COOKTOWN

After a long drive of 300 klm we finally arrived. I’m not used to driving big distances, so it seemed like it would never end. 

Unfortunately the weather has not been the best. The wind has been relentless since we left Cairns, the only saving grace being that it’s a strong south easterly which means it’s not a diesel guzzling head wind, it’s behind us!

The rain isn’t playing fair either so it’s a bit limiting as to what we can go and explore. 

We were talking to an elderly local yesterday and she was saying in all the years she’s lived in Cooktown she has never know it to be so wet, windy & cold!!

Of course we had to be here for that. Never mind, we are just happy knowing that we have been able to travel this far. 

There’s a lot of history here in Cooktown, so there’s a bit to see. 

We started by going down to the waterfront. Cooktown has a population of about 2,631 people so it’s not a big place.

We started at the waterfront this arvo in between showers. 

It’s very clean & so tidy. 

There’s a numbered guide where you can walk to a lot of interesting history, so hopefully we can get to do them all. 

Cooktown is at the mouth of the Endeavour River on Cape York Peninsula where James Cook beached his ship for repairs in 1770. 

Gold was also discovered in the Palmer River here in 1872, which began the gold rush that brought prospectors from all over the world. 

A Chinese community of many thousands grew up in the goldfields and played a big role in Cooktown, originally as prospectors, but many established market gardens.

This is Mick the Miner (he’s obviously an Aussie with that name!)

There’s a historic cemetery that we went out to see, unfortunately there are a lot of unmarked graves, but a large Chinese shrine.

Had to laugh at the “Queen Steps”

As I said, you get a numbered brochure with about 27 points of interest and the Queen Steps was number 2.

We searched everywhere for these damn steps, couldn’t understand how we couldn’t find these lovely steps that were made for, and I quote 

“The Queens Steps - made for HM Queen Elizabeth 11 for her visit to Cooktown in 1970 to open the James Cook Museum”

Drum roll please.... we found them.......

Hope you’re all impressed with them !!!??

Not a plaque to be found! 

So we are doing the other ‘points of interest’ when the weather gets better....fingers crossed!

We did drive to a little bay that we found on the map. You went along a dirt road, parked the car and went down a track that opened onto a little bay. 

I thought this looked like a beached whale from a distance. As we got closer we realised it was a big smooth rock.  

You could walk from there to the botanical gardens but the heavens opened again so we will get there another day. 

We have booked in the caravan park for six days, that was all we could have as it’s booked out as they have a big festival on next weekend. So rain, hail or shine....we have to see everything as we won’t be back this way again. 

More to come ...... watch this space .........