Cooktown.... Much to see???

I reckon its a nice drive up to Cooktown and wife and I love the place. The drive up tales you over the Palmer river where you should stop at the pub and look at the pictures on the wall. Good pies at Lakeview. You go over a mountain (hill, for those from o/seas) and get a great view back a long the road south. Two museums worth seeing. Lot of caravans up there in the season. Renowned for being a windy city, but. Just has a nice ambience to it. Quaint, if you like. Got some history if you are interested in the old days. Market on Saturdays. People are still friendly.

Owen

Will, We drove Cairns to Cooktown via the Bloomfield Track, and returned via the tablelands and Kuranda. Scenery really changes once you get to Cooktown. We had a 4wd drive (troopy) never needed to engage 4. Areas are steep, and when we went, the water crossings were as deep as you average puddle on the road on a showery day, and the Bloomfield crossing was dry. Someone else may comment if they have done the Bloomfield with a 2wd and if they would recommend this. Fabulous trip all round, but it would be a shame to miss the whole drive via the coast, rain forest and Bloomfield.

Motherhen

Will
Try this website Cooktown It has some good info for you.

Will.

What's your reason for not wanting to hire a 4WD?

You can hire a Hyundi AWD (or similar) fairly cheaply that will get you most places you need to go. It doesn't have a low range but that didn't stop me from driving and recording Treknotes for the Bloomfield Track. I originally booked an X-Trail, but the Car Hire firm had swapped over to the Hyundi. It was adequate.

The Bloomfield Track is a pleasant and short cut drive between Cairns and Cooktown via Cape Tribulation. It is a much more scenic drive than "going by the bitumen" which was getting close to completion when I was up there.

So, there is much to see, but it's better via the "coast road". There is bitumen all the way to Cape Tribulation, then you "hit the dirt" on the Bloomfied Track (about 33 k's) until you reach the Wujal Wujal Community just across the causeway. From there it is predominately bitumen again to Cooktown through rural districts.

You can return from Cooktown via the main bitumen road and compare the different scenery for yourself.

I know which route I enjoyed the most.

PS. Just one qualification. If its very wet, forget the Bloomfield under these conditions as the creek and river crossings may prove a "challenge" but in normal weather, go for it.

Have a look at the treknotes for the Bloomfield Track under the heading of "Treks" above. You may be very disappointed if you didn't try that route.

Will - whatever you do don't miss out on a visit to the Lions Den....easily accessed from the north just turn south off the Mulligan Highway about 28km south of Cooktown...Lions Den is just a short run of about 5km.

Hi ozwasp
I agree with stopping in at the Lions Den even stay over night, we love staying there, ask to get a safari tent.
Driving either way is fine and an enjoyable drive with plenty of scenery.
There is a great museum there, well worth going in for a look, a lot of history. Not much else to do after a day of looking around.
Cheers
Richo

I personally love cooktown plenty to see and do.

You can drive up to the lookout and watch the sunset.

Go fishing on the wharf or hre a bout or do a guided fishing trip.

The botanical gardens are a nice walk.

There is a couple of museums.

Go up to hope vale and do a fully guided tour with Gordon Eddy a local aboriginal (I actually haven't done this but have heard many good reports) I think you can get his name from were you are staying.

If you had 4wd you gan also go up to Elem beach and the coloured sands about 180k round trip.

Down to archer point.

Black mountain

The list goes on

Have a good one

All thebest
Eric