Hartley's Crocodile Adventures: Boat Cruise & Wildlife Park

Watch crocodiles being fed on the lagoon, then hand-feed kangaroos on dry land

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures is a self-guided wildlife park visit from Palm Cove with hotel pickup and entry included. You walk the park to see crocodiles, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, cassowaries, wombats and snakes, take a boat cruise on Hartley's Lagoon where park staff feed crocodiles, and watch educational wildlife presentations. The park is 15 minutes south of Palm Cove and the day runs about six hours with transport both ways.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Hartley's Crocodile Adventures

• Hotel pick-up in Palm Cove
• Travel to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures
• See crocodiles up close
• Take boat cruise on Hartley’s Lagoon
• Watch crocodile feeding presentation
• Hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies
• See koalas, snakes, cassowaries, and more
• Enjoy wildlife presentations throughout the day
• Return transport to Palm Cove

The Experience

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures sits 15 minutes south of Palm Cove, and the day starts with hotel pickup from your accommodation. The park itself is self-guided, so you move through at your own pace — there's no fixed schedule once you arrive, which means you can spend longer with the animals that hold your attention. You'll see crocodiles, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, cassowaries, wombats, snakes and quolls spread across the grounds, and the park staff run educational presentations throughout the day that explain what you're looking at and how these animals behave.

The boat cruise on Hartley's Lagoon is the centerpiece: you get on the water with a guide and watch experienced park staff feed crocodiles from the boat, which brings you close enough to see how they move and react. Between the cruise and the walking sections, you have the chance to hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies yourself under staff guidance — a moment most visitors come for. The presentations are entertaining rather than lecture-heavy, so even if you're not an animal expert, the commentary makes sense.

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Palm Cove are included, along with your park entry ticket. The whole experience takes about six hours from pickup to return, which gives you time to move through the park, take the boat cruise and catch at least some of the presentations without feeling rushed. Infants can sit on an adult's lap or ride in a pram if you're bringing small children.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Palm Cove.
• Hartley's Crocodile Adventures park entry.
• boat cruise on Hartley's Lagoon with crocodile feeding.
• access to hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies.
• wildlife presentations throughout the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Beaches Meet & Greet

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and the presentations are designed to be entertaining and educational rather than technical, so anyone who wants to learn about Australian wildlife without needing expert knowledge beforehand will follow comfortably. Bring children and infants if you want — the park is suitable for all fitness levels, and small kids can ride in a pram while older ones hand-feed the animals.

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Top questions

What animals will I actually see at Hartley's Crocodile Adventures?

Hartley's Crocodile Adventures has crocodiles, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, cassowaries, wombats, snakes and quolls on the grounds. The crocodiles are the main draw — you see them both during the walking tour and up close on the boat cruise when staff feed them.

Do I get to touch or feed any of the animals?

You can hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies under the guidance of park staff. The boat cruise lets you watch crocodiles being fed by experienced staff, but you don't feed them yourself — they're too dangerous for that.

Is there a guide who explains things, or do I walk around on my own?

The park is self-guided, so you explore at your own pace without a guide walking with you. However, the park runs educational wildlife presentations throughout the day that explain the animals and their behavior, and the boat cruise includes a guide who narrates as you watch the crocodiles being fed.

How long does the whole day take from pickup to drop-off?

The experience runs about six hours total, including hotel pickup and drop-off from Palm Cove. That gives you time to walk the park, take the boat cruise and watch some of the presentations without being rushed.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Palm Cove, park entry ticket and the boat cruise on Hartley's Lagoon are all included. Food and drinks are not included, so bring money if you want to eat or buy refreshments at the park.