Cooktown

This is a view from Grassy Hill Lookout at Cooktown; it overlooks

the Endeavour River named after Captain Cooks Ship.

Captain Cook climbed this hill several times; to try and navigate

a safe pathway for his ship to travel back out to sea and home

to England.

A nice place to have a happy hour or a picnic!!!!

We loved Cooktown it had the perfect balance of development

and untouched beauty. Mike and the kids really enjoyed fishing the

many different rivers and bays. Claire particularly enjoyed fishing

the Cooktown wharf; where she developed her passion for the sport.

I loved the history, the beauty, the culture and the people.

Jarrod and Claire outside James Cook Museum. We all

enjoyed wandering around the museum soaking in the era

that belonged to Captain Cook and his landing at Cooktown.

As well as the history of the town since that time; including

the search for gold in nearby towns, the boom of Cooktown, it's

role in the war and it's redevelopment in recent years.

Jarrod and Claire in a musical version of a boat; the kids spent

quite a bit of time belting out tunes. The musical boat was located in the centre of cooktown

along with other significant icons that draw people's attention to the heart

and soul of Cooktown.

Of course it would not be Cooktown without a statue of the

man himself; Captain James Cook.

Every year at Cooktown they have the Discovery Festival; to mark

the occassion when Captain Cook first set foot on Cooktown soil. They have

markets, street parades, fireworks and of course the re-enactment of Cook's landing.

Here the kids take an opportunity to support a charity that takes care of

orphaned Kangaroos; cute aren't they !!!!!

We don't have very good photo's of the night festival and fireworks; but it was

fantastic. The bellydancers/firedancers were incredible. The fireworks

display was the best that I have ever seen and it went on for ages.

Well done Cooktown !!!

The re-enactment; when the Aboriginal people first observed

Captain Cook and his landing party heading into shore.

The landing party.

Captain Cook made the decision to unload most of his ship's cargo in order to

make repairs to the endeavour. He also had to work out a safe navigation path

in order to take his ship back out to sea.

Captain Cook's armed guard checking their guns in preparation to fire them.

They were loud !!!!!

Cooks first meeting with the Aboriginal leaders; both trying

to understand each other a little better.

Jarrod and Claire really enjoyed climbing all over this army tank;

as did all the other children in Cooktown for the Discovery Festival.

The tank was a memorial to all the people from Cooktown who served in the Second

World War.

Jarrod enjoying a spot of fishing; most mornings Father and Son

would head out around 6am to enjoying the rising of the sun and

wet a line together. Whilst Mother and Daughter would enjoy

a spot of peace and a morning lay in.

Mike saying goodbye to Cooktown at Sunset on our last evening.