Hartley's Crocodile Adventures is located about 40 minutes outside of Cairns. It is billed as a wildlife sanctuary and an ecotourist park that's located right on the edge of the Wet Tropics of Queensland rain forest. There are a variety of things to see here in this 25-acre complex.
Let's begin with the opening stop. Admittedly, when tourists come to Australia, they want an encounter with a kangaroo or two. This place allows that. You can even feed them by hand, which is a fun experience. The kangaroos are quite well trained at this point, and it's a little tough simply to leave their home area at the end of a visit.
From there, it's on to see some crocodiles. There are several of them on display on the grounds. You can't walk up and touch them, since you might not come home with all of your fingers and limbs. Visitors are safely behind a wall from the animals,and a guide is around to answer all of your questions.
He/she does give a history of the concept of crocodile farming. It seems that at times over the years crocodile skin prices have fluctuated. When there's money to be made, some people have been known to go into the forest and take enough crocodiles home to upset the balance of nature. The government eventually acted, and now private companies like Hartley's are regulated about their reproductive efforts. It's probably a good idea, although it's not much of a life for the crocs. On the other hand, we have zillions of chickens out there who are raised for a similar purpose, and we don't complain too much.
The park also contains a small lagoon, and boat rides around the area are available for visitors. It's fun to pick out some birds on the trees, and you'll probably see a few crocodiles looking ominous in the water.
Then comes a visit to the koala pens. First and foremost, they are koalas and not koala bears. Koalas are marsupials, like kangaroos. They can't be found in the Outback, because they don't have a food supply available. But the rain forest works pretty well. As nocturnal creatures, I can't say the koalas were too active during our visit. They mostly hung on trees. And don't expect or feed or touch them. It may not be a particularly fulfilling experience for the critters, but they receive good care as far as I could see.
The grounds also have an area for walking, which offers a chance to see some birds, plants, etc. They have an area for lunch, so you certainly can spend a few hours - a good idea considering the slightly distant location. This is a bit of a tourism factory, but it's still an enjoyable experience - especially for those who aren't spending several days in the area. The reviews I've seen are quite enthusiastic. In other words, it's worth the trip.
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