Are there crocodiles in New South Wales?
Crocodiles are a problem in the northern, coastal parts of Australia, but there are no crocodiles in New South Wales.
There are some parts of Australia where you really, really don’t want to swim. Saltwater crocodiles kill an average of one to two people every year, and some of these salties are really big.
In areas where saltwater crocodiles live, you have to be extremely careful going near creeks, and somewhat wary of going to the beach.
These areas are in the north of the country. But just how far south do crocodiles come? Are there crocodiles in New South Wales?
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Crocodiles in New South Wales
The good news for anyone planning to hit the beach in Byron Bay or Kingscliff is that there are no crocodiles in New South Wales. They don’t come that far south. There are no crocodiles in Brisbane, let alone on the Tweed Coast or Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.
Tick off 9 Australian bucket list experiences
- Take Blue Mountains day tour from Sydney – with kangaroo-feeding at a wildlife park, Scenic World tickets and a Parramatta River cruise.
- Snorkel or dive on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns.
- Do Australia’s most spectacular drive on a Great Ocean Road day tour from Melbourne.
- Drive along the beach on a 4WD day tour of Fraser Island, the world’s biggest sand island.
- Have a dune-top barbecue dinner and stargazing session in the shadow of Uluru.
- See penguins on Phillip Island – and more native wildlife at the Moonlit Sanctuary – on a day trip from Melbourne.
- Go snorkelling, sandboarding and kayaking on Moreton Island from Brisbane.
- Meet gloriously cute quokkas on Rottnest Island near Perth with a ferry and bike hire package.
- Kayak with dolphins in Byron Bay.
That’s not to say this might not change in future. There is evidence that crocodile habitats are gradually moving south. There is also evidence that crocodiles did once live further south before their numbers were pegged back by hunting.
Southern boundary of crocodiles in Australia
The generally accepted southern boundary of crocodile habitat on the east coast of Australia is the Boyne River in Queensland. This river enters the sea just north of Tannum Sands, the seaside suburb of Gladstone.
As a rough rule of thumb, crocodiles live on the coast from the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.
Things may change as sea temperatures change, but for now there are no crocodiles in Sydney, no crocodiles in the Murray River and no crocodiles anywhere else in New South Wales.
If you do want to see crocodiles, go to a wildlife park or go on a crocodile tour on the likes of the Daintree River near Cairns or Yellow Water in Kakadu National Park.
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