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Cooktown

Beaches, Waterfalls & Swimming Holes

Cherry Tree Bay

Secluded beach with clean sand and palms, reached by walking tracks

Cooktown

Beaches, Waterfalls & Swimming Holes

Finch Bay

Mountain-framed beach with giant rocks, a river mouth and garden trails

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

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

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 & Museums

Cooktown Museum

Explore Cooktown’s history in a restored convent, from Cook to gold rush

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

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

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

Cooktown | Rainforest Coast

History & Culture

Community Markets

Explore fresh produce, crafts and local conversation at three community markets

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

Fishing & Boating | Guided Tours & Cruises | Wildlife & Birdwatching

Endeavour River

Cruise ancient mangroves and rainforest to spot wildlife and crocs

Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown | Hope Vale | Lakefield | Laura | Rainforest Coast

Fishing & Boating

Fishing in Cooktown

Explore reef, estuary, beach and rainforest fishing near Cooktown