Australia’s new Crocosaurus Cove park in Darwin sees thrill-seekers swimming face-to-face with a massive saltwater crocodile.

Strewth: A visitor to the Crocosaurus Cove park in Darwin eyeballs Crocodile Dundee’s, Burt

All that separates punters from the creatures, measuring 5m (18ft), is a 12cm-thick (5in) perspex box that has undergone ‘extensive’ safety testing.

To get the largest reptiles on the planet excited, chunks of meat are tied to the bottom of the so called ‘Cage of Death’ so they are drawn to it when it enters the water.

‘People often get activity ranging from an aggressive attack to a casual eye-balling and swim past where the crocs are so close that they rub against the cage,’ said Sallie Gregory, spokeswoman for the Crocosaurus Cove park in Darwin.




‘Most of the women who take part say they are happy just to watch the crocodiles while guys tend to want the action and attack,’ she added.

Customers pay £100 to spend 20 minutes swimming alongside the 800kg (125st) crocs. One of the most popular is Burt who appeared in the film Crocodile Dundee.

Another looks on from the safety of his perspex cage Pictures: Wade Huffman/BNPS