From there it was through Kaunda, which I didn't spend too much time in as it was still to early for them to be in the swing of the day and everything was closed. So I headed straight out to the Barron Falls lookout to see if it was as impressive as they make out in the brochures. Unfortunately despite all of the rain the falls themselves were not a huge torrent, but still reasonable none the less. The rainforest boardwalk certainly makes it easy to get to the viewing areas and takes the walker through some interesting sections of the forest as well.
Next up was Mareeba, a larger town that I was expecting and quite a nice looking place as well. It must be the local regional centre and according to the welcome sign at the edge of town it has 300 sunny days a year and thus is "...a great place to live". Between 1942 and 1945 it was the home to a larger air base to USAF and Australian Forces.It is the centre of a large and varied agricultural industry and of particular note to some they grow coffee, means nothing to me, so I can't say if it is any good or not.
Further along there is some spectacular scenery and some amazing colours, it is quiet something when it strikes you that the quality of the light has changed, it is so different to the light down south, maybe it is the lack of any really big cities that makes the difference, what ever it is the light is much clearer and intense. There are another two towns along the way to get to Cooktown though the only one of much size is Mt Molloy, which I will have a look at on the way back south as I have to go through it again . The scenery along the way though is quite something and there are great views of the whole area from the lookout at the Byerstown Range.
Then it was on into Cooktown, quite a drive, seems like such a long way and yet still so far from the tip. Cooktown is a nice place and it seems to be very quiet on a Saturday afternoon, well mostly except for the live music at the pub, you can hear that for miles around. I went for the walk around the town walking trails and that involves finding the trail through the fence in the back of the Botanic Gardens and them pretty much proceeding to guess where it is you actually have to go, you can tell the tracks get used, though I am not sure they get used a lot, some sections are hard to determine the direction you are supposed to take. Went along through two really great nice beaches and up to the lighthouse overlooking the whole town and area, really great views.
Arriving in the Cooktown area
Retro look pic, do you think the Commodore give the game away that it isn't actually an old pic?
The main street through town to the wharf
Accommodation for the night at the YHA affiliate
Finch Bay
Looking down on Finch Bay from the walking track to Cherry Tree Bay
Cherry Tree Bay
Cherry Tree Bay
Cherry Tree Bay
Looking down from the Lighthouse on Grassy Hill at Cooktown
Cooktown Lighthouse
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