change of plans

[benno]

Hi all
Well our trip to the cape has been twisted and turned and are now only going as far as port douglas:( . Theres always next year I spose.
We will be going to cooktown though (not negotiable) for a day trip. Was wondering if we could do it in a day if we take the black stuff one way and the bloomfield track the other way. Any ideas?
Cheers Ben

[Nedly]

Hi all
Well our trip to the cape has been twisted and turned and are now only going as far as port douglas:( . Theres always next year I spose.
We will be going to cooktown though (not negotiable) for a day trip. Was wondering if we could do it in a day if we take the black stuff one way and the bloomfield track the other way. Any ideas?
Cheers Ben

That's no good benno, sad news indeed.

You can do your Cairns-Cooktown-Cairns trip in one day, though you won't have much time in Cooktown.
Leaving Cairns REAL early in the morning, before sunrise, would be a good idea, that way you can travel the Bloomfield to Cape Trib in daylight.

Better yet, spend a night in Cooktown.

[plucker]

Look at about 5 hours each way whether on the black top or along the coast. Cairns to Cooktown.

From Port Douglas you it would only shave an hour ish of a return trip.
You could head up through the Rex Range which is fabulous and bitumen and go inland to Cooktown and back through Cape Trib, or the other way.
Cooktown has a few good musuems about the Cape and Australias History, which are worthwhile, as well as historical buildings.

Like this bank
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc84/pluckerup/cookybank.jpg

and the Endeavour River which Cooktown overlooks
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc84/pluckerup/endeavourriver.jpg

There is a few places to stay in Cooktown and with an extra hour or 2 North you could see the coloured sands near Hopevale, and also the Endeavour falls 1/2 hour out of town.

[benno]

Plucker your a legend, showed the photos to my wife, we are now spending a night in cooktown. One small step for mankind, one giant leap for the wife.
Might see if I can push it bit more, is there any more tracks out of cooktown maybe towards Laura. Is there still much water about this time of year?
Cheers Ben

[plucker]

There is a motel called the Seaview Motel that will give you that kind of sunset over the Endeavour River. It is perched on the hill and has a pool. The rooms are pretty average but the view is priceless. There are other bed and breakfast places that are reasonably priced and provide a bit of luxury if you are that way inclined.

Meals at night- you can go the fish and chips next to the Jetty or try the Bowls Club or the RSL for good priced meals. Never tried eating at the pub in the middle but the Top one and the bottom one both do a good feed.

Also there is Grassy Hill lookout in the town itself where Captain Cook went up to check out his safe passage past the reef, while his boat was getting repaired. I can promise that it will be windy up there, always is. Most people can see the reef but not get there cause of the wind.

I have fished the Endeavour extensively over the last 10 years or so and I think the best spot and most productive spot would be the Jetty, at the end of the main street. We have chased barra up and down the systems only to find a 10 year old pullin 80cm ones from there. They also catch mackeral, trevally, queenfish, jacks, and of course the big groper that lives near by. There is lots of other fish that get caught there too.

The last time I was there, we could see a lion fish swimming in the shallows at night. majic stuff.

About 1/2 hour ish towards the Bloomfield track is the Lion Den Hotel which a popular camping spot and quite possible one of the best pubs you could go into. A real eye opener and a must do thing for tourists, even the non drinkers.

[plucker]

Forgot to mention that come tax time you can claim zone rebates for Cooktown which is in the hightest category at about $7 per day. Not much but after you spend 4 weeks in the Cape it helps the little guy out in July.