Cooktown Queensland

Home of the Guugu Yimithirr people, the region is known as Gangaar, ‘(Place of the) Rock Crystals’ due to the abundance of quartz in the area. These crystals are an important aspect of Indigenous ceremonies, and there is even evidence of them being traded as far as 300km south of the region. https://www.queensland.com/au/en/plan-your-holiday/itineraries/48-hours-in-cooktown

In more recent history, this township became a place of further preciousness as a port during the Gold Rush. It’s also the place where the Endeavour ran ashore after its hull was grated along the reef, making it Australia’s first non-Indigenous settlement.

You only need to see the kind of boats bobbing around the Endeavour River to know what Cooktown does best. You won’t find luxury liners here – instead, it’s moor-to-moor fishing boats because Cooktown has the fishing scene to warrant it. In fact, it’s a world-class fishing destination known for drawing in keen anglers to their coastal community.

Join in the Gone Fishing guided tour company with your lure, fly or pole and get ready to reel in anything from coral trout, tuna, and mackerel to jacks and trevally. The river is lined with over 25 species of mangrove, so it’s no wonder the fishing is so good here.

I parked at the esplanade opposite the Police station and walked down to the RSL and back along the main road. The parklands are very beautiful. Here you can see the first well, the RSL monument, and the wrecked ship.

I drove down to the esplanade where the road winds down to the end. A self important elderly gentleman in a singlet and shorts, was quick to tell me to move on when I was taking photos. He even brought his car and trailer next to me to yell that I was in his way…so I moved on without taking the photos of the headland and decided this type of local was not worth getting to know. I drove to the RSL for lunch but the restaurant was closed…so I went to the IGA and the library and as it was very, very hot, I bought petrol and decided to return home to Laura.