Cooktown & Cape York Visitor Guide 2023-2024

to Cooktown & Cape York

We invite you to visit us here in Cooktown & Cape York. Come and soak up the ancient and modern history in one of Australia’s most beautiful coastal towns. Travel through one of the world’s last untouched frontiers as you make your way to the most northerly tip of Australia.

Test your skills on some of the best 4WD roads in Australia. Fish in the many rivers and turquoise seas –catch a Barramundi for supper. Spot unique fauna and birdlife. Traverse diverse country from lush rainforest to eucalyptus wooded savannahs. Cross remote rivers and seek out beautiful falls and swimming holes.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this Country and recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and heritage values and their enduring connections and shared efforts to protect our natural assets for future generations. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

As you travel throughout Cape York Peninsula please treat this spectacular region with respect and remember that as you explore, you are visitors upon this land.

Cooktown from Mt Cook lookout

Relive Cook’s

At 11pm on 11 June 1770, on a clear moonlit night HMB Endeavour under the command of Lieutenant James Cook struck a reef NE of Bloomfield. A desperate 23 hours ensued as the 86 crew jettisoned 50 tonnes of cannons, spare anchors and other ballast before they managed to re-float the ship.

Somehow the crew, working the three pumps to exhaustion, managed to keep the ship afloat while they fothered the gaping hole with sailcloth to stem the flow of water. Five days and 50 kilometres later they limped into what is now Cooktown and beached the ship for repairs.

They spent 48 days in Cooktown repairing and

re-floating the ship and then waiting for the right wind - the longest stay on Australian shores of any of Cook’s voyages. The length of the visit and his exchanges with the local Guugu Yimithirr people make Cooktown one of the ‘birthplaces’ of modern Australia.

Cook’s crew included the famous botanists Banks and Solander. They were

overjoyed to have so much time in such a rich fertile landscape, collecting, recording and illustrating many plant and animal specimens and ‘discovering’ the kangaroo.

They engaged the local Guugu Yimithirr people in a variety of friendly exchanges and were able to translate 150 words of the local language into English,

Hitting the Reef by artist Jane Dennis. Original on display at the Waalmbal Birri Heritage and Culture Centre

“In gathering plants today, I myself had the good fortune to see the beast so much talk’d of ... he was not only like a greyhound in size and running but had a long tail, as long as any greyhound; what to liken him to I could not tell, nothing certainly that I have seen at all resembles him.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• The marvellous Cooktown Museum in the old Convent Building; see one of the anchors left behind from attempts to refloat the ship.

• Rest on the seat where the Endeavour was beached and the camp set up and imagine the scene from 250 odd years ago.

• Visit the Waalmbal Birri Heritage & Culture Centre to experience the detailed story of Cook’s time in Cooktown, his exchanges with the local Guugu Yimithirr peoples and see a replica of his ship, the Endeavour.

• Follow Cook’s steps up Grassy Hill for fantastic 360-degree views of the Coral Sea with its pattern of reefs and the Endeavour River winding its way inland, named by Cook after his ship.

including ‘Gangurru’ which they translated to ‘kangaroo’. An unfortunate falling out over turtles caught as stores for the next leg of the voyage led to the locals setting fire to the camp followed by a warning shot of musket fire. The parties met up shortly after near the rocky outcrop at the bottom of Furneaux Street, where a Guugu Yimithirr elder offered a broken spear as a sign of peace and the two sides made up. Cook returned spears left behind and

recorded in his journal “we now return’d the darts we had taken from them which reconciled everything.” Each year in mid-June Cooktown proudly holds the ‘Discovery Festival’ a fully costumed re-enactment of Cook’s landing and events during his stay including interactions with the local Guugu Yimithirr peoples. The story is told from the perspectives of both Cook and the local Guugu Yimithirr peoples.

• Visit Reconciliation Rocks and the garden and artwork commemorating the first act of reconciliation between Europeans and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples.

• Check out the Solander collection of many of the plants Banks and Solander collected in the historic Botanic Gardens.

• Visit the Vera ScarthJohnson gallery in Nature’s Powerhouse adjoining the Botanic Gardens to see wonderful, detailed paintings of the flora of the region including many that were collected by Banks and Solander.

An anchor from the Endeavour in Cooktown Museum

Excerpt from Joseph Bank’s Journal

James Mulligan (after whom the highway is named) confirmed its potential by recovering 102 ounces the following year. The gold rush was on – but with no roads or access from the south, a port was needed. Cook’s charts from 1770 established Cooktown as the ideal spot.

A town and busy port rose up almost overnight as word travelled attracting prospectors from around the world. All gold was exported and all supplies were imported through Cooktown to Maytown and the Palmer River 140 harsh kilometres away.

Cooktown grew rapidly with tin mining, timber and cattle supplementing gold mining. Pearl shell and beche de mer fishing for the Asian markets further enhanced the town’s wealth. By 1880 Cooktown boasted many licensed pubs, bakeries, a brewery and a soft drinks factory, dressmakers and milliners, a brickworks, a cabinetmaker, and two newspapers. Cooktown’s magnificent Botanic Garden was established in 1878. The town supported a substantial population of European and Chinese merchants and functioned as Australia’s gateway to New Guinea and Asia becoming renowned as

A Chinese community of many thousands mostly from the Guangdong Province grew up in the goldfields and in the town itself. They came originally as prospectors, but many established market gardens, supplying the town and the goldfields with fruit, vegetables and rice. Others opened shops, playing an important role in the development and facilities of the town.

Business boomed and the population continued to grow for a few good years. It seemed that the town would

the ‘Queen of the North’ and the ‘Canton of the South’.

Fred Warner, the surveyor on William Hann’s expedition of lower Cape York in 1872, won a half a pound of tobacco for finding the first gold at the Palmer River.

the Queen of the North & Canton of the South

become the springboard for the development of the Cape York Peninsula.

Transport was an ongoing problem for the new settlers and the gold fields. A railway line from Cooktown to Maytown, was started in 1884 but it had only made it to Laura when further funding was cancelled because of declining gold recoveries. Nevertheless, the railway and its infrastructure was an important element of early Cooktown and operated until 1961. The station still survives as the Arts and Craft Shop in Charlotte Street and remains of the infrastructure can be

found at the west end of Hogg Street.

Cooktown’s importance as a port saw a lighthouse built in 1886, one of only four along the Queensland coast. The lighthouse still reliably sends its beam across the Coral Sea every night.

A bridge over the Endeavour River was completed in 1881, opening up the richer pastoral lands of the Endeavour and McIvor River valleys but the precarious Annan River ford was not replaced by a bridge until 1889.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit Cooktown Museum in the old convent which houses many Aboriginal and Chinese artefacts and the anchor from the Endeavour

• Trace the town history at the History Centre on Charlotte Street in the old Post and Telegraph building, the oldest in Cooktown

• Explore Cooktown Cemetery with its diverse range of graves and Chinese Shrine

• Walk Charlotte Street with the free Historic Trails Guide

• Check out the remains of the old railway terminus and walk the track to the back of the cemetery

• Walk or drive up Grassy Hill as the sun sets to see the historic lighthouse send its beacon across the Coral Sea

• Wander through the beautiful and historic Botanic Gardens

• Follow the walk from the Gardens to the Old Quarry where stone was excavated for building the early town.

Seat at the spot the H.M.B Endeavour was beached, Endeavour River

Cooktown Museum

W aymburr

Cook beached the Endeavour on land called Waymburr lying between Waalmbal Birri (the Endeavour River) to its north and Yuku Baja (the Annan River) to the south. This was neutral territory where no blood was to be deliberately spilled.

The proud Aboriginal Traditional Custodians have a history and connection to land that dates back eons.

It was at Waymburr (Cooktown) on 19 July 1770 that the first recorded act of reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Europeans took placeinitiated by a Waymburr Warra Elder ending a short dispute with Cook and the Endeavour crew.

From friendly exchanges with the local Bama (Indigenous people), Sidney Parkinson, the botanical artist aboard the Endeavour, recorded 150 Guugu Yimithirr words. These were some of the first Aboriginal words ever recorded by British explorers. ‘Gangarru’ which was translated to ‘kangaroo’ in English comes from the local Guugu Yimithirr language.

Waymburr was also a place where crystal quartz

(Gun-gaar) was sourced for initiation ceremonies by the Guugu Yimithirr people to the North and the Kuku Yalanji people to the south, and traded further afield.

A diverse landscape and the sea provided a wealth of food and resources enabling the various Clan groups to live well. Apart from the generally harmonious visit by Cook and his crew, the local Clans lived undisturbed by the frequent turmoil in other parts of the world.

Indigenous dance performance, Cooktown Discovery Festival

Cooktown lies in Guugu Yimithirr country, whose people had their own distinct language, lore, history, culture, unique stories, bush foods and medicines.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the Waalmbal Birri Heritage and Culture Centre where Cook’s landing and his interactions with the Guugu Yimithirr peoples is told through magnificent murals.

• Follow the hand-painted tiles of the Milbi (Story) Wall near the boat ramp which tells the creation story of the

Endeavour River and the meetings with Cook and the Endeavour.

• Check out the modern artwork and artefacts at Kuku Bulkaway Gallery and CR Art Tracks gallery in Cooktown, the Bana Yirriji Art Centre in Wujal Wujal and the Hope Vale Arts and Culture Centre.

• Experience Indigenous Rock Art with a guided tour on country with Culture Connect (Cooktown) or Jarramali Rock Art Tours (Laura).

• Attend the Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival held in Laura every 2 years in July (next 7 - 9 July 2023).

That was until gold was found on the Palmer River and Cooktown was established as the port of entry.

Floods of prospectors arrived focused on one thing – finding gold. They paid no respect to the local inhabitants and their customs.

The massive technological gap between the two peoples meant that the Bama and their traditional way of life were destroyed.

Gulbuuyygu - All Together, sculpture at Reconciliation Rocks

Normanby Station (Culture Connect)

Cooktown’s Unspoilt beauty

Nestled on the banks of the Endeavour River as it joins the Coral Sea, Cooktown is one of Australia’s most beautiful, unspoilt coastal towns.

There are many wonderful views starting with Grassy Hill lookout and its 360° views of the Endeavour River, the mountains and the Coral Sea and reefs. Here, Cook surveyed the sea for a safe exit and a lighthouse was constructed in 1886 to help the visiting ships navigate passages.

Follow the River of Life walkway past where the

Endeavour was beached, stop off at the Wharf for a fish or to buy some freshly caught local prawns and continue to the waterfront precinct where the river meets the sea at William Daku Park with its fishing platforms and free BBQs!

Cooktown’s historic Botanic Gardens are our environmental jewel. Dating back to 1878, the gardens

Quarantine Bay, Cooktown

offer residents and visitors tranquillity amid a wonderful exhibition of tropical flora. A stroll through the gardens followed by a refreshment at the adjoining Nature’s Powerhouse is one of our visitors’ favourite activities.

From the gardens, you can follow the scenic rim walking track to the wide expanse of Finch Bay, the Old Quarry and

on to pretty Cherry Tree Bay. For the energetic, climb on up to Grassy Hill.

Find the old Railway Terminus below Adelaide Street and follow the old railway track through the mangroves to the back of the historic cemetery with its interesting and diverse grave sites, including the Chinese Shrine.

Listed under the Queensland Heritage Register, the Cooktown Botanic Gardens is one of Queensland’s oldest regional botanic gardens.

Climb Mt Cook and enjoy its vista from the top. Just out of town you’ll see giant paperbarks surrounding Keatings Lagoon, vibrant with birdlife.

And at the end of the day, enjoy the beauty of a Sunset Cruise around the harbour and up the Endeavour River with Riverbend Tours.

Grassy Hill view Bicentennial Park, Cooktown

Botanic Gardens

Southern Cape Explore the pristine

Cooktown is a great base to explore the beautiful and varied Southern Cape. If you don’t have your own car you can easily hire one, including a 4WD, from Cooktown Car Hire.

Enjoy a beautiful drive south through the mysterious Black Mountains and on to Rossville and Bloomfield. Take the short walk to see the magnificent Bloomfield Falls. Pop into the Bana Yirriji Art Gallery for some unique local indigenous art.

Hire a boat from Bloomfield Escape and explore the river. See if you can spot one of the many Bloomfield River resident crocs and on your return don’t miss the famous Lion’s Den Hotel - a great spot for lunch and live music on the weekends.

Closer to Cooktown don’t miss the stunning views from Archer Point. Check out some of the Cape’s best swimming holes at Trevethan Falls (4WD access) or Home Rule Falls in Rossville.

4WD owners can follow the route of early gold prospectors out along Battle Camp Road to check out the south end of Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park, one of the top spots in the Cape. Call in at Lake Emma and see if you can spot a Jabiru. Enjoy the wonderful tranquillity and remoteness of Horseshoe Lagoon before heading on to the Old Laura Homestead. Return via Laura to visit Split Rock Galleries – a self-guided rock art tour and see examples of Quinkans, aboriginal mythological beings.

A short trip north following the Endeavour River Valley takes you through the historic Aboriginal community of Hope Vale to picturesque Elim Beach and Eddie’s Beach Camp, where you can drive or walk along the Coloured Sands enjoying one of the breathtaking views. Detour to Isabella Falls on the way home to take a refreshing dip in this local picnic spot and swimming hole.

If you have a 4WD use Cooktown as a base to travel the iconic Bloomfield Track, where the rainforest meets the Coral Sea. You may be lucky and spot the colourful Cassowary.

Elim Beach, Hope Vale, North of Cooktown

Bloomfield Falls, Wujal Wujal, South of Cooktown

A World-Class Angling destination

Cooktown, with its many nearby rivers and proximity to the reef is a world-class angling destination. The variety of fishing and species is outstanding, making Cooktown and the local region a great spot for both avid fishers and enthusiastic beginners.

The well-equipped Lure Shop will make sure you have all the gear, lures and bait that you may need for all types of fishing and crabbing - and can provide you with good local advice.

Cooktown Wharf

Simply fishing off Cooktown’s famous wharf or the nearby fishing platforms can bring good rewards while enjoying the ever-changing scenic backdrop. Spanish mackerel, Trevally and Queenfish will

keep you challenged when they are ‘in town’. Barramundi, Mangrove Jack, Fingermark, Grunter and Bream are staples off the wharf and up the rivers.

Bring your own boat

Your own boat will give you access to some great river spots. Start with the Endeavour River, either from the boat ramp in Cooktown or upriver at Marton. The Annan River, five minutes south of Cooktown, is another

rewarding spot from which to launch your tinny. Large saltwater barra can be caught at the river mouth, which can also be accessed by 4WD along Walker Bay.

An hour south of Cooktown, the beautiful Bloomfield River offers a boat ramp as well as some good land-based spots. Archer Point just south of Cooktown, with its wonderful vistas of the Coral Sea, also offers good fishing when the wind is not blowing.

Charters

Cooktown is the base for a couple of great fishing charter operators offering river and (wind permitting) reef fishing experiences.

More information can be found in the Fishing and Birdwatching Trails brochure available at accommodation houses and the Visitor Information Centre in Cooktown.

Get out to the Reef

Egret and Boulder Reefs are approximately 10NMs from Cooktown and smaller reefs lie even closer. The proximity of the reef means that small boats can get out to some great fishing grounds when the wind is down – some days in winter and then typically from the end of October.

Cooktown Wharf

Game Fishing

The sea off Cooktown is seen as the best fishing destination in the world for giant black marlin. The season runs from September to December, when every year the big black marlin return to the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef from all over the Pacific.

Mud Crabs

The tropical rivers in and around Cooktown are also home to many sizeable mud crabs, one of Australia’s best seafood delicacies.

Further afield

Two hours north of Cooktown lies the fabulous and extensive Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park where kilometres of rivers and waterways, countless lagoons and billabongs offer great fishing from land or boat, including for those elusive metre+ wild barras. A couple of hours’ drive from Cooktown, up the McIvor River valley takes you first to Morgan’s Landing where a bush boat ramp allows you to launch a small tinny. The McIvor offers a unique ‘jungle’ feel and some great fishing particularly around its mouth. A little further afield lies Starke River where you can also launch a boat to enjoy some top fishing with big barra and Mangrove Jack.

Getting to Cooktown

You can get to Cooktown by air, bus, a tour or self-driving.

Road Sealed. All

Year Access.

Accommodation

There’s plenty of accommodation in Cooktown for all visitors with the Sovereign Resort, Seaview Motel and River of Gold Motel being popular hotel/motels. If you have flown or bused up you can hire a car from Cooktown Car Hire to sightsee around Cooktown. If you bring your own RV, caravan or camper there is a choice of six good caravan and camping parks in and around Cooktown including the Cooktown Holiday Park, Cooktown Orchid Travellers Park and Endeavour River Escape. If you are coming via the Bloomfield Track, Bloomfield Cabins and Camping is a great stop off.

Air

Cooktown has a regular air service (Hinterland Aviation) from Cairns airport (General Aviation) with flights operating seven days a week.

Bus

Trans-North Bus & Coach service runs between Cairns and Cooktown using both the inland route and coastal route on alternate days. Departs Cairns Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday via the Coastal Route and Monday, Wednesday, Friday, via the Inland Route.

Drive

You can drive your own vehicle or fly to Cairns and hire a car, 4WD or camper from one of

the many car and camper hire companies.

The Mulligan Highway, the inland road, is a good sealed road so that you can drive to and from Cooktown all year around in approximately four hours. If you have a 4WD and aren’t towing a van, you have the alternative of the iconic Bloomfield Track via Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest.

Guided tours

Enjoying a guided tour is another option and there are a number of firms offering tours of different durations and itineraries such as Far North Escapes who offer 1 - 3 day trips.

Mulligan Highway between Mareeba and Cooktown

Cooktownshops + facilities

Visitors can find Cooktown’s Visitor Information Centre at Nature’s Powerhouse, at the end of Walker Street by the Botanic Gardens.

Recreational Cooktown

Great walks in beautiful settings. Keep yourself extra fit during your stay at the heated pool or well-equipped gym. Enjoy a great bowls facility at the Bowls Club in Charlotte Street or a round of golf at the spectacular Golf Course overlooking Walker Bay and the Coral Sea.

Shops and Facilities

There’s a good range of food shops including a bakery, wholesale and retail supermarkets, a greengrocer and fishmonger. Find fresh local fruit and veg and some home cooking at the weekly Saturday markets. Plus, a

choice of cafes, restaurants and take-aways.

The Lure Shop is one of the best equipped fishing, tackle and hunting shops in North Queensland. The excellent camping and RV and marine shops meet many travellers and boaties needs – and gas swaps and refills are available. Hardware and homeware stores mean that there aren’t many things you cannot find in Cooktown.

Alive Pharmacy is a friendly and helpful chemist in Charlotte Street and there is a good health centre and an excellent hospital for those unforeseen emergencies. You have a choice of three fuel outlets, and a number of auto repair and recovery shops work hard to keep locals and visitors on the road. Cooktown Car Hire provides visitors with an ability to sightsee around the region.

For a full range of Cooktown’s shops and services visit our Online Business & Community Services Directory

Nature’s Powerhouse

Cooktown to Cape York Peninsula

The Trip to the Tip

The ‘Trip to the Tip’ of Cape York Peninsula, the most northerly point of Australia, is one of those ‘Journeys of a Lifetime’ experiences. You can drive the approximately 1000km yourself or choose from a selection of tours.

Take a 4WD Tour

A number of companies offer Trips to the Tip such as Far North Escapes. Hire a 4WD and a guide for a more personalised experience. Fly from Cairns or Cooktown

Air Tours Australia operate a great day tour from Cairns or Cooktown to the tip.

Motorcycle tour

The bike enthusiast has a choice of tours – for example with Cape York Motorcycle Adventures.

Tag Along Guided

Tour with your own 4WD

Tag along tours where you join an organised tour with your own vehicle are popular and there are a number of tours to choose from.

Or . . . Drive yourself

Driving your own 4WD is the most popular way of getting to the Tip. You can bring your own vehicle or hire a 4WD (including 4WD campervans) in Cairns.

Like all long trips through remote terrain, planning and preparation is essential to get the best from the trip and avoid mishaps. There are plenty of online resources to help plan your journey.

A quick guide

to your journey

Driving your own 4WD is the most popular way of getting to the Tip. Bring your own vehicle or hire a 4WD (including 4WD campervans) in Cairns.

Lakeland is the starting point where you should check out the Gateway to Cape York Information Centre and Sculpture Park as your introduction to the journey ahead.

From Lakeland you can take a detour via Cooktown and the Battlecamp Road up through the beautiful Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park. Or you can head directly North to Laura where you will say goodbye to permanent bitumen and get your

introduction to the famous ‘Cape Corrugations’. About 300km north of Lakeland is the small community of Coen. On the way are a couple of roadhouses also providing fuel, food and camping. Musgrave Roadhouse also provides motel type accommodation and has a reputation for good, Aussie outback food. About 115km north of Coen you leave the Peninsula Development Road (which

continues to Weipa) and head north on the Telegraph Road. Another 110km after the turn off take a rest at the famous Bramwell Station, a fun and friendly stop over with “cold beer and great meals” and entertainment in the tourist season. On the way there are opportunities to stop and refuel at the Archer River Roadhouse and to camp at the beautiful and historic Moreton Telegraph Station on the banks of the Wenlock River which flows all year.

Shortly after the Archer River Roadhouse you can detour to Lockhart River and the famous (and often windy) Chilli Beach, and the wonderful birdwatching destination of Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park. From Bramwell, the 4WD enthusiasts can indulge themselves travelling the iconic Old Telegraph Track while the less ambitious can take the alternative route, still an unsealed road. On the way

the beautiful Fruit Bat and Elliot Falls should not be missed.

Make sure you get to the Jardine River in time to cross on the ferry (you can book online to save time) and head into the small town of Bamaga. From here you can access one of the camping grounds before your last short leg to the photo opportunity at the very Tip of Australia!

The Overland Telegraph Line (and Track) was one of the most important events in the history of the Cape York Peninsula. Opened in 1887, it linked Brisbane with Queensland’s northern outposts for over 100 years.

4WD enthusiasts with more time can indulge themselves in some challenging side trips including the Old Coach Road from Laura to the historic Palmer River Gold Fields and from Cooktown up via Starcke River to Cape Melville National Park. The Oyala Thumotang National Park also offers some wonderful remote travelling.

Fruit Bat Falls

Lakeland’s Gateway to the Cape

Weipa + Mapoon

Continue along the Peninsula Development Road for 150km from the turn off to the Tip to get to Weipa and Mapoon - the gateway to the Western Cape, offering visitors a selection of stunning beaches, wilderness adventures, fabulous fishing and rich cultural heritage.

Mapoon is the site of the first recorded contact between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Europeans in 1606, sailing on the Dutch ship the Duyfken (of which a full size replica lies at the Australian Maritime Museum). A modern memorial commemorates the site.

In 1891 a mission was established at Mapoon on the traditional homelands of

the Tjungundji (Choong-ungee) people. Children were forcibly removed there and the population grew with local groups coming to the Reserve to get away from attacks by local pastoralists.

The 1950s discovery of bauxite led to 8,000 square kilometres being taken from the mission to lease to Comalco and leading to the establishment of Weipa.

The mission suffered from underfunding, poor conditions and uncertainty about its future. This and the pressure to mine, led the Queensland Government to close the mission. On 15 November 1963 the Queensland Police forcibly removed the residents and burnt the buildings –a day commemorated as ‘the Burning’.

Many residents were unhappy with where they were moved to and over the following years some returned to (Old) Mapoon. Eventually the government recognised their wishes and provided new housing leading to the establishment of the small but proud modern community of Mapoon.

Meanwhile, Weipa continued to grow with the expansion of mining operations.

Since the 1980s, Weipa has become a regional centre for government organisations, with a range of good facilities. Comalco became part of the Rio Tinto group in 1995. In 2013, the mine celebrated 50 years and 500 million

tonnes of bauxite shipped from Weipa. The new Amrun mine began operations in 2018, extending mining for many years to come and continuing to provide jobs and support for the region. Today the operation includes three bauxite mines, processing facilities, ship loaders, an export wharf, two ports, power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals and significantly contributes to Australia being the world’s largest bauxite producer.

While Weipa is principally a mining town, it continues to attract an increasing number of visitors to experience its stunning beaches, wilderness adventures, fabulous fishing, rich cultural heritage and

wonderful sunsets over the Gulf. Weipa has a camping ground and a good choice of accommodation. It offers great fishing from shore and by boat – with a choice of fishing charters.The famous Weipa Fishing Classic is a great event held in June.

It is also an excellent birdwatching destination and has a popular eco tour. A must do is the daily Weipa Mine & Town Tour – it is very popular so book early.

Many visitors also make the day trip to Mapoon about an hour north, and accommodation, is available in the ensuite dongas or at the popular Cullen Point Campground.

Weipa

attracts visitors to its stunning beaches, wilderness adventures, fabulous fishing, rich cultural heritage and wonderful sunsets

over the Gulf.

Sunset at Weipa

Fantastic birdlife

Cooktown is an ideal place for bird watching because there are four main geographical regions that meet here, each with its own set of special birdsWet Tropics rainforest, Cape York Peninsula forests, coastal wetlands and mangroves and the drier woodlands of Laura and Battlecamp escarpments.

Around Cooktown

Cooktown is a great base for birdwatchers, with about 150 species recorded.

Walking tracks and diverse habitats – the Endeavour River estuary, the melaleuca forests around the Botanic Gardens and beaches and rainforest in the Mt Cook National Parkare home to many species. Just south is Keatings Lagoon Conservation Park with

numerous ducks, pygmygeese, jacanas and magpie geese. On the Coast find egrets, terns and waders, and curlews at picturesque Archer Point. A little further south lies wet tropical rainforest where you can find endemic species such as Macleay’s honeyeater, Victoria’s rifle bird and pied imperial pigeons.

More waders can be found North along the coast at Elim

Beach. Battlecamp Road takes you into the south end of Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park, another fabulous birdwatching destination. Pick up a birdwatching trails guide from your accommodation in Cooktown or from the Visitor Information Centre at Nature’s Powerhouse.

Keatings Lagoon Conservation Park

The rest of Cape York boasts more fabulous birdwatching destinations with over 300 species recorded, 18 unique to the Cape, including the Eclectus Parrot, Golden Shouldered Parrot and the Palm Cockatoo.

Cooktown is a great base for new and experienced birdwatchers with about 150 species to discover!

Cape York beyond Cooktown

The rich and diverse landscape of Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park is home to over 200 species. Here, find the goldenshouldered parrot, star finch and red goshawk, and in the Park’s wetlands find a great diversity of waterbirds including brolgas, sarus cranes and black-necked storks.

The Kutini-Payamu (Iron Range) National Park with its mix of coastal and lowland rainforest is a must visit destination for serious birdwatchers. Endemics include eclectus parrots, redcheeked parrots, Marshall’s fig parrots, palm cockatoos and the magnificent riflebirds. And, with the Daintree, it’s a home for the unique cassowary.

Lockerbie Scrub, the swathe of monsoon rainforest at the Tip of Cape York, is another top birdwatching destination.

Highlights among the many species are the two birds of paradise (magnificent riflebirds and trumpet manucodes), yellow-legged flycatchers and frilled monarchs.

Papuan Frogmouth

Eclectus parrot

Wild cassowary, Tourism and Events Queensland

The beauty and diversity of Cape York’s unique

National Parks

Cape York boasts 11 National Parks offering a range of unique experiences. If you have time don’t miss the opportunity to camp in and explore them.

The top three National Parks in Cape York

Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park

Less than 100km northwest of Cooktown lies this massive park with vast and wonderfully diverse landscapes – savannah studded with termite mounds, wetlands, sandstone escarpments, patches of rainforest and stands of rare corypha palms. All interspersed with multiple rivers and waterholes – and including some great fishing spots. Wildlife abounds and there are over 200 bird species, some rare.

There are 25 camping spots, many along the banks of the rivers or around waterholes, with multiple well-spaced sites and many opportunities for a truly remote experience.

Typically closed December to end June.

Kutini-Payamu

(Iron Range) National Park

Lying just north of Lockhart River this park is home to the largest remaining lowland rainforest in Australia, with unique vegetation and fauna. It attracts birdwatchers from around the world for its wide array of species including red-bellied pittas, palm cockatoos, eclectus parrots and magnificent riflebirds. There are three camping areas and some easy walking tracks in the park and the famous, but often windy, campground at Chilli Beach.

Apudthama (Jardine River) National Park

This vast wilderness area lying just south of the tip has two of Cape York’s best wild swimming spots. The wonderfully refreshing Fruit Bat Falls and Eliot Falls are both croc-free and offer travellers a natural cooling shower after a hot drive.

Fruit Bat Falls is a short detour off the Northern Bypass Road. Eliot Falls, just 7km further down the track, offers camping facilities as well. You can also camp with fantastic water views on both sides of the Jardine River and beside the beach at Ussher Point and Captain Billy Landing.

Frenchman’s track (road to Lockhart River)

Booking Campsites

You must book and pay for a camping permit before you arrive at a camping area. Most bookings are made online through the Queensland National Parks Booking Service, and your permit is issued by email. You can browse the website to search for camping areas by facility, accessibility, location and things to do such as bushwalks, picnics and fishing.

If booking online through the Queensland National Parks Booking Service and you’re a first-time user, you’ll need to create an account before completing your booking.

Book well in advance for popular spots

Book at least six weeks in advance for the most popular camping spots, especially during peak periods like public and school holidays.

Download

The Queensland National Parks ‘How to make a booking’ guide

BE CROC SMART

Bookings can also be made by dropping into the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service office on Ferrari Street in Cooktown.

Crocodiles inhabit the waterways in and around Cooktown and Cape York. It is important to take notice of the warning signs and remain vigilant when around bodies of water. Any sightings of crocodiles, should be reported to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection.

Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park

When to visit Climate and

Blessed with a warm tropical climate

Cape York is blessed with a warm tropical climate all year round, with the green or wet season starting in December and tailing off in April, when a warm, dry winter season takes over for the rest of the year. Being in the tropics means the Cape can experience cyclones in the green or wet season. The southeast Trade Winds blow through the winter months, keeping the temperature at a nice warm level on the east coast

(20°-28°) although it can get a little windy. The winds drop off in October and the temperature climbs gradually into the low 30°s over the summer on the east side, slightly higher on the west coast.

Best times to visit

There is a good, sealed road all the way to Cooktown providing year-round access, including a chance to experience the green season in action as the plants grow and flower almost before your eyes. With the SE Trade Winds

dropping back in October the end of the year is a great time to get your boat out to the reef for a spot of fishing. The largely unsealed road north of Cooktown becomes unpassable in the height of the wet season meaning the Trip to the Tip is best done between June and November. Peak periods are July to August and for those looking to avoid the crowds, September, October and November are great however slightly warmer.

What’s on + when Cooktown & Cape York events

MARCH

Bamaga Mud Rally & Pig Hunt

JUNE

Discovery Festival

Cooktown

Weipa Fishing Classic

Laura Races & Rodeo

Northern Peninsula

Area Cultural Festival

Bamaga and other venues

Black Mountain Picnic Cooktown

JULY

Laura Quinkan

Indigenous Dance Festival

Laura

Weipa Running Festival

AUGUST

Black Mountain

Unplugged

Cooktown

Northern Peninsula

Area Rodeo & Races

Bamaga

Weipa Rodeo

SEPTEMBER

Cardiac Challenge

Bike Ride

Cairns to Cooktown

Wallaby Creek Festival

Rossville/Cooktown

Winds of Zenadth

Cultural Festival

Thursday Island

Mapoon Paanja Festival

Hope Vale Bulls & Broncs

Cooktown Horse

Sports Annual Event

OCTOBER

Conquer the Corrugations

Mental Health

Awareness Walk

Mapoon Cullen Point

Barra Bash

Sovereign Resort Fishing Competition

NOVEMBER

Cooktown Races

Please check for exact dates and note some events are not held every year

Laura Dance Festival

Accommodation

Cooktown and surrounds

Cooktown has an excellent selection of hotels, motels and lodges offering a range of experiences both in town and in some beautiful out of town locations.

There are four caravan parks in Cooktown and three within a 30 minute drive, offering good accommodation for all types of campers.

There is some self-contained accommodation and many of the caravan parks have cabins.

Down the (sealed) road in Bloomfield there are beautiful cabins at Bloomfield Escape and camping and cabins at Bloomfield Cabins & Camping.

On the way into Cooktown there is accommodation at the Palmer River Roadhouse, the Lakeland Hotel/Motel and camping at Lakeland Caravan Park.

Heading North

There is accommodation and camping grounds at Laura, Coen, roadhouses along the Peninsula Development Road, Bramwell Station Tourist Park, Bamaga and the Tip. Weipa also has as good selection of accommodation and camping and there is accommodation at Paanja Lodge in Mapoon. It is advisable to book at some of these places, especially in the peak season (JulySeptember).

Sovereign Resort Cooktown

Bloomfield Escape

Cooktown Holiday Park

* Air Conditioning

* Free Parking

* Wheel Chair Access

PLACES TO STAY

* Guest

Laundry

* Non-Smoking Rooms

* Short Drive to boat ramp

EXQUISITE COTTAGE LIFESTYLE WITHIN THE RAINFOREST

Milkwood Lodge features secluded cottages with verandas offering bush views. Guests can relax in the outdoor resort pool and enjoy BBQ facilities.

Milkwood Lodge offers air-conditioned, split-level cottages with a fully equipped kitchenette and bathroom. Each cottage has indoor and outdoor dining areas. Free WiFi is available.

Lot 1 Annan Road, Cooktown QLD 4895

P: 07 4069 5007 | M: 0476 761 183

E: info@milkwoodlodge.com.au

W: milkwoodlodge.com.au

Archer River Roadhouse

Peninsula Development Road

Archer River QLD 4871

Conveniently located 66km north of Coen, on the doorstep of the pristine Archer River.

Try our famous ‘Archer Burger’ with a cold beer, then relax by the river under shady trees and enjoy a campfire in our fire pits.

T: (07) 4060 3266

E: archerriverroadhouse@bigpond.com

Bloomfield Cabins and Camping

2869 Rossville Bloomfield Road

Bloomfield QLD 4895

Situated at the northern end of the famous Bloomfield Track near the little township of Ayton on the Bloomfield River. Our friendly tropical Oasis provides visitors tranquil accommodation and camping options with everything you need and none of the distractions.

T: (07) 4060 8207

E: reservations@ bloomfieldcabinsandcamping.com.au

W: bloomfieldcabinsandcamping.com.au

Bloomfield Escape

9 Weary Bay Road

Bloomfield QLD 4895

A slice of paradise like no other. You’re certain to experience a sense of peace and solitude. Boasting large open-plan, fully self-contained luxury air-conditioned cabins set amongst 8.5 acres of tropical gardens. Positioned for privacy and catching the gentle sea breezes.

T: (07) 4060 8346

E: bloomfieldescape@bigpond.com

W: bloomfieldescape.com.au

Cooktown Orchid Travellers Park

Corner Walker & Charlotte Streets (entrance via Walker Street)

Cooktown QLD 4895

Small friendly park in the middle of town. Sites to suit all, with a sparkling pool and sun loungers. Enjoy a well-equipped camp kitchen and free WiFi. Walk everywhere - a great base for enjoying all that Cooktown has to offer.

T: (07) 4069 6400

E: cooktownorchidtp@gmail.com

W: cooktownorchidtravellerspark.com

Hann River Roadhouse

Peninsula Developmental Road

Laura QLD 4892

Hann River Roadhouse is located 74km north of Laura, we provide camping, cabins, food and drinks. Our friendly staff are always happy to help where we can.

We are on the Hann River itself and there is good fishing to be done.

T: (07) 4060 3242

E: hannriverroadhouse@gmail.com

Moreton Telegraph Station

Telegraph Road, Wenlock

Cape York QLD 4874

285kms south of the Tip of Cape York on the beautiful Wenlock River. Large powered or unpowered camp sites and furnished safari tents. Enjoy takeaway meals and barista coffee, hot showers, laundry, fishing, walking trails, campfire sites and guest WiFi.

T: (07) 4060 3360

E: info@moretonstation.com.au

W: moretonstation.com.au

ACTIVITIES & HISTORY

Unlock Cooktown’s History

On this journey in the far north of Queensland, discover all our Cooktown Museum offers. The exhibits are rich and varied and surrounded by Sir Joseph Banks Garden and set in a stunning nineteenth-century convent.

Celebrating Cooktown’s history, where the stories will come alive captivating children and adults alike!

COOKTOWN BOTANIC GARDENS | WALKER STREET, COOKTOWN

CAFÉ: (07) 4069 5763 | INFORMATION CENTRE: (07) 4069 6004

EMAIL: NATURESPOWERHOUSECAFE@COOKTOWNS.COM

Bana Yirriji Art Centre

736 Douglas Street, Wujal Wujal QLD 4895

All artworks are handcrafted at the art centre by local community artists. Boasting a unique style of contemporary art, our artists’ inspiration comes from the land that surrounds them, rainforests, waterfalls, mountains, rivers and the sea.

T: (07) 4060 8333

E: art@wujal.qld.gov.au

W: banayirrijiart.com.au

Cooktown History Centre

121 Charlotte Street

Cooktown QLD 4895

Showcasing life through the years of Cooktown, with award winning displays. The Centre also houses an extensive archive of local and family history and offers a research service for those with early connections to greater Cooktown and Palmer River areas.

T: (07) 4069 6640

E: cooktownhistory@gmail.com

W: cooktownhistory.org.au

Waalmbal Birri Heritage and Culture Centre

121a Charlotte Street

Cooktown QLD 4895

Re-discover a shared history with the Guugu Yimithirr Bama-ngay when they made first contact with Cook and his crew. Contemplate this significant time in history where the Cultural Governance applied by the Bama ensured Cook’s survival on Guugu Yimithirr country.

T: (07) 4069 5927

M: 0427 194 820 or 0427 075 455

E: endeavourriver1770@outlook.com

Scan me

: Anne Nunn, Love Birds 2022

We can go anywhere

1 Day Cooktown and Cape Tribulation Private Tour

Experience an exclusive 1 Day Cooktown and Daintree tour that showcases Far North Queensland’s natural beauty and culture in a luxury 4WD. Venture from historical Cooktown to the heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation.

Tour Includes

Luxury 4WD

Guided Indigenous Walk

Packed Lunch

Return Transfers

Activity Fees

Naturalist Guide

Custom and tailor-made itineraries available on request!

Cape York Motorcycle Adventures

Lot 4 Captain Cook Highway

Barron QLD 4878

CYMCA is a family business, operating fully guided off-road tours between Cairns and the Tip of Cape York since 1990. The bucket list tour is designed to test the rider’s skill level - you ride, we take care of the rest.

M: 0427 590 221

E: renae@capeyorkmotorcycles.com.au

W: capeyorkmotorcycles.com.au

Riverbend Tours

Departing from Cooktown Public Boat Ramp

Join us on the river late in the day for a spectacular sunset cruise. BYO. Ice filled eskies and glasses available on board. Gourmet Gallo cheese platter included. Affordably priced. Bookings required.

“This is Cooktown’s best – magic meets sightseeing!” Erich H TripAdvisor.

M: 0411 836 155

E: nick@riverbendtours.com.au

W: riverbendtours.com.au

GOODS & SERVICES

Cooktown Platinum Realty is a dynamic Real Estate Agency committed to providing you with exceptional and professional service. Whether you are a seller, purchaser, landlord or tenant, we strive to exceed your expectations.

healthy, happy, alive

Opening Hours

8:30am - 5:30pm Mon - Fri 8:30am - 12:00pm Sat

07 4069 5434

Carol Lovell Arcade, 100 Charlotte St, Cooktown

cooktown@alivepharmacy.com.au alivepharmacy.com.au

Cooktown Car Hire

Lot 1 Annan Road

Cape York QLD 4874

Cooktown Car Hire allows the driver to explore Cooktown and its beautiful surroundings at their own pace. Tour locally with a compact or SUV vehicle or venture a little further with one of our 4WDs and visit an amazing waterfall.

T: (07) 4069 5007

M: 0476 761 183

E: info@cooktowncarhire.com.au

W: cooktowncarhire.com.au

Trans North

Cooktown - Cairns - Cooktown

Passenger and light freight services. Inland service via Mareeba, Mt Molloy and Lakeland Downs. Coastal service via Mossman, Cape Tribulation and Wujal Wujal. Coastal variant service via Mosman, Lakeland Downs and Wujal Wujal (when conditions make it necessary).

T: (07) 3036 2070

W: transnorthbus.com.au