Down Under Tours Hartley's Crocodile Adventures Half-Day Tour from Cairns

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An easy afternoon from Cairns, or a morning from Port Douglas, at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures: a coach ride up the Great Barrier Reef Drive, park entry, a wetlands boat cruise among saltwater crocodiles, and the park's shows and cassowary feeding, back in Cairns by about 6pm or Port Douglas by about 2pm.

Days

Half day, about 6 hours

Group size

Shared coach tour, own pace in the park

Start / finish

Cairns or Port Douglas / Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, Wangetti / your start
Cairns about 6pm, Port Douglas about 2pm

Return

Cairns about 6pm, Port Douglas about 2pm

Transport

Coach with driver-guide, return from Cairns, the Northern Beaches or Port Douglas

Meals

No meals are listed as included

Route

Map of Down Under Tours Hartley's Crocodile Adventures Half-Day Tour from Cairns

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Included experiences

Great Barrier Reef Drive — coastal coach ride with a local driver-guide
Wetlands cruise — 25 minutes among saltwater crocodiles
Crocodile Attack Show — a big saltwater croc's head shake and death roll
Snake Show and cassowary feeding — the park's daily presentations
Hartley's boardwalks — koalas, kangaroos, cassowaries and reptiles

Down Under Tours Hartley's Crocodile Adventures Half-Day Tour from Cairns

Pictures / Videos

Itinerary

Map

THE DRIVE: GREAT BARRIER REEF DRIVE

This is an afternoon trip from Cairns and the Northern Beaches, with pick-ups in Cairns from about 11:45am, or a morning trip from Port Douglas. Either way the coach follows the Great Barrier Reef Drive, the stretch of the Captain Cook Highway that hugs the coast between Cairns and Port Douglas, with beaches on one side and rainforest on the other. Your local driver-guide tells stories of the region on the way, and the park sits at Wangetti, about halfway, some 40 minutes from Cairns.

AT HARTLEY'S: BOARDWALKS AND WILDLIFE

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures began as a roadside wildlife park in 1934 and now covers more than 15 hectares. Over 2.5 km of boardwalks and paths wind through eucalypt woodland, rainforest and melaleuca wetland, and you wander them at your own pace. Along the way are saltwater and freshwater crocodiles, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies and cassowaries, a walk-through aviary and a house of reptiles and frogs. Lunch or a snack is at the Lilypad Cafe, at your own cost.

THE WETLANDS CRUISE AND THE SHOWS

Your entry includes a 25-minute boat cruise across the melaleuca lagoon, home to some very large saltwater crocodiles; you're given your cruise time when you arrive. The park runs talks and shows through the day, and which ones you catch depends on whether you come in the morning or the afternoon. Afternoon visitors usually see the venomous Snake Show, the crocodile farm tour, cassowary feeding and the Crocodile Attack Show, where a big saltwater croc shows its head shake and death roll. Want a photo holding a koala, a snake or a crocodile? That's extra, at the park.

BACK TO YOUR HOTEL

When the coach collects you, it's back along the coast road. From the afternoon trip you're in Palm Cove and Trinity Beach at about 5:30pm and Cairns at about 6pm, and the morning trip has you back in Port Douglas at about 2pm.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Pick-up from Cairns accommodation and set points, or Palm Cove and Trinity Beach; your exact time and place are confirmed when you book. From Port Douglas: pick-up from listed resorts and hotels; wait out the front or at the marked stop.
Departure time: From about 11:45am in Cairns and 12:45pm on the Northern Beaches. From Port Douglas, about 7:45am on set days of the week, confirmed when you book.
Finishes: About 5:30pm in Palm Cove and Trinity Beach, about 6pm in Cairns, or about 2pm in Port Douglas.
Suits: Families and wildlife lovers. Children 3 and under need a seat booked. The operator recommends this tour for wheelchair users and runs coaches with a wheelchair lift; say so when you book.
Please note: Show times are set by the park and can change. The tour is Advanced Ecotourism certified, and Hartley's supports the North Queensland Wildlife Trust.

What to bring

Comfortable clothes and walking shoes
Hat and sunscreen
Insect repellent
Water bottle
Money for lunch or photos

What is included

Return coach transfers from Cairns, the Northern Beaches or Port Douglas
Local driver-guide commentary
Entry to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
25-minute wetlands boat cruise
Snake Show, cassowary feeding and crocodile farm tour, plus the Crocodile Attack Show on the afternoon trip

Not included

Lunch and snacks at the Lilypad Cafe
Koala, crocodile or snake holding photos (sold at the park)

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

Do I need travel insurance?

Insurance is important in protecting visitors from loss or damange of goods, medical problems, cancelation by passengers or other casualties. Its highly recommended. Some tours on this website require you to have travel insurance. If you are Australian then it is not necessary.

Where can I get more information about this trip?

If you find that this tour page doesn't answer all your questions, then please get in contact with us! Our passionate team are always available to answer any queries you may have.

What immunisations do I need?

For the latest information on immunisations, we strongly recommend you or contact the Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre (www.traveldoctor.com.au) to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you about appropriate inoculations.

Do I need to take any medical supplies?

It is not necessary to bring any medical supplies other than any personal items you may require. Each tour carries a first aid box, and the tour guides are all certified in First Aid.

Will I be able to use my mobile whilst on tour?

You can use your mobile while touring in Australia or New Zealand, but coverage may be limited in remote areas. For best connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM card or an international roaming plan.

How fit do I need to be?

These tours are designed to be fun, informative and active, and can be enjoyed by anyone with a moderate degree of fitness and agility. Travellers should be comfortable with hiking or walking up to 5km each day.

What should I pack?

Depending on where in Australia or New Zealand you decide to visit, your luggage will vary. For exact information please visit the "What to bring" section of each tour page.

Private tours and families

Is it possible to travel in a private group?

If you are looking for a private tour based on one of these trips, please contact us directly and we may be able to help. Over the years we have worked with families, groups of friends, schools, clubs and charities to put together the perfect trip.

Booking the trip

How far in advance do I need to book my tour?

As a rule of thumb, try to book at least 2 weeks prior to departure, this will usually get you a seat on the date you want. That being said, we cannot guarantee that spaces will be available at the time of your booking so, if you can, book as soon as possible. Bookings can still be made right up until the departure date of the tour if seats are available. If you know when you'd like to travel, please contact us and we will let you know if you need to book soon or if you have time.

Do I have to book this tour online?

Definitely not. Our website is designed to make is easy and convenient for you to schedule your tour. However we understand sometimes its nice to talk to someone directly. So by all means give us a call and we can organise your trip over the phone.

If I book more than one tour can I get a discount?

Absolutely! If you are booking multiple tours then we may be able to offer you a discount. Send us an email at info@lostinaustralia.org and let us know what you thinking of doing and we can put together a price for you.Also, be sure to look out for monthly specials on tours. We often have some great bargains.

Does the tour price include flights?

No. Tour prices do not include any travel arrangements other than for the duration of the tour itself. If you need assistance with booking flights or buses our travel team and certainly help - Just ask!

How do I know when a tour is available?

You can check the departure dates of tours by using our calendar on the top right hand corner of the tour page. This will tell you what days the tour departs. For availability of seats please contact us directly at info@lostinaustralia.org or call us.

If I make a deposit only, when will I need to pay the balance?

Balance on tours need to be paid at least 30 days prior to departure. Failure to do so could result is the cancellation of your seat with a fee charged. If you need more time to clear your balance then let us know ASAP and arrangements can be made.

Who travels with us

Is it ok to travel alone on one of these tours?

Plenty of travellers book these tours on their own. Solo travellers are very much welcomed and encouraged. During your outback adventure you'll meet new and interesting people and forge relationships that last a lifetime.Solo travellers will usually share a room with a travelling companion of the same sex, but even if you do get your own room you won't be charged extra. On camping tours there are generally enough tents available that you can have your own if you choose to.For more information please contact us directly.

Cost and Fees

Do I need to tip the guide?

If you had an amazing time on tour and wish to tip your guide, that is completely up to you. Tipping is not customary in Australia and is not at all expected.

Will I need additional money?

Travellers are advised to bring some cash, as ATMs and banks can be few and far between in the remote parts of the trip. It is handy to have some extra cash, as the tour does stop by local shops and cafes.

Are there any hidden fees I need to know about?

Our tour prices are completely transparent. There are no additional fees involved that are not included in the overall tour price shown. If you wish to do optional activities such as helicopter rides or wildlife safaris, then an extra cost may be needed. However, this will always be made clear at the time of your booking.

What does Paid Locally mean?

Some tours require you to pay national park fees directly, in cash, to the tour guide on the morning of departure. Rest assured this will be subtracted from the tour price when reserving your tour.

Whilst on tour

Can I book extra accommodation for the start and end of the tour?

We know our country inside and out and would be happy to give you good recommodations. Please contact us for recommendations.

Where do I meet the tour?

For pick-up times and locations, please check the "Start/Finish" section directly under the itinerary, which lists every pick-up point and its time.There is a lot of information there to help you plan your flights and arrival.Please review it carefully, as pick-ups can vary from tour to tour.

Reviews

5.0

Based on 1 review

Verified from

Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.

How we collect and publish reviews

Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour. Some longer trips are made up of shorter tours we also sell, run back to back — where a review was written about one of those legs, the review says so.

Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.

Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.

(5/5)

A last-minute booking for the half day to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures from Cairns, with transfers, entry and the lagoon boat ride. Our driver Lindsay shared lots of Cairns history, and at the park we saw crocs fed from the boat, the death roll at the croc show, and kangaroos, wombats and koalas.

Mandy T Verified· Travelled 19th February 2026

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