Everything - Cooktown

The Gold Rush

Little happened after Cooks initial landing until William Hann set out on his overland journey of exploration in 1872. The discovery of payable alluvial gold deposits at the Palmer river in 1873 by James Venture Mulligan, sparked a huge gold rush, drawing prospectors not only from Australia, but also from around the world.

The Great Tropical Drive Daintree Explorer Trail

This is a classic 4WD driving experience from Mossman to Cooktown including the renowned Bloomfield Track

The Great Tropical Drive Discovery Trail

The Great Tropical Drive is a self-drive route that will take you from Cairns and Townsville to some amazing places in Tropical Australia. The Discovery Trail is a loop from Cooktown to Laura to Cooktown.

The Normanby Woman

Mystery and intrigue surround the origins of the 'Normanby Woman'. Over the years, fact and fiction have mingled. Here is one rendition of the story.

The Old Bank, Cooktown

The 'Old Bank' building was originally built in 1891 as the Queensland National Bank and is typical of the Victorian era with magnificent red cedar counters.

The Story of Mungurru and Wahalumbaal birri

How Mungurru (the rock python) made the Wahalumbaal birri (the Endeavour River) from the book Aboriginal Tales from Queensland's Endeavour River by Tulo Gordon

Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery

The Vera Scarth-Johnson Art Gallery at Nature’s Powerhouse features the botanic works of artist Vera Scarth-Johnson (1912-1999).

Waterfalls

There are several scenic waterfalls in the Cooktown vicinity which make lovely picnic and day trip destinations. Several offer safe swimming in idyllic swimming holes but always check the latest information from local sources before swimming.

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Cooktown - Sports