Mike & Carol's Bushtracker Adventures Around Australia: July 2005

CAPE YORK TRIP - 2005

CAPE YORK TRIP 2005
Cooktown
Wednesday 27 July to Saturday 30 July

We left Port Douglas as a 3 Bushtracker convoy, met up with John and Rhonda at Mt Carbine and have travelled as a 4 Bushtracker convoy since. John has worked in Cape York for more than 20 years, knows the land, the history and the people and instantly became trip leader.

We stopped at Palmer River Road House for lunch and Earl Jones lookout on top of the tableland providing spectacular views of the surrounding valleys.

We arrived at Cooktown after travelling on our first red dirt road. Mike had to go back to Cairns the next day to have our burst air bags and suspension springs fixed in the Lexus. We were glad that it happened before we had travelled further north to the TIP. With the problem solved and a much happier Mike and car, we proceeded to explore Cooktown and its surrounds.

We left the caravans behind and headed off road with our 4WDs. Down to Quarantine Bay, a beautiful beach then up to Archer Point, an unbelievably windy spot on a rugged coastline; a lighthouse and derelict jetty with an interesting story attached. Some more beaches and then to Grassy Hill which overlooks Cooktown and the head of the Endeavour River. We spent some time with one of the old Matrons from the Cooktown Hospital on her cattle farm that she now runs with her adult son, daughter and son in law. Interesting stories of life in Cooktown in a previous time. Quite a remarkable way of life.

We explored the Cooktown Museum which is located in a beautiful brick building and wrought iron balconies which was once a Catholic Convent school. It was amazing to see the anchor and a cannon from the Endeavour. We spent some time at a Coroboree in Anzac Park in town. Aboriginal dancer, New Guinea tribesmen, Solomon Islander pan flute players, and acrobatic troupe. Some better than others but a most enjoyable few hours. Cooktown is a friendly place and layback place.

Main street of Cooktown full of cars in town for the Cooktown Music Festival - more Toyota 4WDs than anything else.

This guy was a pigmy about 4' nothing tall but very happy to pose for this photo.

Am I not Beautiful?

New Guinea Tribesmen preparing to perform

Great to watch for the first five minutes.

The little kid in the middle stole the show during the corroborree - he was probably only 4 or 5 years old but performed perfectly.

Beautiful looking Islander preparing to take the food from the pit.

The locals preparing the Hangi - wild pig, chicken, various local vegetables cooked in the ground over hot stones and under Banana Palm leaves for several hours.

And this is the Qld Music Festival Cooktown Local Choir.

Attendants at Anzac Park for the Music Festival and Corroboree in Cooktown

Locals weaving a hat

Cooktown Music Festival celebrated at Anzac Park in the heart of Cooktown - these islanders were incredibly strong and their feats were fantastic.

Keatings Lagoon this is called but wild pigs have completely dug up this wetland and what you see is the result.

This is the Water Supply of the Annan River to Cooktown - just beautiful and the water is so clear.

Back: Steve. Phil, John, then left to right Helen, Leith and Carol.

Raging little waterfall at the little Annan River 20km south of Cooktown.

The bar at the Lion's Den - think the bloke at the front of the bar has had a few too many...

The Lion's Den is an old Pub some 30km south of Cooktown at the end of the Bloomfield track.

Story about interaction between local Aborigines and James Cook in 1770 - very worth while reading - just click on the photo to blow it up and you should be able to read it.

Original Anchor from the Endeavour

Original canon from HM Bark Endeavour

Front verandah of the Museum - beautiful building.

This used to be a Convent School - now the James Cook Museum.

Bust of James Cook inside old Bank.

Old Bank on main street, Cooktown

Local cutting coconuts at Cooktown market

One of the old pubs in Cooktown.

One beast per acre. Only 5000 acres suitable for use out of 36,000 acres on Joan's property.

John with Joan (the Matron)

Scones for afternoon tea were just delicious.

The stove in the kitchen - no doors or windows - see the scones cooking front left in the pan. And the big pot just to its right is the water being boiled for the tea and coffee.

The pantry

The lounge room

One of the Matron's (Joan) farm houses where we were invited to afternoon tea.

We drove 38km out of Cooktown to visit "The Matron" on her 64 square mile property.

Cooktown, looking South from Grassy Hill.

View of Endeavour River from Grassy Hill.

View North from Grassy Hill, Cooktown

What Captain Cook said in 1770.

History of Lighthouse

Lighthouse at Grassy Hill - Cooktown

Looking north to Archer Point from the old wharf.

This wharf was built to ship grain from the region to Japan but half was blown away by wind during loading and this venture failed - wharf quite derelict now.