Coral Sea view from Lighthouse
Looking towards north shore and Cape Bedford
Looking North towards Cape Bedford
Cooktown how it lies beside the Endevour River
Looking down the Endevour River.
Far north shot of Cape Bedford
Looking south along the coast skirting Mt Cook
The Coral Sea & the Great Barrier Reef . Back on the15th June 1770 Captain James Cook was offshore here in his stricken Endeavour.
Lighthouse built in England and erected in 1885. During World War II this site was used for a radar station. Afterwards after just over 100 years of serving seafarers it was made obselete. Today the local Lions club has done an excellent job of making the place a worthwhile lookout to visit.
A number of days was spent offshore waiting to judge the final approach so they could properly lay the ship for repair. North of the Endevour river today has returned to Aboriginal owned land.
During the days of the Palmer River goldrush Cooktown was a thriving comminity of 30000 people. Below is what is today and what remains of most of the buildings built around a hundred years ago.
For two days the Endeavour was anchored here while they attempted to work the tides and wind at the right moment to land. With Aborigines lighting fires to signify their arrival the crew finally managed to bring her ashore after running aground twice.
Here is a wider view of the town. It takes is most of area taken up by the Cooktown population. Cooks Landing point is on the bottom right as well as the historic buildings on the left
With sunsets rarely being less than 25 deg.C it makes for perfect evenings to spend outside most nights. This was taken in January the same time the waterfalls and creeks were all running. Don't let the idea of a 'Wet Season' rule out evenings like this.
If you are bringing a boat then the Endeavour River offers fantastic fishing and crabbing. Care should be taken to respect the area however as it is a special wildlife habitat as well as crocodiles have been seen before
Lakefield National Park with airport in foreground.
