Things to do in Cooktown, Queensland

The best things to do in Cooktown, Queensland, include the Cooktown Museum, fishing charters and the Cooktown Botanic Gardens.

Cooktown, Queensland, is much further north than many overseas visitors tend to get. At the mouth of the Endeavour River, Cooktown is where Lt James Cook beached his ship for repairs while exploring Australia’s east coast in 1770. These days, Cooktown has an end of the line feel about it, on the western edge of Cape York, and at the end of the Mulligan Highway.

If you do take on the drive from Cairns to Cooktown, it’ll take you just under four hours. Or longer if you’re heading up the 4WD-only Bloomfield Track from Cape Tribulation.

Despite the distance from a city of any reasonable size, it feels as though Cooktown has plenty of untapped potential. Indeed, there are several things to do in Cooktown.

Things to do in Cooktown, Queensland: Grassy Hill Lookout and Cooktown Museum

In the town itself, Cooktown attractions include the Grassy Hill Lookout, Cooktown Museum and Cooktown Botanical Garden. Grassy Hill was where Lt James Cook climbed to survey the surrounding reefs and find safe passage. The view is pretty much the same today as it was back in 1770, albeit with an extra lighthouse.

Cooktown, Queensland, between the mouth of the Endeavour River and the Mount Cook National Park. Photo

The Cooktown Museum – sometimes called the James Cook Historical Museum – is inside a 19th century convent. It majors on Cook’s expedition, and has the Endeavour’s original anchor and cannon on display. But there’s also a heavy emphasis on the local Aboriginal people, the Guugu Yimithiir. This partly looks at how they interacted with Cook and crew during their enforced stay by the Endeavour River, but also at wider traditions and beliefs.

What to do in Cooktown, Queensland: Cooktown Botanic Gardens

The Cooktown Botanic Gardens are much older than you might expect. They were set up in 1878, and cover 62 hectares. There’s a wide array of beautiful tropical plants to see. The most interesting sections of the Cooktown Botanic Gardens, however, cover the species traditionally used by the Guugu Yimithiir people and those collected by Endeavour botanists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander in 1770.

National parks near Cooktown, Queensland

There are also several national parks around Cooktown. The closest is the Mount Cook National Park, just south of the town centre. This is basically preserved rainforest surrounding the 431m-tall Mount Cook. There are two walks to lookouts. The 1.8km return Mungurru Lookout walking track is easier going than the steep 1.6km Waymbuurr Lookout walking track. Both offer splendid views out over the Great Barrier Reef, however.

A little further to the south of Cooktown are the Annan River National Park and Kalkajaka National Park. There’s no visitor access to the Annan River National Park, so forget about that one.

Things to do in Cooktown, Queensland: Kalkajaka National Park

The Kalkajaka National Park, formerly known as the Black Mountain National Park, covers a range of big granite boulders. It is a place of major significance to the local Aboriginal people and the only public access is to a lookout with signs on the eastern side.

The Endeavour River National Park to the north of Cooktown is also undeveloped, and best eplored by boat. Expect plenty of crocodiles if you do venture in.

Cooktown attractions: Isabella Falls and Trevathan Falls

There are also several waterfalls around Cooktown. Most impressive of these is Isabella Falls, a 30 minute drive to the north-west along the Endeavour Valley Road. There’s a safe swimming hole at the bottom of this multi-tiered cascade, as it’s too far inland for the saltwater crocs.

Taller, and more dramatic, is Trevathan Falls. Off the Mount Amos Road, south of Cooktown, you’ll need a 4WD to get to Trevathan Falls. But there’s a gorgeous rainforest-surrounded swimming hole when you get there.

Cooktown tours and fishing charters

You might prefer to explore Cooktown and surrounds on a tour. There are several fishing charters available. Cooktown Barra Charters specialises in catching big barramundi and reef fish.

Riverbend Tours, meanwhile, talks about the region’s history while exploring the Endeavour River and surrounding creeks at sunset. The sunset cruises come with a cheese platter and spotlighting amongst the mangroves.

Cooktown accommodation

Cooktown accommodation options include the charming cottages at Milkwood Lodge and the Sovereign Resort Hotel, which has tropical gardens and a lagoon-style pool.

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