Exploration of Coktown, the historic landing site of Captain Cook

Exploration of Coktown, the historic landing site of Captain Cook

We visit Coktown in the far north of Queensland, where Captain James Cook put his damaged ship on the beach and helped to found a huge country

When you have seen a map of Australia, you have seen the huge, remote Kap-York peninsula, an area that is larger than Great Britain but has only 18,000 inhabitants. The Cape York peninsula, which is based on the northernmost point of Australia, is pointing towards Torres Strait and New Guinea in the northeastern corner of the continent -sized island of Australia.

On the southeastern edge of the approximately 2,600 inhabitants, Coktown, a small town with great history, is located. During our small ship expedition around the Great Barrier Reef with Coral Expeditions we made a morning.

Alt = “Exploration of Cooktown Australia 1 ″Atlas & BootsView over the water from Coktown

As an exploration junkie, which is obsessed by maps, great expeditions and epic discovery trips, I was only too pleased to enter the legendary country of Coktown.

Large southern continent

Lieutenant James Cook stood in 1768 as the captain of the HMS Endavour, a converted coal ship, from Plymouth, Great Britain, from to sail. It was the first of his four legendary trips to the Pacific Ocean. The almost 30 m long ship promoted 93 men to Tahiti. Your mission: watching the "transit of Venus".

The endavour was bore further "secret" instructions to take possession of "a continent or a country of great expansion", which is assumed that it exists in the southern latitudes. Cook was commissioned to discover the legendary - but unexplored - large southern continent.

In October 1769 the endavour reached the coast of New Zealand and was the first European ship since Abel Tasmans Heemskerck in 1642. The ship continued to the north to what was known at the time as Terra Australis.

Alt = “Coktown Australia explore 8 ″Atlas & BootsA model of the HMS Endavour

On April 29, the endavour landed as the first European ship on the east coast of Australia. Cook landed on the south coast of today's Botany Bay in Sydney.

The endavour continued north and sailed along the east coast of Australia. The ship and its crew only escaped a disaster after they had ran at the Great Barrier Reef.

After throwing weapons and supplies to facilitate the ship, the crew managed to free the endavour. Just a week later, on June 17, 1770, they placed on the beach at the mouth of the later endavour River.

Cook and his crew stayed on site for 48 days while making repairs. Here they met the tribe of Aboriginal Guugu Yimithirr, which led to the first documented significant contact with Australia's indigenous people.

On July 19, 1770, they started their return trip to Great Britain and after almost three years at sea reached the English port city of Dover on July 12, 1771.

Kochstadt today

Today Coktown makes the best of its maritime history with the outstanding James Cook Museum in the center. The museum is housed in a beautiful, built -in former monastery in 1899 and shows well -preserved relics, including the cannon and the anchor of the Endeavor - which were recovered in 1969 by an American research team - as well as diary entries and exhibitions on local indigenous culture.

We spent an hour to hike through the rooms of the small museum, fascinated by the stories shown. The extracts from cooks are particularly convincing. You describe the first meeting of his crew with the tribe of Aboriginal Guugu Yimithirr as well as the skirmish and reconciliation before the ship leaves. There is also a report on Cook's life in a number of boards on the walls.

Other galleries house objects from the students and nuns, which the monastery once called their home, stories from the Palmer gold rush and an exhibition dedicated to the Chinese heritage of the region. The Indigenous Gallery offers a fascinating insight into the culture and history of Guugu Ymithiir, especially in its perspectives of encounters with Cook and his crew.

The Bicentennial Park, which is littered with memory of historical landing, is located along the waterfront. This includes the much photographed bronze statue of Captain Cook and a second monument that was built over a hundred years ago. The high sandstone column and the plaque rise from a square base that contains drinking fountain on each side. Outside in the water there is also a rock that marks the area where the Endeavour has run.

Alt = “Exploration of Cooktown Australia 15 ″Atlas & BootsCaptain Cook's bronze statue

Nearby is the Milbi Wall, a 12 m long mosaic installation, which represents the history of the local Aborigine tribe Guugu Yimithir. The installation, which is divided into three parts, shows the stories of the Endavour River and its surroundings, the first meeting between the indigenous people of the Kap-York Peninsula and the Europeans as well as the referendum from 1967, when the Australians recognized the rights of the indigenous people.

It is also worth a look at the rustic and charming post office to send a postcard with a stamp on the subject of Captain Cook (what else!). The post office was founded in 1880 and at the same time serves as the seat of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology for the region.

Finally there is the Grassy Hill Lookout, the 162 m high hill, the cook, looking for a safe passage, climbed through the reefs. The first documented European sighting of kangaroos took place here. The scientist Joseph Banks recorded the animals in his diary as a "gangurru", which he transcribed as a "kangaroo". The 360-degree view of the city, the river and the sea is worth the 20-minute walk from the city.

We went to Queensland to dive and snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef, but to go ashore in Coktown, step into the footsteps of legend, learn about its unique story and stroll through the pretty city, was a fascinating detour from the rolling coral sea.

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Atlas & Boots

Explore Coktown: The essentials

What: Explore Coktown, the historic landing site of Captain Cook in Australia.

Where: We stayed on Coral Expeditions II in a cabin on the upper deck. Our room was extremely comfortable and surprisingly spacious with lots of storage space and a breathtaking sea view.

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Atlas & Boots

Aperitifs were served on the upper deck and the meals were taken in the dining room of the lower deck, where chef Mark Festermahle prepared for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as morning and afternoon tea.

The maximum capacity of 44 guests (ours 22) ensures an excellent camaraderie and atmosphere, which is reinforced by a delightful crew. Overall, it was a wonderful way to explore the Great Barrier Reef.

When: The best time to visit Coktown, Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef is from July to October due to good visibility and little rain and wind.

Like: We have joined Coral Expeditions for a 7-night expedition from Cairns to Hinchinbrook Island, Lizard Island and back to Cairns.

The prices start at 3,680 AUD ($ 2,720) per person and contain all meals, tea and coffee, snorkeling equipment and neoprene suits, snorkeling excursions, guided journeys with the glass floor boat, presentations of marine biologists, access to islands, sea parks and national parks, in the introduction to the diving skills for initial divers and returns to a hotel in Cair or To Cairns Airport. The prices do not include dives ($ 80 AUD / $ 60 per person, per dive) or Stinger Suits. Note that there is no internet access on board.

Expeditions start and return to Cairn's Cruise Liner Terminal. Before the departure, you will receive instructions for getting in that you are worth reading, since taxi drivers do not always know exactly where to go.

Cairns itself can be reached by car from Hertz Australia, by bus from Greyhound Australia or by plane to Cairn Airport. Book domestic or foreign flights via Skyscanner at the best prices.

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Lonely Planet Australia is a comprehensive travel guide for the country, ideal for those who want to explore the most important sights and take less roads.

Disclosure: We explored the Great Barrier Reef with the support of Coral Expeditions. All publications say that, but we really don't guarantee positive reporting. We say what we think - good and bad - so that you can make well -founded decisions with honest advice.

Mission statement: public domain

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