Places in Cooktown Queensland
There are so many things to
see and do in Cooktown
Queensland.
There are beautiful walking trails and parks, a very interesting pioneer cemetery, a great lookout point and botanical gardens, some great historical pubs, some of the best fishing in Cape York, and one of the best museums in the whole Australia...
I remember it as a quiet country town - before 2006 when the main road to it was sealed. It got busier since, but it still kept its old charm and character.
Waterfront Parks in Cooktown
Queensland
The waterfront parks - Endeavour Lions Park and Bicentennial Park are beautiful with some great views over the river mouth and things to remind about the town's history - The Aboriginal Milby Wall, a cairn at Cook's landing place, Queen's steps commemorating Queen's visit in 1970, a cannon that would protect Cooktown in a possible Russian invasion, a James Cook Memorial, and statues of Captain James Cook and Mick the Miner.
James Cook statue. ©cape-york-australia.com
North and West from the Waterfont Parks
Further north is Cook's Landing Cafe and the famous Fishermans Wharf with some great places to eat. The wharf is also really popular with fishing.
Cooktown Wharf. ©cape-york-australia.com
North of the wharf is the old Powder Magazine that was built for gunpowder to be used at Palmer River Goldfields.
Powder Magazine. ©cape-york-australia.com
One block back from the beachfront is James Cook Museum - one of the best museums in Australia. It has his original anchor as well as the Aboriginal version of the story, and lots and lots of different displays and items from around the area.
James Cook Museum. ©cape-york-australia.com
North is Grassy Hill Lookout with some great views over Endeavour River and Cooktown. Cook's crew climbed the hill and there is a statue for the first kangaroo they spotted.
Lighthouse at the Lookout. ©cape-york-australia.com
You can walk from the hill to Cherry Tree Bay and Finch Bay, and Cooktown Botanical Gardens. It's a beautiful walk with some nice views.
Finch Bay, Cooktown Queensland. ©cape-york-australia.com
Botanical Gardens (of course you can drive here too..) has some different sections with a few different vegetation types, and a life size statue of an amethystine python - the largest snake in Australia. Here is also the town's tourist information centre, a cafe and a gift shop.
Botanical Gardens, Cooktown Queensland. ©cape-york-australia.com
South from the Waterfont Parks
South from the waterfront parks you walk past some beautiful old buildings on the main street - Charlotte St. There is the Jackey Jackey Store, the Old Bank, the town's two pubs...
The Old Bank, Cooktown Queensland. ©cape-york-australia.com
South of Charlotte Street is the historical Cooktown Cemetery. It's a great place for a stroll and a look around - there are different sections such as Anglican, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Chinese...
Chinese section in Cooktown Cemetery. ©cape-york-australia.com
East of the cemetery are some streets with some more old buildings, and from here, you can walk, or drive to Mt Cook.
Kingdom Hall - the Old Hospital. ©cape-york-australia.com
You can actually climb up to Mt Cook, however a good fitness level is needed. It is steep in places, but the views from the top are beautiful.
Start of Mount Cook walk. ©cape-york-australia.com
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