Queensland

Cook Area

Where Cook's ship first touched Australian soil, and the story goes back even further

Cooktown marks the spot where Captain Cook beached the Endeavour in 1770 after striking the reef, and the encounter that followed with the Guugu Yimithirr people is now recognised as one of the first recorded meetings between European and Aboriginal Australians. The James Cook Museum tells that story properly, alongside the town's own gold rush and pioneering history. Getting here is the adventure itself: the Bloomfield Track winds up from Cairns through rainforest archways and secluded beaches, built for a 4WD and a full day's drive. Beyond Cooktown, the road keeps going, all the way to Cape York and the true top of the continent.