With very little information written about Cooktown as one of the Ports of Queensland, I thought it might be of interest other cruisers to know about this easy place to access and which is the first place one can refuel and stock up on provisions after rounding Cape York.

Situated 100 miles north of Cairns, when going down the east coast of Australia from Cape York, Cooktown was the site of the first European ‘settlement’ in Australia when Captain James Cook, having accidentally struck the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast north of Cape Tribulation, struggled up the coast and beached his ship “Endeavour” on the shores of the river which now bears its name.

The Endeavour River is well marked with buoys, some yellow ones signal the coral banks, we saw more yellow buoys than in our Navionics map (which is up to date), signalling another shallow patch, on the Port side when entering the river.

Anchoring is easy at the end of the numerous fixed mooring buoys used by locals, 0.7NM from the wharves. Make sure you have enough swing room for moving back and forth with the tide as there are strong currents with both incoming and outgoing tides.

Fuel is available at two places.

• The second wharf, Fisherman’s Wharf. The couple who handle the station also own the small boat shop just up on the street. Phone number: + 61 40 695 173
• Or the 3^rd wharf, Cooks Landing Wharf. Check the man servicing the pumps availability, as he was gone fishing for some time and didn’t return our calls. Phone: + 61 (0)409 942 597

Dinghies may be tied on the small beach beside the boat launching ramp and there is one supermarket in town.

We enjoyed exploring this small town, named after Captain Cook, who went there for repairs after the HMS Endeavour was stranded on the reef in 1770.  Just over 100 years later in 1873, the Palmer River gold rush began, leading to the founding of Cooktown as a supply port and its subsequent development as a permanent settlement on the Queensland coast.

Today, the place is famous for tourism and fishing, as the Great Barrier Reef is close by. The Museum, Botanical Gardens, old buildings, especially the former Bank, which serves as café-and souvenir shop, are well worth a visit.

We enjoyed Cooktown as it is a charming place to visit – and we could refill our pantry.

Dominique Cabarroque and Arne Luehrs
SV Manuka

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Read Dominique’s previous reports for Noonsite:

• Australia, Northern Territory:  A Positive Layover in Gove Despite the Heat and Dust
• Australia, Darwin:  Report on Entry Procedures
• Indonesia, Lombok:  Returning to our Boat after an Eight Month Absence
• SE Asia: Updates from Borneo and Belitung
• Malaysia:  Competent Repair Services
• Thailand:  Anatomy of a Refit