Are there any crocodiles in Caloundra, Queensland?

Caloundra is not in Queensland’s Croc Country, so the chances of encountering a crocodile in Caloundra are tiny, if not totally impossible.

Caloundra in Queensland is one of the most popular stops along Australia’s east coast. Many travellers will spend a night or two here on the drive from Brisbane to Cairns.

Caloundra offers plenty of beaches to enjoy. Bulcock Beach is closest to the centre. Kings Beach and Dicky Beach are well known for their surfing, although the Kings Beach Pool is a better place to swim. Moffat Beach is home to the Moffat Beach Brewing Co and you can go kayaking or jetskiing around the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage from Golden Beach.

However, many visitors will be unsure about whether it’s safe to go swimming in Caloundra. After all, Queensland has a large crocodile population, and many aren’t quite sure how far south crocodiles come.

Caloundra checklist: 5 fab experiences to book in advance

1. Kayak hire or paddleboard rental at Golden Beach. 2. Self-guided scavenger hunt. 3. Half day Pummicestone Passage jetski tour. 4. Waterways cruise. 5. Two hour Efoil lesson.

Crocodiles in Caloundra

For reassurance, take a look at the Queensland Government’s Crocwise initiative. This draws a map of where Queensland’s Croc Country is. Crucially for anyone visiting Caloundra, the town is not within the typical crocodile habitat region.

The dividing line of Croc Country is the Boyne River near Gladstone. Anywhere south of the Boyne River, you are highly unlikely to encounter saltwater crocodiles.

Caloundra is south of the Boyne River – although not by a massive margin. It is extremely unlikely that you’ll encounter a crocodile in Caloundra.

12 fantastic Sunshine Coast experiences to book now

Taste coffee and ginger, do rainforest walks, and visit the best lookouts on a highlight-packed hinterland tour.
Take a serene Noosa Everglades cruise along the mirror-like waterways – or canoe through the Everglades.
Learn to surf at a Sunshine Coast surf school – or try paddleboarding instead.
Combine sight-seeing and thrills on a fast boat tour.
Go e-mountain biking on the downhill trails of Tewantin National Park.
Kayak with dolphins as part of a beach 4WD tour.
Explore the Sunshine Coast from above on a seaplane flight.
Take an indigenous cultural tour – with bush tucker tasting.
Visit the region’s best craft breweries and distilleries on a drinks tasting tour.
Go jetskiing through the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage.
Taste wines, cheeses and chocolates on a hinterland food tour.
Watch migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.

What happens if a crocodile is seen in Caloundra?

That is not, however, to say that it is impossible to encounter a crocodile in Caloundra. Crocs have occasionally ventured south of the Boyne River before, although this is a very rare occurrence.

Crocs have gone south of the Boyne River before, though. In January 2023, for example, there were reports of one spotted off North Stradbroke Island, 500km south of Croc Country.

Under the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan, Caloundra is in Zone F – the atypical habitat zone.

Any crocodiles found in Zone F are immediately targeted for capture and removal. So, in the unlikely event a crocodile is seen in Caloundra, it’ll be got rid of pretty quickly.