintree Cruise sets sail from the Daintree Ferry crossing, covering countless mud banks and mangroves. It’s also more serious croc country terrain than the other option. Meanwhile, the Upper Daintree River Cruise departing Daintree Village offers views out to Thornton Peak and a pretty spectacular spread of native bird life — so the choice isn’t easy.

Tickets cost $38 per adult and $19 per child.

Why we love them: This company was the very first tourism operator on the Daintree River, kicking off their expeditions in 1979.

5. Daintree Boatman Wildlife Cruises

the Daintree Boatman Wildlife Cruises — Cruise at dusk for optimal croc-spotting. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Daintree Boatman Wildlife Cruises offers small group Daintree River cruises led by Murray Hunt, a professional nature guide. With a maximum of 10 guests per trip, the tours provide plenty of opportunity to spy crocodiles while lapping up one-on-one learning.

Choose from the Early Morning ‘Dawn’ Cruise or the Late Afternoon ‘Dusk’ Cruise, both of which keep you on the water for two hours and offer optimal croc-spotting and camera-snapping conditions. Tickets cost $72 per adult and $50 per child.

Why we love them: The boat is a hybrid vessel with an electric motor to limit noise, i.e. scaring crocodiles away from its path. Quieter exploration boosts sighting chances, trust us.

6. Daintree Crocodile Tours

a crocodile in the Daintree River — Keep an eye out for estuarine crocodiles. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Daintree Crocodile Tours offers a one-hour guided group tour of the Daintree River that caps its guest total at 24. Operating with an emphasis on education, the trip strives to share everything there is to learn about the rainforest as well as its resident reptiles. Tickets cost $50 per adult.

Why we love them: Kids aged 16 and under ride for free, so it’s a great family-friendly idea if you’re hoping to keep costs down.

7. Daintree Discovery Tours

a family cruising the river with Daintree Discovery Tours — Embark on a Wildlife Cruise with Daintree Discovery Tours. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Bundling up on-foot rainforest exploration with short river expeditions to help you spot a croc, Daintree Discovery Tours are a great option for visitors who want to tick all their Daintree Rainforest boxes. Pick from full-day, morning or afternoon tours that each include a Wildlife Cruise with expert guidance into snake, bird and giant salty-spotting.

Additionally, you’ll trek the forest where insight into local flora and fauna comes on tap and swimming hole dips are also on the cards. Snacks, drinking water and mozzie spray is also included in your ticket, which starts from $129 per adult and $114 per child.

Why we love them: If you’re on limited time, this is the perfect chance to immerse yourself in the region’s rich highlights before returning to your accommodation in time for dinner.

Originally written by Emily Murphy with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

Discover the best accommodation in the Daintree

Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

Exploring K’gari

ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island — Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island — Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

Unwind at sunset

two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort — Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

Indulge and disconnect

woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa — Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

Getting there

kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island — The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.