Company Profile
The year 1985
The Adelaide River Queen Cruises was born over a Christmas drink with a mate in 1984 and was launched in August 1985.
Back in those days Tourism in the Territory could hardly be called an industry, there were no Kakadu and Litchfield Parks and what operators there were, could best be described as very basic nature loving wild men of the bush.
The bitumen road to Ranger Uranium Mine at Jabiru changed all that. Sealed access along the Arnhem Highway opened up a raft of commercial opportunities and tourism, for want of a better word took off.
Paul Hogan and Crocodile Dundee was the catalyst that focused world attention on the Northern Territory and Kakadu National Park. Visitation grew rapidly and millions of people discovered the balmy tropical winter climate the Territory enjoys from May to October. It is without a doubt the most agreeable place to visit and live in during this time of the year.
In 1985 the 'Wild West' best describes the way things were done up here and during this stage in the Territory's evolution, when the bureaucrats were actually helpful, a boat was launched on the Adelaide River.
The owner was full of optimism and hope but without a single customer in sight the business was an abject failure.
The owner, Tony Blums instead of being despondent, set out to develop the Famous Jumping Crocodiles as the star attraction. Paul Hogan without realizing it was instrumental in promoting what was to become the most controversial cruise in Australia. The public loved it.
Ten years later over 100 crocodiles come out to the boats that run under the Adelaide River Queen Cruises banner and the World Famous Jumping Crocodile Cruise is now one of the Northern Territory's best known wildlife attractions, equal in stature to Kakadu National Park and Yulara (Ayers Rock). It is still to this day the only major Northern Territory attraction that is privately owned and operated and it is with great pride that we invite you to join us on what has become one of the world's greatest natural attractions.
Update: 26 years later – the year, 2011
Remember "Paul Hogan" the man who brought humour and identity to a country crying out for international attention. Hogan succeeded beyond anybody's expectations and got home detention for his efforts. They did let him out in the end "thank god" but I doubt that he will ever return.
Remember the bureaucrats that were helpful, that was in the last century (1985) and I do need to say, the territory owes them a lot. As they faded into retirement the new bunch just don't get it.
Regulators have become the Royalty of bureaucracy, these princes and princesses are the ones who ensure nothing gets done. It's time we all started to resist the unproductive royalty in our midst.
Our politicians of the 70's and 80's also deserve a positive mention, they made things happen.
I like Leonard Cohen's, "There's a crack in everything, because that's how the light gets in".
Tourism needs to be interesting and entertaining, visitors don't come to view a wall of regulation, they come to enjoy themselves.
