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Things to do

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

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

4WD Adventures | National Parks & Walking Trails | Wildlife & Birdwatching

Bicentennial National Trail

A 5,330km self-reliant trail linking 18 national parks from Cooktown

Lakefield | Laura

History & Culture | History & Museums | Indigenous Culture & Heritage

Quinkan Cultural Centre, Laura

Explore Quinkan rock art, local heritage and Aboriginal arts in Laura

Cape York Peninsula

History & Culture | History & Museums | Indigenous Culture & Heritage

Lockhart River Arts Centre

Contemporary Aboriginal art inspired by Lockhart River’s culture and coast

Cooktown

History & Culture | History & Museums | Indigenous Culture & Heritage

Cooktown History Centre

Explore Cooktown history through stories, photos, archives and research

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

Elim Beach | Hope Vale

History & Culture | History & Museums | Indigenous Culture & Heritage

Hope Vale Arts and Cultural Centre

Explore Guugu Yimithirr culture through weaving, bush dyes and art

Archer River | Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown | Lakefield | Portland Roads | Rainforest Coast

4WD Adventures | National Parks & Walking Trails | Wildlife & Birdwatching

Bird Life

Explore 321 bird species, including 18 found only on Cape York, year-round

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

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

Cape York Peninsula

History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage

Aboriginal culture – Cape York Peninsula

Discover diverse Aboriginal cultures, languages and art across Cape York

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

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

Lakefield | Laura

Aboriginal Tours | History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage

Jarramali Rock Art Tours

Explore Quinkan Rock Art with Kuku-Yalanji traditional owners near Laura

Cape York Peninsula

Aboriginal Tours | History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage

Wik and Kugu Arts Centre, Aurukun

Explore authentic Indigenous sculpture and fibre art in remote Aurukun

Rainforest Coast

History & Culture | History & Museums | Indigenous Culture & Heritage

Bana Yirriji Arts Centre

Temporarily closed after Cyclone Jasper; a new location is being sought.

Cooktown

History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage

Cook’s Landing – Fast Facts

Endeavour's ordeal, repairs, first contact and reconciliation in Cooktown

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