While much of north Queensland suffered heavy flooding at the end of last year, the message from local authorities – as grey nomads begin to plot their route north – is ‘we are open for business’.
For example, the Cooktown Chamber of Commerce & Tourism says Mulligan Highway is sealed all the way and is in good condition, and the town is very much ready to welcome travellers.
Cooktown with its fascinating history, beautiful nature-bound environment, strong art tradition, friendly locals, and magnificent Dry Season climate has long been a favourite with grey nomads … and that isn’t likely to change any time soon.
It boasts four full-service caravan parks (three of them pet friendly) in town, with a further three parks just outside town. Visitors find a plenty of things to see and do, and an abundance of places to eat and drink. Of course, grey nomads weren’t the first travellers to discover this northern gem.
Spectacular views from the Grassy Hill Lookout PIC: Cooktown Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Back in 1770, following his unfortunate collision with a reef, James Cook and Joseph Banks spent seven weeks in Cooktown – longer than anywhere else in Australia. And Cook left a legacy of charts of the east coast that 100 years later showed that Cooktown was the ideal place to establish a port to service the Palmer River Gold finds in 1873.
Cooktown grew rapidly into a vibrant ‘goldrush’ town as the only way in and out of the goldfields – the Queen of the North – a town of 7,000.
Promotion in China led to a large Chinese population both in the town and the goldfields. The History Centre and Waalmbal Birri Heritage & Culture Centre, sitting side by side in Charlotte St, are great places to retrace Cook’s stay and the town’s subsequent development in the late 1800s.
Visitors can continue their exploration at the Cooktown Museum, which is set in a stunning 19th-century convent, and tells the story of how Cook saved the Endeavour after running aground on the Great Barrier Reef and nursed it into Cooktown for repairs.
Nestled on the banks of the Endeavour River as it joins the Coral Sea, Cooktown – four hours north of Cairns – is one of Australia’s most beautiful, unspoilt coastal towns.
There are many wonderful views (and sunsets) to be had starting with Grassy Hill lookout and its 360° views of the Endeavour River, the mountain backdrops and the Coral Sea and reefs. Here Cook surveyed the sea for a safe exit, and a lighthouse was built in 1886 to help the many visiting ships navigate safe passages.
The river of life walkway goes past where the HMB Endeavour was beached to where the river meets the sea at William Daku Park at the waterfront precinct with its fishing platforms and barbecues.
Many grey nomads like to stop off at the Wharf for a fish or to buy some freshly-caught local prawns. Cooktown’s historic Botanic Gardens date back to 1878 and are a great place to stroll.
From the gardens, visitors can follow the scenic track to the wide expanse of Finch Bay, the Old Quarry and on to pretty Cherry Tree Bay. The more energetic can climb on up to Grassy Hill to enjoy those stunning views.
Are you a Grey Nomad member yet? Click here to find out about the discounts, competitions and other benefits on offer.
No 48 hoùr free camp no go