Driving on the newest inland route from Cairns to Cooktown is obviously more pleasurable compared to more adventurous Bloomfield Track that runs up the Coast. 340 klms of bitumen in 4 hours with a refreshment stop at The Palmer River Roadhouse is really a comfortable drive. cairns private girls

About 25 klms from Cooktown we could see the ominous peaks of The Black Mountain National Park before us. So many tales have already been related over the years regarding these strange granite formations that rise above us on both parties of the highway. Tales of so many people entering this area, never to return. These granite monoliths serve to cover up enormous deep caves which can be the domain of millions of bats and their ever present predator, the giant python. A couple of photos taken from The Lookout and we continued the previous few klms into our final destination, Cooktown.

We found The Cooktown Hotel in Charlotte Street and entered the leading door of this establishment to find a few locals sitting and chatting over their favourite beers. Behind the bar of this famous icon of yesteryear was Merrilee and Rick, our hosts to be, for the duration of our visit. Formalities exchanged we settled into our accommodation and chose to relax in the bar for some hours after the journey from Cairns. A great meal in the Beer Garden later that evening saw us retire to our room for an early night. 

Arriving a couple of days prior to The Discovery Festival afforded us the opportunity to operate a vehicle around and have the feel of the place. So the following morning we lay out for The Lookout on Grassy Hill where, 238 years ago, Captain James Cook had stood to contemplate his navigational options whilst looking out on the dangerous reefs. A steep climb to the very best and we arrived at the lighthouse. Magnificent views, unchanged, and revealing the difficulties that great navigator faced in those early years. A feeling of pride for a fellow countryman, that rarely surfaces in this author is an invitation to others to take a walk up Grassy Hill.

On leaving Grassy Hill we headed for The James Cook Museum to see artifacts from The Endeavour including the initial anchor and one of the ship’s cannon. European, Chinese and Aboriginal History also feature in this building.

The Old Bank Museum is another place of interest that we visited to encounter displays of Cooktown and The Palmer River pioneering and gold rush days. At the entrance to The Bank is really a bronze bust of Captain James Cook.

The afternoon took us to The Botanical Gardens where Banks and Solander had walked dozens of years ago. These gardens are likely one of the oldest and historically significant Botanic Gardens in Queensland. Close by we visited The Cooktown Cemetery with it’s history of the old characters of the pioneering days. privategirls mackay

We chose to retire to the hotel after a long day exploring this old town and relax with a couple of beers and take in a few of The Cooktown Hotel’s atmosphere. The’Top Pub’since it is colloquially known by the locals is really aptly named. When it is happening anywhere in Cooktown it’s happening at The Cooktown Hotel. Another superb evening meal, an early night, ready for the newest day ahead.

Prior to 8-00 am on Friday 6th June we headed out to another historical icon of the area. 30 minutes later mcdougal and Liz were sitting having a breakfast beer at the bar of the famous Lion’s Den. This establishment is really a corrugated iron shed that’s served the area miners for all a year. It has accommodation on site that I can safely describe as budget, and the lion guarding the font entrance has one eye missing, due quite more likely to the departure of an unhappy inebriated patron. The walls inside The Lions Den are completely covered with memorabilia donated by visitors from the past.

Heading back towards Cooktown we chose to take a left on the Hopevale Road and visit the Endeavour Falls. Situated in the Endeavour Falls Tourist Park this area can just only be visited on gaining permission of the park proprietors as this area is private property. A quick walk from the entrance provided us with photographic opportunities and a few days later we were on our long ago to Cooktown. The afternoon was spent relaxing, ahead of the Official Opening of The 2008 Discovery Festival being held on the lawns of The James Cook Museum.

Ceremonies over, we elected to return to the hotel for the evenings entertainment featuring’Anthillbillies’a live band from Mount Molloy rather than going on to The Fishing Lease near The Warf for there live music from’Go Troppo ‘. From our balcony looking west throughout the Endeavour River we took in the sunset and enjoyed a great view of the band performing in the Beer Garden. After having a great show we were joined on the balcony by the band have been residing in the hotel for 2 nights and conversation continued til early hours of the morning.

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