Daintree Boatman Wildlife Cruises

27/05/2026

Dynasty change! A tale of 2 crocs & 1 popular spot (via 2 images taken 3 years apart!)

The spot - a patch of mud on the big bend opposite Barratt Creek. This spot can be viewed from the road to Daintree Village (a little before you get to Daintree Ecolodge).

Image One (taken this week). The current boss, Hook, about 4m. Hook has a home territory that includes 3kms of Barratt Creek, maybe a half kilometre along Humbug Reach, maybe a mile or more up Windy Reach.

Image Two (taken Sept 2023). The old boss, Lumpy (aka Big Nick), 4 to 4.25m. Lumpy over the last couple of years has given up his former home in Barratt Creek and has increasingly been taken up residence downstream along Humbug Reach, Lafferty Reach and sometimes as far as Pig Island (near the Daintree Ferry).

25/05/2026

An interesting start to a recent cruise. Soon after setting off on a dawn cruise we came across a wading Great-billed Heron possibly looking for breakfast. The local Masked Lapwings were very upset about this for no apparent reason and proceeded to repeatedly dive-bomb the hapless heron. On each occasion he struck out with his beak and emitted an incredible shrieking roar call.

📷 : recent passenger Thomas Barth

10/05/2026

Kingfishers crabbin’ 🦀 crocs baskin’ ☀️ flycatchers foragin’ 🪰 dragons chillin’ 😎 - another great dawn cruise on the Daintree!

Images courtesy of recent passenger Gal Sherbelis

05/04/2026

A sensational start to the new season!

After a Wet Season hiatus, we’re back cruisin’ showing lucky guests (maximum just 9) the hidden sights, sounds & inhabitants of the Daintree River and her small narrow tributaries.

Images courtesy of passenger Kenny Zhong.

Destination Daintree | Visit Port Douglas & Daintree | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Australia.com | Daintree Ecolodge | Silky Oaks Lodge, The Daintree

20/11/2025

"NATURE, by its very nature, is BRUTAL."
Images courtesy of passenger John Van Doorn.

On a recent cruise we witnessed a Black Butcherbird raid a Large-billed Gerygone nest. If you look very closely, initially the Butcherbird can be seen reaching within the Gerygone nest for breakfast. In the second image, one very small chick can be seen in the bill, with an additional chick and an egg falling from the nest. In the third image, the Butcherbird appears to be flying away unsuccessful with a beak-full of feathers only BUT a tiny chick can be seen falling away to perish in the river.

08/10/2025

Here’s a great short film about a favourite little bird of mine - Golden-shouldered Parrot. Well done to the team researching and protecting this little gem 👍

05/06/2025

Lots of great sightings lately! Here are the highlights in shorthand. Can you work out what lucky passengers have seen?

Birds - AK, LK, PF, SWD, WTN & RO!Wildlife - SC, GTS & BTK!

Edit a day later. Answers are Azure Kingfisher, Little Kingfisher, Papuan Frogmouth, Spotted Whistling-duck, White-throated Nightjar and Rufous Owl (first-ever!). Saltwater Crocodile, Green Tree Snake and Bennett’s Tree Kangaroo (first-ever!)

Visit Port Douglas & Daintree | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Destination Daintree | Daintree Ecolodge | Silky Oaks Lodge, The Daintree

14/05/2025

Hi all! We interrupt the 'radio silence' (no post for nearly a year) to bang a drum and dance a little jig! We have once again been awarded a 'Best of Queensland Experience' for 2025! This program identifies businesses that consistently deliver a high-quality visitor experience.

We are humbled by this accolade and are thankful for each and every guest that has visited, explored, enjoyed and posted a review!

Visit Port Douglas & Daintree | Tourism Tropical North Queensland | Australia.com | Destination Daintree | Wet Tropics World Heritage Area | Silky Oaks Lodge, The Daintree | Daintree Ecolodge

11/06/2024

Great morning, great review! It’s always terrific when guests love the cruise. Makes all the hard work behind the scenes all worth it!

04/06/2024

Here is a great page for birders visiting North Queensland written by one of Australia’s premier birders Tim Dolby! I’m very pleased and humbled by his glowing reference of my little cruise! Thanks Tim!

Tim Dolby Don’t tell anyone, but on my first few trips to Cairns and Far North Queensland (FNQ), I birdwatched the area like a bird race, a Twitchathon if you like, to see as many species in …