Endeavour River at Cooktown

The Endeavour is a shallow river with many creeks and tributaries. Only right at the mouth is there any industry and this is mostly wharfage for visiting tour boats and the more regular prawn trawlers and line fishing boats. The river is nevertheless of great importance to Cooktown because of its ready availability as a safe recreational fishing area. Indeed many of the annual tourists bring their boats and try their luck in catching a barramundi. To this end, the town has spawned a group of keen anglers who manage the restocking of the river with barramundi fingerlings on a regular basis.

A Map of the River is provided so that you might appreciate it's length. We have also provided a View of the River taken from the lookout halfway up Grassy Hill.

The replica of the HMS Bark Endeavour has visited Cooktown on two occasions. The first time on its maiden voyage from Fremantle. On that occasion it moored outside the river mouth because the channel was too shallow. Then the Government dredged the channel which allowed the Endeavour to tie-up at our wharf on its second visit to Cooktown in July 2001. A great many visitors were able to inspect the ship as a result.

This Cannon, near the river entrance, guards our town!
In 1885, the then Town Council requested the Government to send some armament to protect the town in the event of a Russian invasion. The Government responded by sending an 1803 model cannon, three cannon balls, two rifles and one officer to lead the defence of Cooktown. Thankfully, the Russians never attacked.

With the influx of illegal immigrants, some to Cape York, our authorities obviously think we need more than one cannon. The Patrol ships Whyalla and Ipswich lie at our wharf during a visit

We are fortunate to have two lovely, all year round beaches just outside the mouth of the river: Finch Bay and Cherry Tree Bay

We have a long weekend in June during which our Discovery Re-enactment Festival takes place. At the left Captain Cook inspects the beaching site. At right, the Marines arrive

A fireworks display takes place during the Festival.

Past the first kilometre of the settled area, the river remains as pristine and original as in 1770 when Captain Cook visited.

For the patient and persistent angler nice sized barramundi are available for the catching in our river.