Crocodile Express Daintree River Wildlife Cruise

About This Experience

Crocodile Express runs two separate cruises on different stretches of the Daintree River, and this ticket covers both. The Upper Daintree route leaves from the jetty in Daintree Village and winds past the village on a bird and crocodile-watching trip. The Lower Daintree route leaves from the Daintree Ferry Gateway and heads into the mangroves, which the operator bills as the largest collection of mangrove species in the southern hemisphere.

Each cruise runs about 60 minutes and returns to where it started. A naturalist guide steers and points out crocodiles, birds, snakes and the plants along the foreshore and creeks. Take one route first, then use the 14-day pass to ride the other; reviewers who did both say each one felt different.

There are no transfers, and the two departure points are 13 kilometres apart by road. Both are on the southern side of the Daintree River, so you do not need the ferry. From Cairns you are looking at a drive of around 1.5 to 2 hours. The ticket is the only listed inclusion, with no food or drinks.

It suits self-drivers who want flexibility and a second cruise at no extra cost, and families watching the budget. One reviewer found it hard to hear the guide without a microphone, and crocodile sightings are never guaranteed. A sibling listing, Crocodile Express Tour 2, starts from the Lower Daintree side with the same 14-day pass.

Highlights

• Choose between the Upper Daintree and Lower Daintree cruise routes
• Ride the second route within 14 days on the same pass
• Look for crocodiles of all sizes with a naturalist guide at the helm
• Wind past Daintree Village on the Upper route, watching for birds and crocs
• Head into dense mangrove country on the Lower route
• Skip the ferry, since both departures are on the southern bank

What's Included

• ✓ Cruise ticket
• ✓ About 60 minutes on the river, returning to the departure point
• ✓ Naturalist guide on board
• ✓ Choice of the Upper Daintree or Lower Daintree route
• ✓ 14-day pass to ride the other route afterwards

Not Included

• Transfers to either departure point
• Food and drinks

What to Bring

• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Camera
• Insect repellent

Good to Know & Caveats

• Cruises run about 60 minutes and return to the same point.
• The Upper Daintree cruise leaves from Daintree Village; the Lower Daintree cruise leaves from the Daintree Ferry Gateway, 13 km away by road.
• Both departures are south of the river, so you do not need the Daintree ferry.
• There is no pickup; from Cairns allow around 1.5 to 2 hours' drive.
• Crocodiles are wild and sightings are never guaranteed.

Meeting Point

Check in at Crocodile Express in Daintree Village (Stewart Street) for the Upper Daintree route, or at the Daintree Ferry Gateway for the Lower route.