Hartley’s is one of the oldest running tourist attractions in the Cairns region. The business began in 1934 as a tea house for weary motorists, traversing the recently opened road between Cairns and Mossman.

Legend has it, the original owner Pop Evans, entertained motorists by feeding Charlie the resident crocodile while scones cooked in the wood stove, and become the first person in Australia to perform crocodile shows for the public. Eighty-eight years later, Hartley’s world famous Crocodile Attack Show is as popular as ever.

Hartley’s was also the first place in Australia to breed crocs in captivity. Work on crocodile conservation at Hartley’s Creek Zoo attracted worldwide interest.

By now, the Zoo had established a venerable pedigree as one of north Queensland’s leading attractions. Renovated in 1987 by the Freeman family, the zoo remained at its original site until 2002 when the brand new Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures opened 500m south of Hartley’s Creek, delivering authentic crocodile experiences in a new sustainable eco-attraction.

Over the last 20 years, Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures has continued to grow offering visitors a suite of innovative, up close wildlife experiences, along with the regular introduction of new wildlife displays.