Are There Crocodiles At Noosa?

Crocodiles are not generally found at Noosa. The locality in Queensland is much further south than where crocs are typically found. Even with that in mind, sometimes crocodiles do end up in places where they don’t belong.

Extreme weather events can carry Crocs greater distances than what they would travel themselves.

Crocodiles prefer the warmer waters of northern Queensland as well as having ample access to river waterways and land. Some would argue that the waters further south in Queensland are warming up which is resulting in crocs making their way outside of their normal residency.

However, while the water temps are on the rise, there really isn’t anything to support this theory.

Noosa (and its surrounding areas) are known for having a wide variety of different wildlife and water systems like the Everglades, but crocodiles aren’t normal in this region of Queensland.

If a croc is spotted in the area, it is due to uncommon circumstances such as heavy weather storms or irresponsible release of the creatures by humans.

History Of Crocodile Sightings In Noosa To Date

Below are the known sightings of crocodiles in or around the Noosa area to date.

• In the early 1900s – A croc was caught south of Noosa, closer to the Brisbane area, which was about 3.83 metres in size (or 12 feet).

• The Mary River, 2012 – A croc was sighted northwest of Noosa in the Mary River, only about 60km away.

• The Noosa River, 2016 – In 2016, there was an unconfirmed sighting of a croc in the Noosa River. Someone reported the croc to the CrocWatch reporting system, but upon an investigation of the area, the crocodile was never found.

• The Coolum Creek, 2017 – Just 34km south of Noosa, in the Coolum Creek, a 2m crocodile was spotted by someone seeking out fishing spots along the creek.

These are the most recent recorded sightings in or around the Noosa area. Even though these sightings aren’t directly within Noosa, they are entirely too close to comfort. Most of the “sightings” in the Noosa area tend to be false once they are checked out.

When a croc sighting is reported to Queensland’s CrocWatch program, it gets investigated and then a determination is made on whether or not there were actually any crocs in the specified area.

In the case of Noosa, nothing concrete has ever been confirmed.

Crocodiles In The Noosa River

In 2016, someone reported seeing a croc in the Noosa River. While it is true that crocodiles prefer river systems because they can easily access the land for food sources, the Noosa River isn’t known for being infested with crocodiles.

Crocodiles tend to swim with just their eyes and snout slightly above the water, so it is possible to mistake things like floating driftwood for a crocodile.

Crocodiles can travel to further places than where they typically are found due to ocean waves or extreme weather like cyclones. Waves and cyclones can carry the Crocs at great distances.

Additionally, they can survive for long periods of time without eating or drinking so they can survive being transported great distances.

They are known to swim within river systems if the waterways are connected.

It might be surprising to know that the Noosa River is only about 62km south of the Mary River. So why aren’t crocodiles in the Noosa River when they have been found in the Mary River throughout the years?

The answer is quite simple, the two rivers aren’t necessarily directly connected. Crocodiles aren’t going to travel by land for great distances to get to another water system. They will swim within the waterways that are connected for easier transportation.

While there aren’t crocodiles in the Noosa River, the river is known for having quite a few bull sharks. This species of shark can be quite dangerous so swimming in the river isn’t generally advised.

Even though crocs aren’t known to be in the Noosa River, it is still a good idea to respect the water and surrounding wildlife.

One can never be too sure if something is lurking just beneath the surface. This is why being “Crocwise’ is important in Australia.

Being “Crocwise” is more meant for further north regions of Queensland, however, the principles of the program are still useful in other situations. This is especially true for the Noosa River in concern to its bull shark population. Below are some ways to stay Crocwise!

Being Crocwise In Australia

• Never enter a waterway where crocs have been reported or caught.

• Don’t linger at the edge of the water. Attempt to stay about 5ft away from the edge.

• Stay away from the water during dusk and dawn hours as crocs (and bull sharks!) are more active at these times.

• Do not feed crocs or leave food unattended.

These are some of the basic ways to stay croc-safe in Australia. A lot of these tips can be applied to bull shark sightings in the river as well.

Noosa may not be known for having an abundance of crocs lingering around, however, anything is possible so it is always important to stay alert to any and all surroundings.

Sticking to croc-wise rules when around waterways is the easiest way to ensure that everyone stays safe. It is the smartest thing to do. This is especially true since a lot of the reported suspected sightings weren’t too far away from the centre of Noosa.

A random weather event could occur causing Crocs to pop up in other places! Always stay alert.