Cooktown Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
town in Queensland, Australia
About Cooktown
The first European visit to Cooktown took place whenCaptain Cookholed his ship on a reef just south of Cooktown, and beached his ship at the mouth of the Endeavour River to undertake repairs. He spent 48 days here, from 17 June to 4 August 1770. Over 100 years later, Cooktown became one of the main gateways into Australia with the gold rush to the Palmer River. Grand permanent buildings were established, and the population boomed. A railway was even constructed from Cooktown to the goldfields. With the passing of the goldrush days, and a decline in shipping, Cooktown went into decline. The town was frequently cut off by flooding in the wet, and the gravel road to Cooktown was washed out frequently. Cooktown became a victim of its isolation. The visit of the Queen Elizabeth II to Cooktow
Top Attractions in Cooktown
Explore the best things to see and do in Cooktown:
- ★Discovery Festival
- ★Grassy Hill
- ★James Cook Museum
- ★Mount Cook National Park
Where to Eat in Cooktown
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Jackey Jackey Thai
Where to Stay in Cooktown
- 🏨Milkwood Lodge
- 🏨Sovereign Resort Hotel
Cooktown Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: