Description
A charming coastal town in Queensland, Australia, Cooktown is home to stunning sandy beaches, surrounded by vibrant tropical rainforests, and boasts a unique culture with an interesting history to learn more about. While in Cooktown, you’ll have the chance to explore this area's history in more detail with visits to both the Cooktown History Centre and Cooktown Museum, discover plant species traditionally utilised by Aboriginal peoples in the Cooktown Botanic Gardens, and indulge in sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding area from atop Mount Cook or the popular Grassy Hill Lookout. This destination is also known for being a gateway to Australia’s spectacular wilderness, with the Great Barrier Reef just beyond the golden-sand beaches and charming waterfront area. At the mouth of the Endeavour River, you’ll find excursions both in-land and out to sea available here, each offering unique sightseeing opportunities and unforgettable experiences.
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Things to do
Great Barrier Reef
Comprising over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system; it sits off the coast of Queensland, Australia, and stretches around 1,400 miles over an area of approximately 133,000 square miles. It’s so big, you can see it from outer space, and it’s the world’s largest single structure made by living organisms. Supporting a staggering diversity of marine life, with over 1,500 fish species among the aquatic mammals and sea birds calling the reef and its islands home (and that’s not even going into the hundreds of invertebrates and coral species found here). Threatened by global warming, any chance to visit this remarkable natural landmark should be taken advantage of.
Cooktown Museum
Located in a former school and convent, which was built circa 1889, the Cooktown Museum is a fantastic place to visit if you’re looking to learn more about the fascinating history of this remarkable town and the expeditions of Captain James Cook – who spent seven weeks on the Endeavour River and made the first meaningful contact between Europeans and the Indigenous Australian population here.
Cooktown Botanical Gardens
First established officially in 1878, the Cooktown Botanic Gardens boast five major plant collections; these are: species traditionally used by Aboriginal peoples, species collected by naturalists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander circa 1770, flora given by the Queensland Acclimatisation Society throughout the 19th century, a collection curated by local artist Vera Scarth-Johnson, and a variety of rare and threatened endemic plant species. You’ll also find several unique gardens here, and over 200 bird species have been recorded in the botanical gardens and winder botanic reserve. A relaxing destination to explore while ashore, it’s never a bad idea to spend some time strolling in the sunshine here.