Cooktown is a small frontier town located in the far north of Tropical North Queensland. Cooktown boasts a unique character, based on its years of geographic isolation and hard life, but it's this local charm that makes it all the more appealing. Add to this the unspoilt natural beauty of the area, and you'll really feel like you've stumbled back in time and across a local secret.
Cooktown is Australia's first non-indigenous settlement, discovered and settled by Captain Cook and his crew in 1770. Since then, Cooktown has not had it easy. From 1873-83, Cooktown was established as the port for the Palmer River gold rush, which exacerbated race relations between the Europeans, Aboriginals and Chinese. Visit the James Cook Historical Museum to explore Cooktown's interesting past, including the gold rush days and Cook's voyages.
Another must-see is a visit to Grassy Hill Lookout, where you can experience 360 degree views of the countryside and beaches. There is also a walking track from the summit to the nearby beach at Cherry Tree Bay.
Every June the town celebrates Cooktown's status as Australia's first European settlement with the Cooktown Endeavour Festival, which includes a colourful re-enactment of Cook's landing.
In the past, Cooktown could only be accessed by four wheel drive vehicles, but with the completion of the sealed Cooktown Developmental Road in January 2006, Cooktown is now more accessible to everyone.
I DID IT! I LICKED A GREEN ANT/WEAVER ANT'S BUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tastes tangy - but it would take a sh*tload to get enough for a drink!
Today we are going to do very little - Val's going to make cards and I am waiting for my water, sugar, yeast mixture to mature - nearly ready so I am going to extract the better liquid and then add a flavour to make it more palatable. All very interesting things to do today - just to prove to you that our life is NOT all glamorous and fun - this morning Val defrosted the fridge. Yesterday Val mopped the floor. We HAVE to do the washing up EVERY day - that's what happens when you don't have much crockery (plasticery?).
And now, after all that excitement, we are going to have morning smoko. WOW - the life we lead. One of our sons, Damien, suggested that we add a map to our daily blog - have tried son - so far no luck. I have been trying to add a hyperlink but that doesn't seem to work. Next step is to scan a map and each day we will draw a line as to where we are and where we are going. Nope - cannot
upload a PDF or IMG or TIFF....fkn nuffink!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We met a couple last night at drinkies time - they are from S.A. and came to Cooktown up the middle. They went fossicking at Mt Surprise and surprise surprise they found some very nice and quite large specimens of Topaz. We will be going there in about 2 weeks time.
The weather is warming up some - forecast today of 34 degrees. Because of this we have decided to omit going to Normanton, Karumba and Lawn Hill - we will plan a trip to these places when it is a bit cooler. We have another week to stay in Cooktown:- Val is going to make some pottery and I will set up my lather and do some wood turning. I have been given some Cooktown Ironwood - beautiful colour (reddish) but very tight grain - it will take a bit of work!
The park where we are was nearly full one week ago - is nearly empty now. When we do leave Cooktown we will stay in Atherton for a few days before we head west to the fossicking areas.
Now we are going to bore you with photos of sunsets.........
Block of land very top of Cooktown
Can't remember what the plaque says - something about Cook thought locals called it a 'kangaroo' - actually they said " What the f**k is he saying.
"Top Pub" - this is the night spot of Cooktown.
Endeavour River from Grassy Hill
Cooktown Sunset
Few minutes later........
and a bit later..........
....the end...........(of the sunset)
and so as the Sun sinks slowly in the west we bid a fond farewell to another glorious day in
uptown and downtown Cooktown.
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