COOKTOWN – GATEWAY TO CAPE YORK AND A 4WD ADVENTURE

Often described as the ‘gateway’ to the Cape, Cooktown is the last major town on the east coast of Australia.  Cooktown is also a great base from which to visit the Rock-art sites at Laura, the extraordinary Black Mountain, beautiful Archer Point, Wet-tropics rainforest of Rossville and the Bloomfield Valley or Lakefield National Park.

But if it’s the tip of Cape York you are yearning for then the trip north is an adventure worth its weight in gold.  The countryside of Cape York is ever changing, along with its travellers.  Excitement starts to build as your tyres hit the dust on the Peninsula Developmental Road at Lakeland, but quickly diminishes 374km later when you are still travelling that easy, dirt highway with little more than a few ‘dips’ and mild corrugations. You find yourself starting to wonder when the ‘real’ Cape York experience begins. But don’t be fooled – although this section of road north is pretty uneventful, the countryside must be appreciated and caution should still be taken to avoid the odd road train or wandering wildlife.

The landscape changes so quickly in the Cape and the time of year you decide to travel will be the dictator of all challenges yet to come. If you are thinking of travelling the Cape in a week, then think again. It is unfortunate to see so many travellers ‘literally’ flying along the road at Godspeed in an attempt to reach the tip in what is an unrealistic time frame. Yes, it may only be approximately 1000km, but hard kilometres at that. Take your time, as much time as possible. Enjoy every minute, meet as many people as you can, and be proud to be amongst those who have seen this piece of paradise in Oz.

For more information, story ideas or assistance in organising a feature on anything relating to Cooktown and the environs, please contact Vanessa Gillen, PR Consultant to Cook Shire Council, on 0412 318690 or vanessagillenpr@gmail.com