Cooktown

Cooktown

 Cooktown is a small town on the mouth of the Endeavour River. It was established in 1873 as port town to supply the goldfields along the Palmer River.

Main street in Cooktown

The population of Cooktown is approximately 1,400 people and it is the most northern town on the east coast of Australia.

Another view of the main street

It was extremely windy in Cooktown when we visited the town making walking around the town a challenge at times but it was well worth the effort.

Looking out to the Coral Sea

There are many reminders of Cooktown's historic past. In 1770 Captain Cook arrived in the area to repair his ship, The Endeavour.

Statue of Captain James Cook

Along the foreshore there are memorials to this event plus a statue of James Cook.

Play equipment representing The Endeavour

While in Cooktown we visited the James Cook Museum, a two storey building portraying the history of the town and region.

James Cook Museum

Before leaving town next morning the bus drove to the Grassy Knoll lookout where good views of Cooktown

View of Cooktown

and the Endeavour River can be seen - once again, thought, it was extremely windy.

View of Endeavour River from the hill

On the way out of town we passed the Black Mountain.

Black Mountain

Road to Cooktown

Leaving Lotus Bird Lodge we then drove through Lakefield National Park experiencing a variety of scenery. The name of the park was changed to Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park in 2011.

Termite mounds

Rocky terrain

The land forming the national park was formerly several properties including Laura and Breeza. The park, from June 2011) will be co-managed by indigenous owners.
Three river systems flow through the park creating wetlands with a habitat for a variety of wildlife. The area floods during the wet season.

Lakefield National Park

In the southern section of the national park is the old Laura Station, a collection of iron former homestead buildings and farm sheds  - reminders of past times.

Old Laura Station

Lunch was once again near the banks of a river.

Picnic lunch - Heritage Tours style

On the peninsula rivers needed to be forded - easier for some vehicles than others. At lunch part of the entertainment was watching vehicles cross the river. Larger vehicles found it easier than smaller ones and sometimes vehicles required a tow when they strayed from the path.

Fording a river

Continuing on the road to Cooktown the vegetation changed, becoming greener until we reached farm lands.

Heading south

Farm land approaching Cooktown

Approaching Cooktown we crossed the Endeavour River.

Endeavour River

Weipa to Lotus Bird Lodge

Road to Weipa

Leaving Weipa we back-tracked to the main road running through the peninsula then headed south. The road to Weipa is a made road but it was not long before we were once again on the dirt roads more common in the outback.

Approach to Archer River

Further down the road we stopped for lunch by a river, a welcome change from the red dirt and sparse vegetation through which we had been travelling.

River ideal for a lunch stop

The next stop was Coen where we stopped to visit the Cape York Heritage House. Coen was originally a goldminig town.

Coen Heritage House

The next stop was the Old Musgrave Telegraph Station, now providing accommodation and camping facilities for travellers. The telegraph station was opened on the 23rd December 1886.

Musgrave Telegraph Station

The final stop for the day was  Lotus Bird Lodge  where we stayed overnight. The eco-lodge is set next to a lagoon inhabited by a variety of birds - a great location.

Cabin at Lotus Bird Lodge

It had been a long day on the road but being able to walk around the lagoon in the evening and wake up to the call of the birds next morning was a relaxing experience.

Road to Weipa

Termite Mounds

A major feature when travelling through the Cape York Peninsula is the number and variety of termite mounds.

Edmund Kennedy Memorial

A memorial marking a camp site of expedition party of Edmund Kennedy is located on the way to Bramwell Cattle Station. In 1848 the expedition left Rockingham Bay, north of Townsville, to travel north through Cape York Peninsula. Few of the expedition party survived the expedition.

Bramwell Cattle Station

We stayed the night at the cattle station and took the opportunity to wander around. Earlier in the day scrub cattle had been brought in and were in the cattle yards. During dinner we were told about the cattle station and the challenges faced. Many of the properties on the peninsula were being purchased as conservation properties and the opportunities for working in the region were disappearing.

Morton Telegraph Station

On the way to Weipa we stopped at the Morton Telegraph Station on the Wenlock River. Built in 1887 the telegraph station operated until 1987. The site is now a camping area.

Weipa

Weipa, on the Gulf of Carpenteria, is a bauxite mining town. During the afternoon we went on a bus tour of the town and of the extensive mining sites. The size of the equipment used to mine the area was impressive. Mining on this site is scheduled to continue for another ten years. As the mine is the main employer in the area there are concerns as to the future of the town.

Weipa

Cape York Peninsula

The Tip

Cape York Peninsula is a large peninsula in Far North Queensland. The most northern point is Cape York.
A map of Cape York Penisula can be found on this site.

Heritage Tours bus

When the ferry arrived at the mainland we were met by our guide from Heritage Tours who took us to our accommodation at Bamaga, a small settlement with a population of approximately 700. 

Rocky terrain

The most northern point of Cape York Peninsula is generally referred to as The Tip and exploring this area was undertaken the following day. The bus took us to the beach and as the tide was not yet in we walked along the beach until we reached the rocks. The climb down to the actual Tip was steep and it was a challenge climbing over the rocks but it was worth the effort. The views were great and we had stood on the Tip of Australia. As the tide had come in the only way back was to climb over a steep, rocky hill to return to the beach.

Bamaga Museum

While in Bamaga we visited the Bamaga Museum to view displays on the history of the area.
Next day we began the trip south to Bramwell Cattle Station.

Old Telegraph Track

Four wheel drive vehicles are definitely needed to travel the roads (or tracks) in much of this region. Part of the route is along the Old Telegraph Track. On this stage we travelled for 22 km along the track. The road was extremely rough and in some parts there were large ruts leaving little room for vehicles to pass. From time to time creeks cross the road and have to be forded by vehicles. 

Crossing the Jardine River

The Jardine River was crossed by ferry. Further along the route at Fruit Bat Falls a few members of the tour went for a refreshing swim. There was also a brief stop at Seddon Lagoon to look for turtles.

Fruit Bat Falls