Crocodile warning at Bitter Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory: Parks and Wildlife

A popular swimming spot has been forced to close after park rangers spotted an eight-foot crocodile.

Bitter Springs in the Northern Territory’s Elsey National Park draws travelers in droves for its incredibly vibrant blue waters.

However, Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife announced that the beautiful thermal pools are now closed to swimming for safety reasons after an eight-foot-long saltwater crocodile was spotted on Wednesday night.

Bitter Springs remains closed while Katherine rangers work “around the clock” to find and relocate the dangerous animal, while the nearby Mataranka Thermal Pool off Homestead Road remains open for swimming.

The waters at Bitter Springs, which is about two kilometers from Mataranka in the Katherine region of the territory, remain between 30 and 34 degrees year-round.

Bitter Springs remains closed as Katherine rangers work ‘around the clock’ to find and relocate the dangerous animal (stock image)

The waters at Bitter Springs stay between 30 and 34 degrees year round. Crocodiles are rare in the popular thermal baths as they prefer water temperatures between 26C and 29C

Crocodiles are rare in the popular thermal baths as they prefer water temperatures between 26C and 29C according to the Government of the Northern Territory.

The scary news shocked locals and visitors who said they thought Bitter Springs’ turquoise waters were “too warm” for crocodiles.

‘I probably wouldn’t have been floating down the stream so relaxed a few days ago if I’d known I was sharing it with a whopper. Oh well…I guess he wasn’t too hungry at the time,’ a woman said.

“And I was told they would never swim there because it’s too hot…so I did swim there, but I swam faster than an Olympic athlete. Beautiful place,” wrote another.

“Yikes… almost went swimming in it last Monday with our little grandsons,” a third added.

Bitter Springs is located in Elsey National Park in the Northern Territory, about two kilometers from Mataranka in the Katherine region

Bitter Springs has become a popular destination for travelers as the naturally fed warm turquoise waters in the lush rainforest make for the most stunning holiday snaps

“Always be crocodile wise in crocodile land while you travel. We swam here, I recommend it, absolutely beautiful!!’ a fourth warned.

Bitter Springs has become a popular destination for travelers as the naturally nurtured warm turquoise waters in the lush rainforest make for the most stunning vacation snaps.

The fresh water is so clear that visitors feel like they are swimming in an aquarium alongside an array of fauna, including turtles and fish.

There is a short 1.3 kilometer hike at Bitter Springs that circles through the palms and tropical forests in Elsey National Park.

Visitors to Bitter Springs call the hidden swimming spot “a little slice of heaven” and the “perfect place to relax and unwind.”

“Yes, the water really is this color,” one Instagrammer captioned their post.