Cooktown was named amed after Captain James Cook who was forced to make landfall at the mouth of the river after a nasty encounter with the Great Barrier Reef in 1770

Cooktown
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Cooktown was named after Captain James Cook who was forced to make landfall at the mouth of the river after a nasty encounter with the Great Barrier Reef in 1770. Naming the river after his boat The Endeavour, the area was not settled until 1872 when an influx of Europeans and Chinese surged towards the newly discovered gold fields of the Palmer River. Cooktown prospered until the gold ran out and the population left for greener pastures. The following years saw Cooktown as a sleepy tropical north Queensland town, waiting to be rediscovered. With an all weather sealed road being constructed in recent times prosperity is once again returning to Cooktown. Tourism is a growing industry with travellers to the north discovering what James Cook wrote about 300 years earlier. The population is about 1500 people, modern shopping facilities, accommodation, camping grounds and restaurants all share space with old colonial buildings creating a friendly relaxed atmosphere. Fishing is very much a part of life in Cooktown and the local wharf is renowned for some great catches. The Endeavour River is home to some rather large salt water crocodiles and is fringed with majestic rainforest and mangrove swamps. Fauna and flora is unique in Cooktown and was described by Joseph Banks in 1770, as a botanists heaven, a walk through the botanical gardens will confirm Bank's words. History can be retraced with a visit to the historic cemetery, here you can trace the ups and downs of life in past times. A unique Chinese shrine, graves of ship wreck victims, the mysterious "Normanby Woman", and may more stories unfold with a walk around the old head stones. Of course the James Cook museum is well worth a visit, described as one of the best museums in the country. It houses the anchor of The Endeavour, a section dedicated to Cpt. James Cook, pioneering history and a wonderful section on Aboriginals of early days. Plan to spend at least a couple of days in Cooktown, longer if possible, this will give you the chance to meet the locals and explore this historic town and surrounds. The Heritage listed Botanic Gardens are open 9am to 5pm daily and are well worth a visit, check out their website www.naturespowerhouse.info Experience the Cooktown Discovery Festival over the weekend of the 10 - 12 June 2006 featuring a re-enactment of Capt Cook's landing For all the current information on what is happening log on to www.cook.qld.gov.au
BACK

Cooktown was named after Captain James Cook who was forced to make landfall at the mouth of the river after a nasty encounter with the Great Barrier Reef in 1770. Naming the river after his boat The Endeavour, the area was not settled until 1872 when an influx of Europeans and Chinese surged towards the newly discovered gold fields of the Palmer River. Cooktown prospered until the gold ran out and the population left for greener pastures. The following years saw Cooktown as a sleepy tropical north Queensland town, waiting to be rediscovered. With an all weather sealed road being constructed in recent times prosperity is once again returning to Cooktown. Tourism is a growing industry with travellers to the north discovering what James Cook wrote about 300 years earlier.

The population is about 1500 people, modern shopping facilities, accommodation, camping grounds and restaurants all share space with old colonial buildings creating a friendly relaxed atmosphere. Fishing is very much a part of life in Cooktown and the local wharf is renowned for some great catches. The Endeavour River is home to some rather large salt water crocodiles and is fringed with majestic rainforest and mangrove swamps. Fauna and flora is unique in Cooktown and was described by Joseph Banks in 1770, as a botanists heaven, a walk through the botanical gardens will confirm Bank's words. History can be retraced with a visit to the historic cemetery, here you can trace the ups and downs of life in past times. A unique Chinese shrine, graves of ship wreck victims, the mysterious "Normanby Woman", and may more stories unfold with a walk around the old head stones. Of course the James Cook museum is well worth a visit, described as one of the best museums in the country. It houses the anchor of The Endeavour, a section dedicated to Cpt. James Cook, pioneering history and a wonderful section on Aboriginals of early days.

Plan to spend at least a couple of days in Cooktown, longer if possible, this will give you the chance to meet the locals and explore this historic town and surrounds. The Heritage listed Botanic Gardens are open 9am to 5pm daily and are well worth a visit, check out their website www.naturespowerhouse.info Experience the Cooktown Discovery Festival over the weekend of the 10 - 12 June 2006 featuring a re-enactment of Capt Cook's landing

For all the current information on what is happening log on to www.cook.qld.gov.au