HISTORIC COOKTOWN
Trip Start
May 08, 2008
1
55
65
Trip End
Jan 31, 2012
Where I stayed
COOKTOWN HOLIDAY PARK
Cooktown, Queensland, Australia
Friday, June 17, 2011
We left Atherton and travelled along the Kennedy Highway, and then joined the Mulligan Highway on the way to Cooktown. Last time we were up this way, it was only possible to get to Cooktown via 4WD so we enjoyed being able to travel on this great stretch of road up to Cooktown.
And what a fantastic journey it was. Such a beautiful drive with lots of lookouts, amazing mountain ranges and also quite a few quaint stops along the way. We were told by well meaning tourists to make sure we had all we needed as there was very little along the way, so we were quite surprised by this great journey about 320kms from Atherton. We passed through the "bustling" town of Mt Carbine - merely just a servo and cafe and some accommodation, and then onto the Palmer River Roadhouse which was pretty much the same. Palmer River was the site of another gold rush in the early 1800's.
Our next port of call and our lunch stop was Lakeland Downs, which was like a little oasis in the middle of nowhere. Lots of travellers enjoying this beautiful little stop on the way up or back down from Cooktown or Cape York. We passed by The Black Mountains which was just absolutely amazing. Nature just never ceases to amaze. The Black Mountains are a pile of hugh shiny black boulders with no soil and almost no vegetation, standing over 300m high, and are an area shrouded in mystery and featured in many Aboriginal legends.
Once settled we commenced our tour of Cooktown. The wharf area is just beautiful and the Museum is great. It is housed in the restored convent of the Sisters of Mercy who came out to Cooktown in the late 1800s. A beautifully restored building just ideal for this fantastic museum. Also visited the local cemetery which is also home to a lot of the history of the area.
The view from Grassy Hill and the Lighthouse is fantastic and must be visited either at sunrise or sunset. Needless to say, we chose the sunset visit. Spectacular view over Cooktown, the Endeavour River system and the Coral Sea. A beer at the local pub, fish and chippies down on the wharf and then to bed. Ah, sheer bliss.....
On our way back down we just had to call into The Lions Den Pub, which is about 30km out of Cooktown. A hundred year old pub with the most bizaar memorabilia!!! There was everything from signed undies, bras, flags, beach towels...you name it and it was hanging around in this very unique pub. There was also a caravan park area here as well, but a bit too far out of Cooktown for us, but it sure looked like a fun place to spend some time. Maybe next time.
