Solar Whisper Wildlife Cruises Ph 40987131
Powered by Fotomerchant.comWe have about a 99% success rate with spotting crocodiles. The small ones are very reliable but the big ones come and go. Even when they are around they can hold their breath for several hours! Successful spotting depends on many factors, low tide is usually better as there more beaches and less water to hide in.
The weather plays a part, crocs are happy when they are warm so if the water is cold they get out, if the water or the sun is very warm, they stay in but are more active. The Daintree River is a natural wild environment and we cannot guarantee wildlife, but we usually see something interesting and the scenery is always stunning.
The Daintree River is not a zoo and it is illegal to feed the crocodiles so we cannot 100% guarantee we will see one. The most difficult time is in the Summer on a high tide but we can usually find a small one at low tide. If you are unlucky to miss out on a croc, you may come back for a free cruise and try again.
Driving from Port Douglas takes about 45 minutes , from Mossman 30 minutes, Cairns allow an hour and half, if you are staying on the North Side of the river we can pre-arranged to pick you up from that side of the river next to the Ferry. Or alternatively you can park you car on the North side and catch the Ferry as a foot passenger then its only a short 400m walk to our office. If you do this let us know as we will reimburse you the $2 ferry charge for foot passengers.
If you look at my gallery I have taken all these photos from the boat, however, I have been working on the river for 20 years . The wet tropics is renowned for its remarkable array of wildlife and outstanding universal value but remember this is not a zoo and a completely natural experience. This river provides a habitat for many diverse forms of life from microscopic organisms in the mud to the large Apex predator the saltwater crocodile. This river is a hot spot in the world for mangroves and fortunately for us they do not move. The river itself is a very scenic river looking out across to the Daintree national park with the oldest rainforest on the planet and the mighty Thorntons peak. The wildlife is indeed wild and you simply won't see everything in this gallery, take for instance the cassowary , though sighted regularly when you cross the river I have only ever seen it twice from the boat itself. Due to the unpredictable nature of wildlife we can never be certain as to exactly what you will see, for this reason if you do not feel you have seen enough we offer free return cruises. Every single cruise is different and though I have been doing this for 20 years I am always amazed at natures beauty and surprises. So enjoy the magnificent Daintree river, the river that meets the reef, listen for sometimes you can hear more than you see, smell as you may catch a whiff of Ylang-ylang in the air, a native rain forest plant used to make Chanel no 5, enjoy the beauty that surrounds you and keep your eyes open for camouflage is one of the survival tactics of the wildlife and you will be surprised at what you didn't even know was there. This is where the communal binoculars (croc cam) comes in handy.
Yes there is a very clean amenities block next to our office. There are no toilets on the boat itself.
Yes we do unless on the very rare circumstances that the river is in flood. The rain does not stop a cruise and sometimes experiencing a tropical downpour can be very exciting, the rain here is warm so you may get wet but not cold. Though the boat is equipped with state of the art latest solar panels which charge throughout the day , the boat is charged every night and can go all day on a rainy day. Sometimes during slight rain wildlife viewing can be surprisingly good and I have taken some of my favourite photos during the rain. Remember this is the wet tropics .
The boat does have a roof but no windows so if it's raining a raincoat would be handy.
Though the boat is covered it is always advisable to bring sunscreen , sometimes the mosquitoes can be very friendly so insect repellent if you are prone to getting bitten, usually this is not a problem. As you remain on the boat all the time the type of shoes you wear doesn't matter, you can even go barefoot if you want. If there is a lot of rain ponchos are handy and of course never forget your camera. We have a covered waiting area with books, cards, toys, complimentary cold water, Daintree Tea, Coffee and biscuits. You can bring lunch, drinks or your own beverage on the boat.
Yes. The boat has all the required safety equipment and is bigger than the crocodiles. As we don't feed crocodiles in Queensland they do not associate the boat with food so they do not approach the boat.
Though people do regularly just turn up some days it can be quite busy so to avoid disappointment it is best to book ahead. Book online up to the day before a BOOK NOW button can be found on the homepage or at the top of this page.