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Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park has a rich and diverse landscape. In the north, grasslands and woodlands, wetlands, coastal estuaries, mangroves and mudflats are prominent. In the south, sandstone hills and escarpments dominate the landscape.is renowned for its vast river systems and spectacular wetlands. In the wet season, the Normanby, Morehead and North Kennedy rivers and their tributaries join to flood vast areas, eventually draining north into Princess Charlotte Bay. During the dry season, rivers and creeks shrink, leaving large permanent waterholes, lakes and lagoons that attract an array of animals, particularly waterbirds.
The landscape is of significant Aboriginal cultural significance. Sites associated with occupation, ceremonies and stories of ancestral spirits occur throughout the national park. The area is also rich in European cultural heritage, associated with early explorers, geologists and surveyors, and tangible links to the establishment of the Palmer Goldfields and early cattle industry.
Lakefield | Laura
Hotels & Motels | Roadhouses
Cafés | Restaurants | Roadhouses
Laura Roadhouse
Enjoy home-cooked meals and snacks undercover or among native birds
Lakefield | Laura
Camping & Caravans | Hotels & Motels
Mount Carbine Caravan Park
Peaceful bushland camping with shady sites between Cooktown and Cairns
Lakefield | Laura
Camping & Caravans | Hotels & Motels | Roadhouses
Palmer River Roadhouse
Historic gold rush roadhouse with camping, tent sites, fuel, dining and museum.
Lakefield | Laura
Camping & Caravans | Hotels & Motels
Cafés | Restaurants
Quinkan Hotel
Historic Laura hotel with campground, meals and tranquil bird-filled grounds
Cape York Peninsula | Lakefield
Hotels & Motels
Lotus Bird Lodge, near Musgrave
10 en suite timber cabins with private verandahs overlooking a billabong
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
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
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
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 | 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 | Lakefield | Laura
History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
The Gold Rush
The 1873 Palmer River gold rush transformed Cooktown into a boomtown
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
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 | Lakefield | Laura
History & Culture | Indigenous Culture & Heritage
Cooktown Railway
Gold rush railway from Cooktown to Laura, operating from 1885 to 1961
Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown | Hope Vale | Lakefield | Laura | Rainforest Coast
Fishing & Boating
Fishing in Cooktown
Explore reef, estuary, beach and rainforest fishing near Cooktown
Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown | Elim Beach | Hope Vale | Lakefield | Laura | Rainforest Coast
4WD Adventures | Fishing & Boating | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Fishing near Hope Vale
Fish Cape Bedford reefs and wrecks, or explore the McIvor River
Cape York Peninsula | Cooktown | Lakefield | Laura
4WD Adventures | Fishing & Boating | Wildlife & Birdwatching
Fishing near Laura
Remote Cape York waters offer wild barra, jacks and superb mud crabbing
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
Lakefield | Laura
Cafés
Lakeland Coffee Shop and Store
Fresh coffee, groceries, maps and supplies at a favourite highway stop