uide FREE Visitor G explore COOKTOWNHistory • Adventure • Culture WUJAL UJAL | W LD FIE OM LO | B LE IL SV OS | R LEY VAL ND | LAURA | ENDEAVOUR | LAKELA WN TO OK CO Sealed highway access, daily flights and bus from Cairns. www.cooktownandcapeyork.com Explore Cooktown History • Adventure • Culture Cooktown waterfront on the Endeavour River Photo Credits Contents Tourism Queensland, Lovegreen Photography, Kerry Trapnell, Cooktown History Centre, Cook Shire Council, Explore Cooktown James Cook Museum, The Lure Shop, Ben Tome, Hamish History • Adventure • Culture ..................................................................2 Haslop, HEMA Maps and all the others who contributed images to this guide. Cape York Map...............................................................................................................4 Arrive By Self Drive, Air, or Bus .............................................................6 Design & Layout Cooktown Paykel Creative - your creative marketing agency www.paykelcreative.com.au Sightseeing in Cooktown .............................................................................8 Museums & Galleries.......................................................................................16 Publisher’s Notice History & Culture....................................................................................................18 This Visitor Guide is published by Cooktown Chamber of Botanic Gardens ....................................................................................................24 Commerce & Tourism and is Co-ordinated by Hamish Haslop Beaches & Bays ........................................................................................................26 of Pacific Downunder. This publication is only possible due to the outstanding support of the local businesses who National Parks ...........................................................................................................28 advertise within. No part of this publication may be printed, Supplies & Recreation ..................................................................................30 reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without written permission from Cooktown Chamber of Driving to Cooktown Commerce & Tourism. Outback Inland ........................................................................................................32 All care has been taken to ensure accuracy of information Rainforest Coast .....................................................................................................34 contained in the guide. However the guide is to encourage Endeavour Valley & Hope Vale ....................................................38 you to visit and explore Cooktown. HEMA maps, guidebooks Lakeland & Laura ................................................................................................40 and local knowledge should be used for remote adventures. The publisher does not in any way accept liability for Experience Fishing inaccuracies or for the loss of any kind arising out of editorial River, Reef & Beach ............................................................................................42 or advertising or otherwise. Experience Wildlife Birdwatching, Crocodiles ........................................................................43 Know the Rules....................................................................................................44 2018 Events Calendar ..........................................................................45 Emergency Services ................................................................................45 Proudly Printed by Bolton Print an ISO 14001 certified firm Community Directory ............................................................................46 © Cooktown Chamber of Commerce & Tourism 2018 Edition 2 Cooktown HISTORY • ADVENTURE • CULTURE Welcome Cape York is noted to be one of the world’s last untouched frontiers, for many it is on the top of their bucket list. Cape York today offers everyone the opportunity to explore its history, adventure and culture at their own pace. Cooktown is a beautiful, un-spoilt, small historic coastal town surrounded by stunning unparalleled countryside, nestled inside Australia’s Great Barrier Grassy Hill Reef. With its laid-back atmosphere and friendly people, this is the perfect base to explore the When to Visit rugged beauty of South East Cape York. The region Our superb tropical climate ensures that every is famous for its history, its pristine environment month is a good month to visit. and Aboriginal culture. Relax and let Cooktown’s ambience and historic stories provide a truly The Green Season (April – June) after the wet, unique experience. we welcome fresh breezes to dry the landscape from its big soak. The monsoon trough dissipates, The “Explore Cooktown” visitors guide suggests opening the sky to a welcome Queensland blue many journeys to assist your planning. The regions with warm days to cool evenings. The surrounding unique flora and fauna is diverse and accessible. flora & fauna flourishes in these optimum growing From the Palmer River on the spectacular Mulligan conditions. Daily sunshine averages around Highway, through to the town of Lakeland. Explore 7 hours and average temperature is 28˚C. the ancient Aboriginal rock art in Laura, the coastal region of Hopevale or the World Heritage The Dry Season (July to December) has fresh rainforest coastline, which is framed by pure white tropical breezes, excellent bird life and a period we sandy beaches that look out towards Australia’s define as winter. Daily sunshine averages around Great Barrier Reef and its islands. These are only a 7.5 hours and average temperature is 26˚C. few ideas to entice you! The Wet Season (usually January to March) Cooktown is open for business and accessible brings monsoon rains that brings renewed life all year round by conventional vehicle. Most in spectacular fashion to both rainforest and attractions of the region can be accessed this outback savannah. The wet is a great time to see way as well. The region is the perfect self-drive the waterfalls in full flow, the wildlife at its best and destination giving you the freedom of making enjoy incredible fishing conditions. Please note, your trip tailored to your interests. There are other many roads north of Laura & Hope Vale are subject journeys that are better accomplished by 4WD. For to flooding and may be closed during periods of more information contact the Cooktown Visitor the wet. Information Centre 07 4069 6004. Cooktown and the surrounding regions included Over the past few years the Cook Shire and within this booklet are accessible all year round Queensland Government have invested in major and welcome your adventure! road and bridge upgrades opening our region up for access, business and tourism. 3 Cooktown HISTORY • ADVENTURE • CULTURE Explore Cooktown Cape York’s Coastal Heartland 4 Cooktown HISTORY • ADVENTURE • CULTURE Direct from Cooktown airport we now offer our popular Reef Flights, Lizard Island Day Tours and Cape York Day Tours 5 Cooktown HISTORY • ADVENTURE • CULTURE Arrive By Self Drive, Air, or Bus Daintree Air Services to Mareeba then north via Lakeland Downs to Cooktown before returning to Cairns. Historically Daintree Air Services have offered Coastal service departs Cairns each Monday, their popular Air-Tours, Scenic Flights and Air Wednesday & Friday travelling to Cooktown via Charter Services from their Cairns Base. 2018 Mossman, Cape Tribulation and Wujal Wujal. marks a big change in the Company’s long The return service departs Cooktown for Cairns History as their new Cooktown base is expected each Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday. to open in May 2018. The Cooktown base represents a huge financial commitment and a big vote of Confidence in the future of Cooktown Self-Drive and Surrounds. Clients can now book to Depart There are two main routes north to get to on Charter Flights anywhere in Australia directly Cooktown. The Mulligan Highway travels inland out of and returning directly to Cooktown rather through Mt Molloy, Mt Carbine, Lakeland, Black than having to travel to Cooktown via Cairns Mountain onto Cooktown. This route is open as they have had to do previously. The very all year round, day and night, and is the typical popular Reef Flights, Lizard Island Day Tours outback scenery with open roads as far as the and Cape York Day Tours will also be available eye can see. Take caution when driving at night from Cooktown. due to wildlife and wandering stock. Rivers to watch due to Monsoon rains (Jan-April) as they can flood for short periods, Rifle Creek at Mt Bus Molloy, the McLeod after Mt Carbine, and the Little Annan River at Black Mountain. Trans North Bus & Coach offer two Cairns to Cooktown express passenger and light The infamous coastal route from Cape freight services. Tribulation to Wujal Wujal is an unsealed 4WD track (Bloomfield Track) with the remaining Inland service from Cairns to Cooktown operates road through Ayton, Rossville, Helenvale, Black three days per week departing Cairns each Mountain and onto Cooktown now sealed. This Sunday, Wednesday & Friday travelling west Charlotte Street, Cooktown 6 Cooktown HISTORY • ADVENTURE • CULTURE route is best driven North to South as the coastal Car Hire views in this direction are simply superb. This would be one of Australia’s most interesting (for further information see driving to drives which is being slowly tamed,