Cooktown Day 4

We did get moving this morning a bit earlier. Prue managed to get the washing on early and that enabled us to get out early, too.

After a cappuccino at the  the Wharf Cafe, we then went out to Archer Point lighthouse. On our way there, we stopped to chat to a German cyclist that I had befriended in Cooktown. He was on his way west to Lakeland  then Mareeba,

Archer Point is  a hidden area. Unfortunately it is about to be ruined by a windfarm. It has special beauty and that will change in the future. While there we chatted to a fellow Kimberley Karavan owner, Rob and his friend.

On our way back we dropped into Quarantine Bay to have a quick look.  It is a popular swimming beach for swimming and fishing. Those keen to hook a barramundi cod or mangrove jack should walk along the beach to the northern side of Monkhouse Point where eroded granite boulders provide excellent rock fishing.

We then drove to Finch Bay and had a walk along this beach and marvelled at the hundreds of crabs running on the damp sand.

As we returned to the town we visited Natures Powerhouse. It is located in the historic Botanic gardens and is home to the priceless collection of botanical illustrations of over 150 local flowering plants by the late world-renowned artist Vera Scarth-Johnson. This collection was given, to the people of Cooktown, to encourage us all in appreciating and protecting our unique environment.  We had an early lunch at the cafe.

After lunch I dropped Prue at the the James Cook Museum. It is administered by the National Trust of Queensland is considered one of the most significant Trust museums open to the public.
The building, designed by Scottish architect F.D.G.Stanley and constructed in 1889 by the Catholic Church as St Marys Convent for the Sisters of Mercy, was a major centre for the education of women in Far North Queensland until the Second World War.

In 1960 the Catholic Church donated the building to the National Trust of Queensland. In 1969 the Trust, the Queensland Government and private individuals provided the funds to save the building from demolition. It has operated as the James Cook museum since 1970. Featuring the original anchor and one of the cannons from "Endeavour," the museum also houses collections on maritime, pastoral, Palmer Goldfields, Indigenous and Chinese history. 

While Prue was at the museum , I returned to the Caravan  Park and collected the washing as well as doing some other jobs.  After I collected Prue, we returned to relax for the remainder of the afternoon.