Proserpine crocodile tour: Can I do a river cruise in the Whitsundays?

It’s possible to do a Proserpine River crocodile cruise with Whitsunday Crocodile Safari. Bus transfers for the Proserpine crocodile tour are available from Airlie Beach.

Proserpine croc tour: Something different in the Whitsundays

A Proserpine crocodile tour offers a different take on the Whitsundays.

The Whitsundays region of Queensland is, rightly, best known for its islands. The cruises around the Whitsundays – technically known as the Cumberland Islands – are one of the big drawcards to for visitors to Australia.

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But beyond the white sand beaches and snorkelling, the mainland in the Whitsundays region has plenty to offer too. It’s possible to see kangaroos on the beach in the Cape Hillsborough National Park, for example. Go inland, and the Eungella National Park offers waterfalls at Finch Hatton Gorge and platypus-spotting at Broken River.

Another reason to spend a little longer in the area is the Proserpine River. The 69km-long river flows from the Great Dividing Range to the sea at Conway Beach. The Proserpine River passes through Proserpine, a regional hub town that also plays host to the Whitsunday Coast Airport. That’s the best place to pick up a hire car in the Whitsundays, incidentally.

Proserpine River crocodiles

Like the Yellow Water billabong in the Northern Territory, the Proserpine River is one of the worst places in Australia for a swim. This Queensland river is, apparently, home to the highest concentration of saltwater crocodiles in Queensland – even higher than the notorious Daintree River. Given that crocodiles kill an average of one or two people a year in Australia, it’s highly advisable to stay away from the water’s edge.

That doesn’t mean you can’t see the Proserpine River’s big crocodiles on a boat tour, however.

Whitsunday Crocodile Safari runs crocodile-watching cruises along the Proserpine River, as part of a wider tour of the region.

Proserpine crocodile tour: Proserpine River cruise

One of the best river activities in Australia starts at a campsite on the banks of the Proserpine River, surrounded by mangroves and melaleuca forest. Next comes the scenic river cruise part of the tour from Airlie Beach. The River Runner boat is lowered into the Proserpine River by crane, and makes its way through the mangrove system. On the way, guides attempt to catch a mud crab and explain how the mangrove habitat is so precious to local wildlife.

The Proserpine River crocodile cruise is mainly about watching the crocs, however – and it is thought that around 150 of them live in the river.

The two hour river cruise is followed by a barbecue lunch.

The next part of the adventure is a tractor-drawn wagon train ride through the wetland habitat of the Goorganga Plains. It’s a good chance to see more Australian flora and fauna, although it’s perhaps a little anticlimactic after the crocodile-watching boat tour.

Proserpine crocodile tour cost

Whitsunday Crocodile Safari operates in all weathers, although September is the best month in the Whitsundays. The company offers return bus transfers from both the town of Proserpine and Whitsunday sailing hub Airlie Beach. The tour costs $150 for adults, and $90 for children. Other options from Airlie Beach include Whitsundays kayaking tours and swimming in the crocodile-free Airlie Beach Lagoon.