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Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown
4WD Adventures | Beaches, Waterfalls & Swimming Holes | Fishing & Boating | History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage | Island & Reef Experiences | National Parks & Walking Trails | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Lizard Island
Six islands in the Great Barrier Reef, with beaches, trails and snorkelling
Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown | Lakefield | Laura
4WD Adventures | History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage | National Parks & Walking Trails | Scenic Drives & Lookouts | Wildlife & Birdwatching
The Great Tropical Drive Discovery Trail
2-day Cooktown–Laura loop through Lakefield National Park and Quinkan country
Cooktown | Elim Beach | Hope Vale
Aboriginal Tours | Beaches, Waterfalls & Swimming Holes | Fishing & Boating | History & Museums | National Parks & Walking Trails | Scenic Drives & Lookouts | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Cooktown Highlights Itinerary
Plan three nights for history, Aboriginal tours, fishing and Cape York
Cooktown
4WD Adventures | Indigenous Culture & Heritage | Island & Reef Experiences | National Parks & Walking Trails | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Hope Islands National Park
Two coral cays: mangrove-fringed West Hope and sandy East Hope Island
Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown
4WD Adventures | Island & Reef Experiences | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Great Barrier Reef
Explore vibrant coral reefs, tropical fish and pristine waters near Cooktown
Cooktown
History & Culture
Cooktown Events Centre
Conference, sports and entertainment venue beneath majestic Mount Cook
Cooktown
History & Culture
Public Art in Cooktown
Discover colourful public art, stories and music along Cooktown’s foreshore
Cooktown
History & Culture | History & Museums
Cooktown Creative Arts Association
Local art and crafts for sale, plus workshops, at the Old Railway Station
Cooktown
History & Culture | History & Museums | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Cooktown History Centre
Explore Cooktown history through stories, photos, archives and research
Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown | Laura
History & Culture | History & Museums | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Museums and Galleries
Explore Cooktown’s heritage buildings, museums, galleries and local art
Lakefield | Laura
History & Culture | History & Museums | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Quinkan Cultural Centre, Laura
Explore Quinkan rock art, local heritage and Aboriginal arts in Laura
Cooktown
History & Culture | History & Museums
Cooktown School of Art Society Inc/Elizabeth Guzsely Gallery
View and buy original local art in oils, acrylics, pastels and more
Cooktown
History & Museums
Cooktown Museum
Explore Cooktown’s history in a restored convent, from Cook to gold rush
Cooktown
History & Museums | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery
Explore Vera Scarth-Johnson’s botanic works and Banks Florilegium engravings
Cooktown
History & Museums
The Old Bank, Cooktown
Heritage-listed 1891 bank with magnificent red cedar counters in Cooktown
Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown | Elim Beach | Hope Vale | Weipa
4WD Adventures | Beaches, Waterfalls & Swimming Holes | Fishing & Boating | Island & Reef Experiences | National Parks & Walking Trails | Scenic Drives & Lookouts | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Beaches
Explore deserted beaches, reef snorkelling, fishing and spectacular views
Cooktown
History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Cook’s Landing – Fast Facts
Endeavour's ordeal, repairs, first contact and reconciliation in Cooktown
Cooktown
History & Culture | History & Museums | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Cooktown Cemetery
Explore diverse historic graves, cultural stories and gold rush mysteries
Cooktown | Lakefield | Laura
History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Cooktown Railway
Gold rush railway from Cooktown to Laura, operating from 1885 to 1961
Cooktown | Lakefield | Laura
History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
The Gold Rush
The 1873 Palmer River gold rush transformed Cooktown into a boomtown
Cooktown
History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage | Scenic Drives & Lookouts
Grassy Hill – The Lighthouse
Built in 1886, Grassy Hill lighthouse guided ships through Cooktown's reef
Cooktown
History & Culture | History & Museums | Indigenous Culture & Heritage | Island & Reef Experiences
Mary Watson
A tragic 1881 escape from Lizard Island ended in thirst and loss
Cooktown
History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage | Scenic Drives & Lookouts
The Story of Mungurru and Wahalumbaal birri
An Aboriginal tale of how Mungurru shaped the Endeavour River
Cooktown
History & Culture | History & Museums | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
The Normanby Woman
Mystery surrounds the fair-skinned woman captured near Byerstown in 1887
Lakefield | Laura
4WD Adventures | History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Palmer River Goldfields
Remote goldfields reserve 280km northwest of Cairns, via rough tracks
Lakefield | Laura
Aboriginal Tours | Guided Tours & Cruises | History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Quinkan Galleries
Explore UNESCO-listed Quinkan rock art with local Indigenous guides
Cooktown
History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
H.M.B. Endeavour – Reconciliation Rocks
On these rocks, eleven Guugu Yimithirr men and James Cook restored peace.
Cooktown | Rainforest Coast
4WD Adventures | Aboriginal Tours | Guided Tours & Cruises | History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage | National Parks & Walking Trails | Scenic Drives & Lookouts | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Rossville Retreat Indigenous Tours
Learn bush medicines, foods and Kuku Nyungkul culture with Mooks
Cooktown
History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage | Scenic Drives & Lookouts
Grassy Hill – The Radar Station
Grassy Hill’s vantage point hosted ship-to-shore radio and wartime radar
Cape York Peninsula | Lakefield | Laura
4WD Adventures | History & Culture | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Gateway to Cape York
Pause for Cape York displays, BBQs, photo opportunities and sculptures
Lakefield | Laura
Aboriginal Tours | History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Jarramali Rock Art Tours
Explore Quinkan Rock Art with Kuku-Yalanji traditional owners near Laura
Cooktown | Rainforest Coast
History & Culture
Community Markets
Explore fresh produce, crafts and local conversation at three community markets
Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown | Hope Vale | Lakefield | Laura
Aboriginal Tours | Guided Tours & Cruises | History & Culture | History & Museums | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Aboriginal Rock Art
Explore ancient rock art galleries and guided Aboriginal cultural tours
Cooktown
Aboriginal Tours | History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Aboriginal Culture Cooktown
Explore Guugu Yimithirr history, art and culture through local experiences
Cooktown
History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Captain James Cook
Cooktown's history spans Cook's 1770 landing and the Palmer River Gold Rush
Cooktown
Fishing & Boating | Island & Reef Experiences
Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling
Snorkel spectacular coral gardens and see tropical marine life from Cooktown.