<p>Cape York Adventures have been operating since 1996. Linking travellers from the mainland to the Torres Strait to immerse themselves with culture, tradition and rich history. They are based at the top of Cape York, in a Torres Strait islander community called Seisia. Offering 3 Island Tours, 2 Island Cultural Experiences, Private Fishing Charters, 4WD Tip Tours (Pajinka), 4WD Tours to Fruit Bat Falls, Twin Falls and Eliot Falls and more. With multiple vessels they can cater to any size group and occasion. .</p>

<p>Willie takes you to his ancestral rock art sites, high in the hills outside Cooktown. Here he shares the stories behind the art, and explains how the paintings speak of the essence of life and the lores of his people. With his great smile and infectious laugh, Willie will give you an amazing insight into Aboriginal society and spirituality, and show you how we all have a connection to the land, wherever we come from.</p>

<p>Listen and learn as your host Gerry introduces you to Nature’s Storehouse. Take a step back in time with your hostess Irene as she relates what it was really like growing up an Aboriginal under missionary rule. Maaramaka Walkabout Tours endeavours to preserve the knowledge of the flora and fauna found within Nature’s Storehouse – the bush and rainforest including the sand dunes. <br /> Gerry has a wealth of knowledge with regards to the many species of plants and trees to be found in our Rainforests and bushland.</p>
<p><b>Ph: (07) 4069 5381 or (07) 4060 9389</p>
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<p>The Walker women are committed to educating their guests who walk with them along the track to the Bloomfield Falls. As they travel over their ancestral land, they explain in a truly delightful way the lifestyle of the Yalanji people of Wujal Wujal.</p>
<p>What’s unique about this tour is guests are experiencing part of the family’s everyday lifestyle and their deep connection with the land.</p>
<p>Bloomfield Falls Tour – 30 mins tour departing daily year round.</p>
<p>Rainforest Walk – 2 hour tour departs daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. April to September</p>

<p>The Lizard Island group lies midway between the coast and the outer barrier reefs on the edge of the continental shelf.</p>
<p> Lizard Island, Queensland. Courtesy of Tourism Queensland</p>
<p>Lizard the main island has several sheltered sandy beaches with easy access to the coral and clam gardens. The islands are rich in cultural meaning for the Dingaal Aboriginal people who have lived in the area for tens of thousands of years, and also contain important European heritage sites.</p>
<p>Lizard Island was declared a National Park in 1939 and the other islands were added in 1987. The reef and waters surrounding Lizard Island are protected within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and GBR World Heritage Area.</p>
<p>Watson’s Bay is a popular snorkeling site with famed clam gardens and a unique abundance and diversity of solitary corals. The edge of the continental shelf lies just 20km to the east of Lizard Island and the sports fishing from Lizard is world class with 1000lb black marlin frequently caught.</p>
<p>Rising to 395 m above sea level, Cook’s Look provides stunning views of the surrounding reefs and there are several other walking trails with varying degrees of difficulty.</p>
<p> Cook’s Look, Lizard Island, Queensland. Courtesy of Tourism Queensland</p>
<p>Lizard Island has a tropical climate with a wet season from December-April and best time to visit is May-November</p>
<p>There is a <a href="https://www.cooktownandcapeyork.com/stay/cape-york-peninsula/lizard-island">5 star resort</a> on Lizard Island and bush camping is permitted in Watson’s Bay on Lizard Island and permits must be obtained in advance.</p>
<p>Commercial airlines provide regular flights from Cairns and charter flights are available from Cairns and Cooktown. Private aircraft may land with permission from the resort.<br />Commercial charter vessels depart from Cairns, Port Douglas and Cooktown for Lizard Island.</p>

<h3>Cooktown Discovery Trail Summary</h3>
<p><strong>Day 1. </strong>Cooktown-Laura via Lakefield National Park 136 km, approx 2 hr 30 mins</p>
<p><strong>Day 2.</strong> Laura-Cooktown 143 km, approx 1 hrs, 30 mins</p>
<p> Kalpowar Crossing Camping Lakefield National Park. Courtesy of Tourism Queensland</p>
<h3>DAY 1. Cooktown-Laura.</h3>
<p>Road conditions unsealed, suitable for 4WD.</p>
<p>A dirt road links Cooktown to Lakefield National Park, past the Endeavour Falls and on through Battle Camp Road. Camping permits and information about the park can be obtained from QPWS rangers at Cooktown, New Laura, Lakefield or Bizant Ranger Stations. Crossing Laura River, you will come upon historic Old Laura Homestead, one of the oldest cattle properties on Cape York. The structure you see today was built in 1892.</p>
<p>You can bush camp in Lakefield National Park (permit required) or continue onto the township of Laura, where hotel and camping facilities are available.</p>
<p>Carry plenty of drinking water and fuel as there are no service stations in the park. </p>
<p> WARNING – CROCODILES. Estuarine crocodiles are present in creeks, rivers and waterholes in this area.</p>
<p> Giant Horse Gallery</p>
<h3>DAY 2. Laura-Cooktown.</h3>
<p>Road conditions sealed suitable for 2WD.</p>
<p>The area surrounding Laura is known as ‘Quinkan country’ and is renowned for its ancient Aboriginal rock art galleries, considered among the world’s finest. The ‘Split Rock’ site about 10km south of Laura is open to the public. To learn more about the region’s history and culture, visit the Quinkan Regional and Cultural Centre to organise a site tour. If you are interested in these areas you will need to contact them prior to starting your trip.</p>
<p>Another of Laura’s highlights is the annual Horse Races and Rodeo which are held on the first weekend of July, and the Indigenous Dance and Cultural Festival held every two years.</p>
<p>Follow the Peninsula Development Road south to the tiny township of Lakeland Downs, in the heart of the Laura River Valley. This is now a major coffee and banana growing region.</p>
<p>The final 80 km back to Cooktown crosses four rivers – the West Normanby, East Normanby, Little Annan and Big Annan. Allow time for a few stops in the last 30km – Black Mountain National Park, the historic Lion’s Den Hotel (a 4km detour from the main road) and finally Keating’s Lagoon.</p>
<h3>Enjoy the whole Great Tropical Drive</h3>
<p>Follow the Great Tropical Drive for 12 days and 2079 kilometres to some of Australia’s best known attractions – the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest, Hinchinbrook Island and Undara Lava Tubes – and be prepared for many unexpected discoveries along the way.</p>
<p>The Great Tropical Drive passes through six unique regions of North Queensland: <br /> Cooktown, Port Douglas and Daintree, Cairns and Beaches, Mission Beach and the Cassowary Coast, Tropical Tablelands and Savannah Country, Townsville, Charters Towers and Hinchinbrook.</p>
<p>Information courtesy of <a href="http://http//www.cairnsgreatbarrierreef.org.au/" target="_blank">Tourism Tropical North Queensland</a></p>

<p><b>The Milbi Wall</b></p>
<p>Nearly 500 hand-painted and carved tiles adorn the 12 metre-long curved <i>Milbi Wall </i>interpretive sculpture, placed at the very location where in 1770, Captain James Cook and his crew first set foot on land.</p>
<p>‘Milbi’ is the Guugu Yimithirr (local Aboriginal language) for story.  Developed by local Aboriginal artists and storytellers, with assistance from Townsville potter Shelley Burt, the <i>Milbi Wall’s</i> colourful artistic ceramic tiles express Aboriginal history and mythology.</p>
<p>Constructed in three sections, this reconciliation wall explains in both image and text the Creation Stories, and how the Endeavour River and Cooktown were made.  It further commemorates the first historic meeting between Aboriginal people and Captain Cook, tracing the history of Aboriginal people from the early settlement times and the gold-rush days, until the Second World War.  Also depicted is the 1967 referendum when the Australian people recognised the right of aboriginal people to equality with all other Australians.</p>
<p>The ‘Yirrmbal’ runs along the top of the wall, linking the tree sections.  It reminds us that reconciliation is about having a united Australia, where Aboriginal heritage is respected, and we have justice and equity for all.</p>
<p>Don’t rush by this sculptural book, take time to enjoy the beautiful art and unravel its stories!</p>
<p> Musical Ship Cooktown</p>
<p><b>The Musical Ship</b></p>
<p>Climb aboard Cooktown’s <i>Musical ship</i>, a unique musical playground created for young and old…no need to worry about getting seasick on this vessel!  Fitted with marimbas, thongaphones, tok-toks, chimes and doof (bass drum), a visit to this interactive sculpture is a must…you can serenade your sweetheart or create your own personalised percussive ensemble.  Why not film and download your performance onto Youtube?</p>
<p>Set against the beautiful foreshore of the Endeavour River, this unique 8.5 metre sculptural installation is made from recycled poly-pipe, stainless steel, aluminium, and our local Cooktown Ironwood.   The softfall surrounding the ship is made from re-cycled car tyres, with sea creature inserts designed and painted by local Aboriginal artists – Helen Gordon, Conrad Michael and Joseph McIvor.</p>
<p>‘Launched’ in 2007 as part of the Queensland Music Festival, the <i>Musical Ship</i> was designed and built by Steve Langton with his team at Hubbub Music.  Commissioned by Queensland Music Festival’s Artistic Director, Paul Grabowsky, the project was supported by Cook Shire Council.</p>
<p>In 2009 the Musical Ship acted as a stage for a stunning avant-garde performance – <i>Laid in Earth</i> presented by the Queensland Music Festival and Cook Shire Council.  This multi-media performance with sound, light and video projection featured a newly commissioned work from celebrated composer Damian Barbeler, with performers including multi award winning vocalist Sarah Blasko, Daniel Rojas, chamber ensemble, Kurrawong and a choir of community singers from Hope Vale, Rossville and Cooktown.  The event also featured Cairns singer, Emma-Louise, local Deadly Award winning band, Black Image and school children from Cooktown and regional schools.</p>
<p>If you climb aboard the <i>Musical Ship</i>, who knows where your voyage will lead?</p>
<p> River of Life walkway</p>
<p><b>River</b><b> of Life</b><b> Walkway </b></p>
<p>Take a meander along Cooktown’s scenic foreshore to discover the beautiful artworks that combine to form the <i>River of Life Walkway</i>.  At 500mtrs long, the winding pathway features hand-painted and carved ceramic tiles with a mixture of both minimal and very detailed designs.</p>
<p>Guided by Townsville potter Shelley Burt, seven local artists combined their talents to produce artworks that depict the diversity of Cooktown’s present-day identity, contrasted against that of its cultural history.  With so many stories presented, this artwork truly represents the communities respect for cultural diversity.</p>
<p><b>A friendly python</b></p>
<p>Keep an eye out for a very friendly Amethystine Python who watches over the grounds of the Botanic Gardens at Natures Powerhouse.  This 6.5 metre-long sculpture is expertly carved out of Cooktown Ironwood, a species which is one of the hardest and densest timbers in the world.  For this reason it is avoided by most wood-carvers, and therefore highly regarded.</p>
<p>Made by local artists Mark Berg and Rodney lousteau, with assistance from Ursula Lichti and Flint Harai, the sculpture was specially commissioned by Natures Powerhouse to act as a link with the Charlie Tanner Gallery which features a display of many venomous and non venomous snake specimens.  These were gifted by the late Charles Tanner to promote the understanding, appreciation and conservation of wildlife, especially the reptiles that were his life’s passion.</p>
<p>It’s easy to fall in love with this very sleek, smooth sculpture…a great photo opportunity.</p>

<p>In late 1990 and early 1991, a group of 15 local artists and craftspeople saw the need for an association which would cater for a wider range of art and craft based activities.</p>
<p>Today the CCAA has members which have their art / craft for sale in the shop, providing local artists with a source of income, as well as a wonderful venue to showcase their talents. There are displays of wood work, furniture, paintings, jewellery, stained glass, quilts, can baskets, silk paintings, T-shirts, post cards, etched glasses and photography.</p>
<p> Local arts and crafts</p>
<p>The association also offers a range of workshops and demonstrations throughout the year. </p>
<p>Admission is free, open weekdays 9am – 5pm, Saturday 9am – 12pm, closed Sundays</p>
<p>Ph: (07) 4069 5794</p>

<p>The artists have developed their own forms of expression which are very different from the art of central Australia and other parts of Australia. The art from Lockhart River promotes the identity of Aboriginal people in contemporary Australian culture and is unique to Lockhart River Arts Centre.</p>
<p>Lockhart River Aboriginal Community is 850 kms north of Cairns and is nestled between Quintell Beach and nearby lush lowland rain forest which boasts a bird life that draws watchers from across the world. The beach is dramatic and spectacular and features as a common thread in the artists work.</p>
<p>Many of the clans from this area have traditionally lived close to the beach which has and still provides an excellent source of foods. Fishing is still the most popular past time in Lockhart River.</p>
<p>The arts centre is an incorporated not for profit body managed by a small team of staff. From the sale of each painting 50% is paid directly to the artist who then shares their funds with the rest of their community and family.  50% is put back into supporting artists through the arts centre. The centre provides artists with canvas, paints, brushes, exhibitions, travel, workshops etc.</p>
<p>Artworks are on display and can be purchased from the Arts Centre and selected national and international galleries featured on the website.</p>
<p><strong>Ph: 07 40607341</strong></p>
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<p> Where I go fishing by Josiah Omeenyo<br />
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