Jason Dundas headed to the far north of Australia to check out some fun things to do on holidays. His idea of fun may not be the same as many people's, but he loved the adventure he had.
The Northern Territory is not for the faint-hearted. It's a place where you could die of thirst in the blazing sun, suffer a fatal snakebite or be eaten alive by a creature that has outlived the dinosaurs. The saltwater crocodile.
There are more than 80,000 saltwater crocodiles living in the Adelaide River in the Northern Territory, and they are rarely seen as they lurk in the muddy waters. The scary beasts measure up to 6m in length, and for a real adrenaline burst, you can actually feed them.
Jumping Crocodile Cruises will take you into the midst of a feeding frenzy, dangling raw water-buffalo meat to appease the snapping crocodiles.
The crafty crocs have come to know the feeding boats, and year round they leave their hiding places to be fed. To them the engine of a boat is like the sound of the ice-cream van in the neighbourhood. Certainly saves them hunting for their own dinner.
They bask in the sun by the banks of the river, enjoying the camouflage. At low tide, they come to life.
Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruises have two vessels. The 18.2m Northern Adventurer has two decks (the lower one is air-conditioned) and has bar and toilet facilities. Wildcat is an 8.7m, high-powered catamaran with undercover seating.
Crews are very knowledgeable about the crocodiles. In fact they know a lot about all of the Territory's unique wildlife. They say the crocodiles have been jumping out of the water for something like 65 million years.
As they lurk on the riverbanks under overhanging branches, they spot an unwitting bird, bat or snake overhead and the only way to get it is to jump, so that's how that came about. The awesome power of their tails allows them to strike and satisfy their hunger in a nanosecond. They do have competition, believe it or not.
Kites, raptors with an enormous wingspan, have amazing eyesight which allows them to see up to 40km with extraordinary accuracy. Not only will they swoop on the crocodiles' water buffalo, you have to keep an eye on your barbecue. Kites are one of only two birds that can grab food in their talons and eat while they are flying.
By the way, if you have always longed to handle a python, Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruises has a large collection, but you can only pet one if you aren't wearing sunblock, insect repellent, perfume or oil.
