One of the main reasons i wanted to come to Darwin was to do the Cage of Death... Imagine the look on my face when i find out not only is it in the heart of Darwin CBD, (and not in Kakadu National Park like i originally thought) its about 3 doors up from my hostel! Its right on the main street in Crocosaurus Cove (Mitchell Street, Darwin).

When we had our travel talk at Ozintro last year, they had mentioned it - i knew i wanted to do it. But, i thought it was just the "cage" itself.

Scott had already checked stuff out so we just had to turn up on the day. You could do a guided tour around the cove but we decided we would rather do it ourselves (saving a fortune - the guided tour is $79 each and we ended up only paying $67 or something for both of us!).

We went in to find a 200,00 litre fresh water aquarium, containing whiprays, sawfish and barramundi; a Turtle sanctuary; an enclosure filled with HUNDREDS of baby salt water crocodiles; an air conditioned Reptile enclosure filled with over 70 different species of top end cute and/or deadly "critters".

You get a wristband that allows you to come and go as you please which was good to save money - meant we could head back to the hostel for lunch. The bar (thats right, BAR) at the Cove had reasonably priced drinks so we had a few for dutch courage before meeting Chopper...

Theres various talks/shows on throughout the day and no extra charge. We went on a feeding platform and fed the baby crocodiles, held bearded dragons, you could also hold snakes and other reptiles. They also had a giant machine called The Bite Force that was set up on one of the floors. It had a fake croc's head inside with an open mouth; a block of ice was balanced on the bottom set of teeth and when a button was pressed it snapped shut to show how forceful a croc's bite was! (Made a horrible noise haha).

The Cage of Death is a massive cylindrical design which is entered into a crocodile enclosure by an operated over-head monorail. 1 or 2 people can get inside the design - which is basically like a giant cylinder plastic looking "cage" which has a caged top (this is how you enter and exit). It has you suspended above the crocs before being lowered into their pen. The staff give you a Gopro to video everything whilst you are there and a professional photographer captures everything from top and bottom levels of the tank (she was standing on the outside though, despite how it looks haha).

I had waited on this day for ages, but climbing down a ladder to get inside this giant cylinder cage made it hit home i was about to be dropped in beside a 6 foot crocodile - i was actually shaking hahaha. Once you are lowered in, they put the cage in so the water rises as far as your chest/shoulder. This allows you to hold your breath, put your goggles on and put yourself under the water. By this point the photographer is at the bottom deck taking pictures. so you have a good 10 minutes to do as many stupid faces/hand stands/anything and also get a 360 view of the crocodile - named Chopper, who had no front legs haha - it was the most surreal experience ever. Chopper was sort of just floating around at that point, but thankfully he was facing the camera.

They then bring the tank up, ask you to sit on your knees and come right to the front of the tank. The water is now at your thigh height/ This is when the pro's feed Chopper. They tease them a bit first so he's right in front of you with his mouth wide open.... the noise coming from the snap of his jaws is SO LOUD. Theres a photo of me absolutely horrified hahaha. After that we are lowered in again and Choppers fed again as it gives a chance to be under water with him moving around. I kept missing it though so theres tonnes of Scott with like a reverse angle of Chopper but none of me (i kept coming up for air at the wrong times).

After that, theres only a minute or so to go so you have to try your hardest for the best pictures. The pictures were, in my opinion a great deal. $150 on a disc along with the video, but because we didn't have a computer that accepted discs the girl put all the pictures on my memory card for me.

After the Cage they also take pro pictures with Fluffy, the baby crocodile and a ton of props. They were a further.... $50? Which, looking back wasnt really worth it but at the time we thought it was.

I think all in, including the split of the photo package we were around $200-$230? I originally thought it was about $450 so i was so impressed. It was great value for money and an amazing experience.

Every dive will now include 15 minutes in the enclosure with one of these massive reptiles, while they are fed from our experience reptile handlers from outside the enclosure.

This experience encourages more movement from the crocodiles and ensures an up close and personal, face to face encounter that must be seen to be believed!

Don't miss the chance of getting 360 degree views of you and the crocs as our on-site photographers captures amazing images both inside and outside of the crocodile enclosures.

Meet some of our famous inhabitants, such as Chopper, Denzel, Houdini & Bess and be wowed by this unique, once in a lifetime experience.