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Cooktown
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Cooktown is a beautiful, un spoilt, small historic coastal town surrounded by stunning countryside. Sitting at the mouth of the Endeavour River, it is also Australia’s closest town to the Great Barrier Reef. With its laid-back atmosphere and friendly people, this is the perfect base to explore the rugged beauty of the Lower Cape, noted for its pristine environment and Aboriginal culture.
Cooktown
Cooktown Golf Links
Public 9-hole links course with dual tees, 5km south of Cooktown
Cooktown
Beaches, Waterfalls & Swimming Holes | National Parks & Walking Trails | Scenic Drives & Lookouts | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Cycling in Cooktown
Enjoy three family-friendly cycle trails, heritage sights and coastal scenery
Cooktown | Elim Beach | Hope Vale
Beaches, Waterfalls & Swimming Holes | Guided Tours & Cruises
Kitesurfing near Cooktown
World-class winds, deserted beaches and stunning backdrops near Cooktown
Cooktown
Beaches, Waterfalls & Swimming Holes
Cooktown Swimming Pool
Swimming pool on Charles Street next to the state school, open daily
Cooktown
National Parks & Walking Trails | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Keatings Lagoon (Mulbabidgee) Walk
The 390 metre Mulbabidgee walk was developed with local Gungarde
Cooktown
National Parks & Walking Trails | Scenic Drives & Lookouts
Mount Cook Hiking Trail
Strenuous 6km return hike with spectacular coastal and reef views
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
Cooktown
4WD Adventures | National Parks & Walking Trails | Scenic Drives & Lookouts | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Mount Cook National Park
A steep 2km trail climbs Waymbuur to a lookout with Great Barrier Reef views
Cooktown
4WD Adventures | National Parks & Walking Trails | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Cooktown Botanic Gardens
One of Queensland's oldest regional botanic gardens, in a 62ha reserve
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
Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown | Elim Beach | Hope Vale | Rainforest Coast
4WD Adventures | Beaches, Waterfalls & Swimming Holes | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Waterfalls
Scenic Cooktown waterfalls offer picnics, swimming holes and day trips
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 | Rainforest Coast
4WD Adventures | Scenic Drives & Lookouts | Wildlife & Birdwatching
The Great Tropical Drive Daintree Explorer Trail
A classic 4WD route from Mossman to Cooktown via the renowned Bloomfield Track
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
Cooktown
4WD Adventures | Indigenous Culture & Heritage | National Parks & Walking Trails | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Black Mountain National Park, (Kalkajaka N.P.)
Mysterious granite mountains, rich in Kuku Yalanji myths and legends
Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown | Lakefield
4WD Adventures | Fishing & Boating | Indigenous Culture & Heritage | National Parks & Walking Trails | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Cape Melville National Park
Remote coastline, granite boulders and sandstone escarpments
Cooktown | Rainforest Coast
4WD Adventures | Indigenous Culture & Heritage | National Parks & Walking Trails | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Cedar Bay National Park
Remote coastal park south of Cooktown, with rainforest, beaches and wildlife
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 | Lakefield | Laura
4WD Adventures | Fishing & Boating | Indigenous Culture & Heritage | National Parks & Walking Trails | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park
Vast Cape York wetlands with waterbirds, crocodiles and barramundi
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
History & Museums | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery
Explore Vera Scarth-Johnson’s botanic works and Banks Florilegium engravings