Cooktown Travel Guide
Cooktown accommodation, Cooktown activities and attractions, Cooktown maps, transportation to and around Cooktown - the ALL NEW Jasons Cooktown Destination Travel Guide is your complete visitor guide for Cooktown.
Cooktown is a frontier town - north of Cooktown the wilderness of
Cape York Peninsula is accessible only by four-wheel drive. For those who venture to this sleepy out-of-the-way coastal village, the rewards are many – pristine beaches and bays, walking trails and freshwater swimming holes, interesting characters in the local pubs and great fishing. There are also numerous historic buildings, an excellent museum and a remarkable cemetery to explore.
Cooktown’s main claim to fame is as Australia’s very first European settlement. Captain James Cook, having accidentally struck the Great Barrier Reef off Cape Tribulation, spent from 17 June to 4 August 1770 on the shores of the Endeavour River while he repaired his boat, Endeavour. Every June the town celebrates this historic event with the Discovery Festival, which includes a colourful re-enactment of Cook’s landing.
Geographic Location
235km north of Cairns