Australia Eguide - Travel Guides

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Cooktown
Cooktown is on the road to Cape York north of Cairns reached on the inland or coastal
route. A gold rush started at Palmer River and a base named Cook’s Town was
established to serve as a port for the mining community. However, it is mostly noted, and
named after the grounding of Captain Cook's Endeavour on his 1770 voyage of
discovery.
Botanical Gardens
Not just gardens but also home to Nature's Powerhouse, which has displays of reptiles
and is also an art gallery. Walker Street.
Cook Monument
The Cook Monument, commemorates the landing in 1770. There is a cannon there too
made in Scotland in 1803.
Grassy Hill Lighthouse
This Lighthouse on Grassy Hill was built in England in 1885 and shipped out.It is here
that Captain Cook sat and worked out his route back to the open sea. Hope Street
James Cook Historical Museum
Captain Cook stayed in Cooktown for 48 days. Joseph Banks and David Solander the
botanists on the ship used this time to learn Australian flora and fauna. All explained in
this museum. A highlight of the museum is the HMS Endeavour's anchor and canon.
Corner of Helen and Furneaux Streets.
Lizard Island
This is Australia's most northerly reef island and is located 27km off Cooktown. Most of
the island is National park, and there are 24 tropical beaches and reefs that offer great
diving and snorkeling opportunities. One of the famous water holes is Cod Hole that is
known as an exceptional diving spot. There are several air and sea transportation charters
from Cooktown
Webber Esplanade
This is Cooktown's popular waterfront precinct. The site of Captain Cook's landing is
marked with a statue of the explorer at Bicentennial Park.
Emu Park
Emu Park is a coastal village with swimming beaches. Emu Park has a range of
accommodation, restaurants and pub. Bell Park is popular for picnics and barbecues and
home to the Bell Park Picnic Markets which are held on every third Sunday of the month.
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