River crossings and crocs!!!

[cassgazz]

Hey swaggers,

About to leave Cairns for Cape York in the morning - Hopefully stop off in Cooktown tomorrow night.

After seeing quite a few pics of people in rivers during this years Cape trip, just wondering how you know which rivers are safe to enter, and which ones to stay away from.

As we all know, it is necessary to enter rivers from time to time to check the best way through a crossing. However, being from down South, have never had to worry about these beasts.

Is anyone able to shed some light on what to watch for please?

Thanks.

[Maîneÿ . . .]

After seeing quite a few pics of people in rivers during this years Cape trip, just wondering how you know which rivers are safe to enter, and which ones to stay away from.
As we all know, it is necessary to enter rivers from time to time to check the best way through a crossing. However, being from down South, have never had to worry about these beasts.

Is anyone able to shed some light on what to watch for please?

Stay away from the rivers with water in them

[Teabag]

All the creeks crossing along the OTL are pretty safe and safe to swim. The Pascoe and Wenlock I would be very cautious and same with the Jardine. To be safe, be cautious at them all but OTL creeks are fine to swim. You will see many swimming along the way. Dalhunty on the OTL is also fine to swim. Enjoy your trip.....

[Barrabart]

G'day cassgazz,

Bit of common sense and you'll be right, stay away from deep dark waters (shouldn't be wanting to drive into these anyway)...... if you can see the water isn't too deep, can sort of make out the bottom where you're intending to cross and a bit of a distance each side, you should be right.
To give you a bit more confidence, most of these water ways are crossed on an almost daily basis during the dry,if crocs had been seen at the crossings it would be well reported.
Still doesn't hurt though to have someone back at a highpoint keeping an eye out, just to be really safe.
Like Teabag mentioned there are a few creeks/rivers that are real no go zones, he mentioned the Wenlock, funnily enough a mate of mine from Weipa was in the Wenlock last weekend flicking a few lures from the bank, his nose picked up a bit of a stink, anyway as he wondered along the bank he came across the front half of someones dog floating against the bank......

Good luck mate,you'll be right, enjoy yor trip.

[Patr80l]

If there is a waterfall or some sort of white water downstream from where you are you're usually safe.

[earle]

If there is a waterfall or some sort of white water downstream from where you are you're usually safe.

I'm not sure this is necessarily true, as crocs can cover quite a bit of dry ground when they want.

Best to send the handbrake to check the river, safest option for the driver. 

When we did the cape we popped into the ranger station along the way for a chat. The ranger was off to put up a croc warning sign at one of the campgrounds on the OTL but it was a campsite a few km downstream from the actual crossing.

[jaycamrie]

remember they only eat the silly ones 

[barneys]

if  you have time and want to see how easy they are to see next time you are at  yepon have a look at the coc farm there  and you will learn a lot         

[cassgazz]

Thanks guys. The information is very much appreciated.

I planned on staying out of the rivers as much as possible, but there are always times when you need to enter.

I'll probably also pop into the ranger stations along the way for a chat and some local knowledge.

[duggie]

It is only the first bite that you have to worry about.

[earle]

I've also heard that you should never smile at a crocodile. Can't quite remember where I heard it though. 

[Bird]

Go in the ones with other people swimming in them!

Or wait for others to walk the river before you

[barneys]

if a croc was to chase you all you have to is run at 35km for 30 m and the croc will die .
try it  tell us how you go