Day 7: Hartley's Crocodile Adventure

Another cloudy morning in Cairns. Dominique wasn't going to let that stop him from walking on the beach. 

Gotta take the time to wish Lloyd and Reponzell aka, Mom and Dad a Happy Anniversary!!! 33 years... HOW???

After a morning to ourselves, it was time to experience Hartley's Crocodile Adventures!!!

There were some interesting looking birds at this location. Nothing we had every seen before. 

Mom sticking her head in a life size replica of Hartley's largest Crocodile, Ted!

Ted is over 100 years old and is the King Crocodile around these parts. Charm taking advantage of the replica as well. 

Hartley's is not only an adventure park they also own an operate a Saltwater Crocodile Farm. That means they grow crocodiles specifically for retail purposes. Males grow faster than female crocodiles, so all the crocodiles you see in this photo are male. The faster they grow the quicker you can produce product. 

We got to witness feeding time for the crocodiles. They're meal of choice, fresh, skinless chicken heads. It is an all out battle to get to the food once it lands in the enclosure. 

After viewing the farm, we enjoyed a snake show that introduced us to some of the most venomous snakes in Australia.  

Then came my favorite part of Hartley's, the lagoon ride. 

There are a few female crocodiles in the lagoon. They have to have some females to lay all the eggs.

It was time to feed the crocodiles. Our driver held a piece of raw chicken out over the water and the next thing we knew, there were crocodiles coming from every which way trying to eat. 

The crocodiles are so strong, they can thrust their bodies out of the water and jump at least five feet out of the water. 

This crocodile is done playing games. 

What? Who's child has Charm kidnapped? This family was sitting in front of us on the lagoon ride and their daughters fell in love with Charm. The little one kept escaping from their row and joining ours, so eventually Charm just gave in and she spent the rest of the lagoon ride with us. 

This is Steve. Steve's job for the next 30 minutes is to try not to get eaten by the monstrous crocodile that lives in this enclosure. Where is the crocodile? 

OH!!! There he is. It is time to play and see if we can get him to show us his deadly death roll.

This is Pat. Steve didn't make it. J/K There is that Death Roll that crocodiles and alligators do to kill their prey. 

Steve was crazy out of his mind. He literally fed the crocodile as he was leaving the enclosure. Everyone was terrified. 

Another exotic beautiful bird at Hartley's Crocodile Adventure.

We even had an opportunity to feed the wallaby's.

This wallaby was striking a pose with us. 

These creature are free to roam about with visitors and we had loads of food that we could feed them. 

Lastly, it was time for a photo with a crocodile. Charm was terrified, so we took the picture together. 

If you take a picture with a crocodile, you have to take a picture with a Koala. 

Needless to say, we had a great time at Hartley's Crocodile Adventure!