Cooktown - Nature, Adventure and Discovery — Cooktown and Cape York Peninsula

Beaches

Cooktown and the Cape York Peninsula are fringed by long deserted beaches which are ideal for a great day out by the sea.

Birdwatching in and near Cooktown

Cooktown is an ideal place for bird watching, because there are four main geographical regions that meet here, each with its own set of special birds – Wet Tropics rainforest, Cape York Peninsula forests, coastal wetlands and mangroves, and the drier woodlands of the Laura and Battlecamp escarpments. Then offshore we have the Great Barrier Reef and islands

Black Mountain National Park, (Kalkajaka N.P.)

The mysterious Black Mountains are steeped in myths and legends, and are a special story place for the Kuku Yalanji people.

Cooktown Botanic Gardens and Gallop Botanic Reserve

Cooktown Botanic Gardens. Established in 1878 the Gallop Botanic Reserve encompases 62.3 Ha (154 acres) on the edge of Cooktown and contains the Cooktown Botanic Gardens and walking trails to Finch Bay and Cherry Tree Bay.

Death Adder

The Common Death Adder is the world's 16th most venomous snake and probably the fastest of all Australian snakes when it comes to striking a victim.

Family Friendly Holidays

Cooktown and the surrounding region is the perfect family holiday destination - experience different cultures, stunning natural attractions, fun activities, family friendly accommodation and a safe environment

Great Barrier Reef

One of the seven wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef is an incredible living ecosystem. Vibrant colours, a myriad of fish species and crystal blue waters, refresh, invigorate and inspire.

Hope Islands National Park

Two low lying coral cays, West Hope is a shingle cay dominated by mangroves and East Hope is a sandy cay.

Lizard Island

Located 93 km north of Cooktown and 27km from the coast these 6 islands are part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Public moorings are provided for private boats and there is an airstrip for small aircraft.

Mount Cook National Park

Rising to 431m Mount Cook provides a scenic backdrop to Cooktown. The rainforest clad granite hill is known as Waymbuur by the Aboriginal Traditional Owners.

Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land)

Rinyirru (Lakefield) is Queensland’s second largest National Park and the largest park in Cape York at 537,000 ha. Spectacular wetlands and extensive river systems attract a great diversity of waterbirds while estuarine and freshwater crocodiles bask along the river banks and barramundi wait in the shallows.