Hartley's Crocodile Adventures Great Australian Wildlife Experience - Self Drive

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One pass for three wildlife parks: Hartley's Crocodile Adventures on the coast north of Cairns, and Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Kuranda up in the rainforest village of Kuranda. You drive yourself and can split the parks across different days.

Days

Up to 5 days to visit 3 parks

Start / finish

Wangetti and Kuranda (make your own way)

Return

See itinerary for details

Tour style

Self-drive park pass

Accommodation

No accommodation is included

Transport

Self-drive; transfers are not available

Meals

No meals are listed as included

Route

Map of Hartley's Crocodile Adventures Great Australian Wildlife Experience - Self Drive

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Included experiences

Hartley's Lagoon — boat cruise to see saltwater crocodiles
Hartley's — crocodile attack show and croc farm tour
Kuranda Koala Gardens — koalas, wombats, quokkas and wallabies
Nocturnal exhibit — bilbies, bettongs and gliders
Birdworld Kuranda — free-flight aviary with over 350 birds

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures Great Australian Wildlife Experience - Self Drive

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Itinerary

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DAY AT HARTLEY'S: CROCODILES ON THE COAST

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures sits at Wangetti on the Captain Cook Highway, the coast road between Cairns and Port Douglas, inside the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, listed in 1988 for some of the oldest rainforest on earth. Allow three to four hours. Your entry includes a boat cruise of about 20 minutes on Hartley's Lagoon, through paperbark wetland where saltwater crocodiles, the largest living reptiles, cruise just below the surface. Plan around the shows: crocodile feeding at 11am and the Crocodile Attack Show at 3pm, with a crocodile farm tour, snake shows, cassowary feeding and a koala talk across the day. You choose the days that suit you, and all three parks need to be visited within five days.

DAY IN KURANDA: KOALA GARDENS

Most people give the two Kuranda parks their own day, as the village is 45 to 60 minutes' drive from Hartley's, up the range behind Cairns. It's worth the trip: the Kuranda Scenic Railway has climbed to the village since 1891, and you can drive or ride up. Both parks sit inside the Kuranda Heritage Markets. At Kuranda Koala Gardens you meet koalas, wombats, wallabies and quokkas, the small marsupials of Rottnest Island, which Dutch sailors named "rat's nest" in 1696 after mistaking them for rats. The nocturnal house holds the mahogany glider, found only in a strip of coastal lowland between Tully and Ingham, plus bilbies and northern bettongs. Patting a koala for a photo costs extra.

DAY IN KURANDA: BIRDWORLD

Next door, Birdworld Kuranda is a free-flight aviary landscaped like rainforest, with waterfalls and ponds and more than 350 birds of almost 60 species. Walk in and they're all around you: macaws, lorikeets, cockatoos and Eclectus parrots, where the males are bright green and the females red and purple, so different that early naturalists took them for two species. Look for the cassowary too. Some birds will come to your hand to be fed. Allow 30 to 45 minutes in each Kuranda park, then the rest of the afternoon is free for the markets and the village.

Map

Good to know

Meeting point: Hartley's is on the Captain Cook Highway at Wangetti, about 40 minutes north of Cairns. Kuranda Koala Gardens and Birdworld Kuranda are in the Kuranda Heritage Markets.
Duration: Allow 3 to 4 hours at Hartley's and 30 to 45 minutes at each Kuranda park. All three parks must be visited within five days.
Opening hours: Hartley's 8:30am to 5pm; Kuranda Koala Gardens 9:30am to 4pm; Birdworld Kuranda 10am to 4pm.
Please note: The Kuranda parks are 45 to 60 minutes' drive from Hartley's, so plan them for a different day. Hartley's is closed Christmas Day and on Cairns Ironman day.

What is included

Entry to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, with the Hartley's Lagoon boat cruise and all daily wildlife presentations
Entry to Kuranda Koala Gardens
Entry to Birdworld Kuranda

Not included

Transport (this is a self-drive pass; transfers are not available)
Koala patting photo at Kuranda Koala Gardens (extra charge)
Food, drinks and souvenir photos
The Australian Butterfly Sanctuary and other Kuranda attractions

FAQ

Preparing for the trip

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.