Wednesday, July 26, 2006
COOKTOWN
Monday 24th July:
It was a perfect day for a drive to Cooktown. Ferg and I went for our last walk along Cooya Beach, the sunrise was magnificent. We were packed and on the road by 8.30am. We stopped at Rifle Creek to check out the free camp area. There were about 20 caravans parked at the site. We will probably stop here on the way back from Cooktown.
We are staying at the Cooktown Caravan Park and we have a nice site among the gum trees. We took a drive around Cooktown after we settled in. Drove up the Grassy Hill and got some 360 degree views of Cooktown, Endeavour River and the ocean. Even Twistie found a playmate on Grassy Hill! Back at the park we met up with John and Mary (owners) for happy hour and we found out about the good fishing an
d walking spots.
Tuesday 25th July:
We went down to the wharf at 7am to try our luck at fishing. We caught some small bream on prawns and squid. The locals were catching mackerel with live bait. Our peace was disturbed though when the big Captain Cook Cruise boat came into the wharf and we were invaded by tourists. Early afternoon Ferg took a long walk up Mt. Cook (too much for me!). We again attended happy hour and met several other caravanners.
Wednesday 26th July:
Fished again, Ferg hooked a large Mangrove Jack on live bait but lost it just as he was pulling it in. Ferg went to bowls at the Cooktown Bowls club this afternoon while I took it easy back at the van. Later in the evening we both went to barefoot bowls at the club.
Thursday 27th July:
Early morning at the wharf again and we finally caught a good size mackerel. We got two good fillets for dinner. Drove out to Archer Point in the afternoon. What a magnificent spot. We kicked the Pajero into 4wd for the first time as we crossed several creeks on the way in. It is a great spot to camp but we wouldn't be able to get the van in.
Friday 28th July:
Early wharf fishing again, no luck this time. Left at 10am to do the Bloomfield t
rack, stopped at the Black Mountain Lookout on the way. Next stop was Hidden Falls at Mungumby Lodge. It was a great rainforest walk along a mountain stream. The Bloomfield track was pretty good, very dry and dusty. The Bloomfield Falls was worth the drive.
Saturday 29th July:
Wharf fishing again, no bites today so we gave up early. Had a walk around th
e Cooktown Markets then went to the cemetery for a walk around, saw a very old chinese shrine. F
erg went for a long walk through the Botanic Gardens then up over the mountain to Cherry Tree Bay.
Sunday 30th July:
Last day in Cooktown, the wind has picked up and high tide is not until lunchtime so we gave the early morning fishing a miss today. We enjoyed a lovely morning tea put on by the van park owners Mary and John. Late morning we drove down to the old Annan Bridge and tried our luck fishing but got no bites. Went for a walk through the Botanical Gardens over to Finches Bay in the afternoon.
"Cooktown Caravan Park - campsite"
Monday 24th July:
It was a perfect day for a drive to Cooktown. Ferg and I went for our last walk along Cooya Beach, the sunrise was magnificent. We were packed and on the road by 8.30am. We stopped at Rifle Creek to check out the free camp area. There were about 20 caravans parked at the site. We will probably stop here on the way back from Cooktown.
We are staying at the Cooktown Caravan Park and we have a nice site among the gum trees. We took a drive around Cooktown after we settled in. Drove up the Grassy Hill and got some 360 degree views of Cooktown, Endeavour River and the ocean. Even Twistie found a playmate on Grassy Hill! Back at the park we met up with John and Mary (owners) for happy hour and we found out about the good fishing an
d walking spots.
Tuesday 25th July:
We went down to the wharf at 7am to try our luck at fishing. We caught some small bream on prawns and squid. The locals were catching mackerel with live bait. Our peace was disturbed though when the big Captain Cook Cruise boat came into the wharf and we were invaded by tourists. Early afternoon Ferg took a long walk up Mt. Cook (too much for me!). We again attended happy hour and met several other caravanners.
Wednesday 26th July:
Fished again, Ferg hooked a large Mangrove Jack on live bait but lost it just as he was pulling it in. Ferg went to bowls at the Cooktown Bowls club this afternoon while I took it easy back at the van. Later in the evening we both went to barefoot bowls at the club.
Thursday 27th July:
Early morning at the wharf again and we finally caught a good size mackerel. We got two good fillets for dinner. Drove out to Archer Point in the afternoon. What a magnificent spot. We kicked the Pajero into 4wd for the first time as we crossed several creeks on the way in. It is a great spot to camp but we wouldn't be able to get the van in.
Friday 28th July:
Early wharf fishing again, no luck this time. Left at 10am to do the Bloomfield t
rack, stopped at the Black Mountain Lookout on the way. Next stop was Hidden Falls at Mungumby Lodge. It was a great rainforest walk along a mountain stream. The Bloomfield track was pretty good, very dry and dusty. The Bloomfield Falls was worth the drive.
Saturday 29th July:
Wharf fishing again, no bites today so we gave up early. Had a walk around th
e Cooktown Markets then went to the cemetery for a walk around, saw a very old chinese shrine. F
erg went for a long walk through the Botanic Gardens then up over the mountain to Cherry Tree Bay.Sunday 30th July:
Last day in Cooktown, the wind has picked up and high tide is not until lunchtime so we gave the early morning fishing a miss today. We enjoyed a lovely morning tea put on by the van park owners Mary and John. Late morning we drove down to the old Annan Bridge and tried our luck fishing but got no bites. Went for a walk through the Botanical Gardens over to Finches Bay in the afternoon.
"Cooktown Caravan Park - campsite"
