Let's be real. Tropical Far North Queensland is chock-full of crocs, including Cairns. Both species native to Australia inhabit the freshwater streams and brackish creeks of Cairns: the saltwater crocodile and its freshwater cousin, the—you guessed it—freshwater crocodile.

In Cairns and the surrounding Tropical North Queensland, Saltwater Crocodiles (locally known as "salties") are a very real and common presence. This region is "Croc Country," and crocodiles can be found in almost any body of water, including estuaries, rivers, and occasionally even on ocean beaches. While you likely won't see them walking down the street, you will see numerous yellow warning signs at every beach and boat ramp. These signs are not suggestions; they are serious safety warnings. Fatal attacks are rare because locals and tourists are educated to be "CrocWise," which means never swimming in un-netted areas, staying at least 5 meters back from the water's edge when fishing, and never cleaning fish near the water. For a safe experience, it is recommended to only swim in the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon or in designated "stinger net" enclosures during the safe season, and to take a guided crocodile tour if you actually want to see these prehistoric predators from a safe distance.