Are there crocodiles in the Murray River?

There are no crocodiles in the Murray River, Australia. It’s too far south. But there is plenty of less aggressive Murray River wildlife to see…

There are many Australian rivers that are home to crocodiles. There are plenty of crocodiles in the Daintree River or Proserpine River in Queensland, for example. These are two rivers you really do not want to go swimming in. Australian crocodiles are big, and these Aussie crocs kill a couple of people a year on average.

Crocodiles in the Murray River?

But are there crocodiles in the Murray River, the longest river in Australia? Mercifully, no. Saltwater crocodiles generally stay above the Tropic of Capricorn, although they have been spotted further south around the Boyne River near Gladstone.

The Murray River is way too far south for saltwater crocodiles to go near. The water is too cold for them – it’s the same reason there are no crocodiles in Sydney and no crocodiles in Brisbane. There are no crocodiles in New South Wales, for that matter.

Also, for most of its path, the Murray River is too far inland as well. Even if a croc did decide the water was warm enough, the main Murray River towns such as Albury, Echuca and Mildura are a long way from the coastal territory salties tend to inhabit.

The Murray River forms much of the border between New South Wales and Victoria, before the Mouth of the Murray empties into the ocean at Encounter Bay in South Australia.

Murray River wildlife

That’s not to say that there’s not plenty of wildlife around the Murray River, of course. The Murray River cod is the river’s iconic species, while the Coorong National Park near Goolwa at the Murray’s end is notorious for its pelicans.

Further upstream, the likes of Gunbower Island and Ulupna Island are home to beloved Australian species such as kangaroos and koalas. Birdlife is also a pretty constant companion around the Murray River. You never have to look too hard to find the likes of galahs and cockatoos.