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James Cook Museum Cooktown: history, artifacts & visitor guide
There is a nineteenth-century convent building on the corner of Helen and Furneaux Streets in Cooktown that stops most visitors in their...
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Cooktown Tours
Looking for Cooktown tours from Cairns? Cairns Discovery Tours offers small-group 4WD adventures to one of Far North Queensland’s most historically significant destinations — with the expertise of a local who has been making this journey for over 35 years. Travel north along the legendary Bloomfield Track through the ancient Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation coast, return journey inland via the sealed Mulligan Highway through the Outback. Choose a One Day Cooktown 4WD Tour for a packed day of highlights, or settle in with an immersive three day small-group guided.
Discover Cooktown on this exclusive one day tour for a 4WD adventure taking in some of Australia’s most amazing scenery and natural beauty. This is Cooktown’s only one-day tour option and sells out quickly, book early to secure your spot
On your Cooktown Day Tour, you will travel in a purpose-built 4WD, air-conditioned coach, catering specifically to small groups of 16 passengers. Cross the Daintree River, traverse the 4wd Bloomfield Track and return along the Mulligan Highway, the Outback of Far North Queensland
$399 per person valid to 31st March 2027
$425 per person from 1st April 2027
Depart Cairns Mon, Wed & Friday – 6.30am
Palm Cove – Cnr Viviers Rd & Captain Cook Highway at 7.00am
Port Douglas IGA Bus Stop Captain Cook Highway at 7.45am
$399.00 From Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas
6:30 am
7:30 pm
Special Deal
Explore Cooktown, Daintree Rainforest and the Outback of Far North Queensland on this fully inclusive 3 day Adventure. Small group of 6 passengers in air-conditioned comfort. Depart Saturdays on selective dates May – Oct 2027
Adult $2195.00 Twin Share | Adult Single room $2455.00 | Aust Pensioner Twin share $2085.00 | Aust Pensioner Single room $2425.00 | Child $1815.00 Share with Adult
7:00 am
5:00 pm
Discover Cooktown on a 3 Day Small Group Tour. Depart from Cairns -Port Douglas and journey north through the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation. Travel the 4WD Bloomfield Track to Cooktown. Spend 2 nights exploring Cooktown before travelling through Queensland’s Outback and the Palmer River Goldfields.
$1870.00 per person twin share | Child $1777.00 child 4-14yrs twin share | $2296.00 Solo Traveller
7:00 am
5:00 pm
Why take a Cooktown Tour from Cairns?
In 1770, Lieutenant James Cook repaired the HMB Endeavour here after running aground on the Great Barrier Reef, making Cooktown the site of the first prolonged contact between Europeans and Aboriginal Australians. Today, visitors can take in sweeping views from Grassy Hill Lookout, stroll the heritage Botanic Gardens, visit the James Cook Museum, explore the Cooktown Cemetery and historic streetscapes, and relax on quiet tropical beaches. Aboriginal culture runs deep here, with rock art tours and Dreamtime stories shared by Traditional Owners that connect country and coastline in a way that is unique in Far North Queensland.
The road to Cooktown is part of the Adventure
Getting to Cooktown is an experience in itself. Our Cooktown tours from Cairns travel two iconic routes.
The first is the legendary 4WD-only Bloomfield Track, which winds through the heart of the Daintree Rainforest and along the Cape Tribulation coast. This unsealed route involves creek crossings, steep rainforest-clad ranges, and dramatic coastal vistas, and requires a purpose-built 4WD vehicle throughout. It is one of the most scenic and adventurous drives in all of Australia.
The second option is the sealed Mulligan Highway, through the Outback of Far North Queensland. Cattle country, striking boulders of Black Mountain National Park before descending into Cooktown. The 3 day tours travel one route northbound and return via the other, giving guests the best of both worlds.
Cooktown Tour options
Choose a 1-day Cooktown tour or 3-day Cooktown tour packages, all run as small-group experiences
The 1 Day Cooktown 4WD Tour from Cairns and Port Douglas. It travels the Bloomfield Track north through the Daintree and Cape Tribulation, crosses the Daintree River by ferry, and includes time in Cooktown before returning via the Mulligan Highway. This tour runs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from May to October 2026, with a maximum of 16 passengers.
The 3 Day Cooktown, Cape Tribulation Tour is a fully immersive small-group journey with two nights in Cooktown, giving guests time to explore cultural and historical sites in depth, including the Daintree, Cape Tribulation, and the Atherton Tablelands.
What to expect on a Cooktown Tour
All Cooktown tours from Cairns are run in purpose-built 4WD vehicles suited to the conditions of the Bloomfield Track. Group sizes are kept small to ensure a personalised experience. Highlights across the different tours include the James Cook Museum, Grassy Hill Lookout, the Cooktown Botanic Gardens, the iconic Lion’s Den Hotel, Daintree River cruises, Cape Tribulation Beach, and the heritage streetscapes and galleries of Cooktown itself.
Choose a one-day Cooktown 4WD tour for an action-packed introduction, or take the three-day small-group Cooktown tour for two nights in town, time to explore at a slower pace, and the chance to experience Cooktown after the day-trippers have gone.
Have questions? Call (07) 4028 3567 for further information.
Here’s why thousands of customers trustCairns Discovery Tours.
🗓️ Flexible Cancellations
Enjoy peace of mind with our flexible booking policy. Most Cairns Tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure with a full refund. (Helicopter tours are 48 hours) We make exploring Cairns stress free, so you can book with confidence.
💳 Book Now, Pay Later
Reserve your place on our popular Cairns day tours with Klarna’s Book Now, Pay Later option, or just give us a call or send us an email to secure your booking. We will be in touch to arrange payment 7 days before your departure. Perfect for planning your Cairns holiday without upfront costs.
🌴 Local Since 1995
For over 30 years, Cairns Discovery Tours has been proudly locally owned and operated. Established in 1995, we’ve shared the tropical beauty of Far North Queensland travellers from around the world. Based in Cairns, we offer authentic tour experiences backed by genuine local knowledge and long standing connections to the region.
👩🏫 Expert Local Guides
We book you with trusted local operators whose guides are storytellers, historians and nature enthusiasts. They bring the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest and Cairns’ tropical heritage to life, so you get an unforgettable and educational experience.
Stephen Dennis
30 days ago
Maryanne from Cairns Discovery Tours has a wealth of local knowledge and gave accurate advice on all experiences offered. We found her to be exceptionally professional and of high integrity in all aspects. Our Cairns to Cooktown AWD tour incorporating the full Bloomfield track was amazing.
Thanks again for organising a great day.
Joanne Winter
1 month ago
Maryanne was so fabulous. Directed us to all the best suited tours for our family answered all my crazy questions with attention and enthusiasm.
Highly recommend her.
Monica Wang
1 month ago
Thank you Maryanne for helping me to plan the trip what I called the 'must see trip before someone dies trip'. My family and I really enjoyed the trip, especially when it comes to picking which activity is suitable for elders , which reef/island is the must see, and also since this is an Australian Owned Business, it made me feel like my money also goes to supporting the locals instead of sending it overseas. I highly recommend anyone that wants to save time and keen to book an unforgettable trip from a knowledgeable Cairns local
Rena Keeney
2 months ago
We had such a fun time on a half day tour of Fitzroy island with Cairns Discovery Tours! We managed to do an everything we wanted (Nudey beach, long snorkel and lunch) within the time period we had and we even got to swim with turtles 🐢 an unforgettable experience!
This would not have been possible without the fantastic help of Maryanne who booked us in for the tour. She went above and beyond to help us find somewhere to leave our bags during our tour and we wouldn’t have been able to go without her help.
We enjoyed the experience so much and we are very grateful to Maryanne for her help and her exceptional customer service! I would definitely recommend booking local for these kind of experiences because that kind of customer care just doesn’t come when you book through third party sites.
10/10 experience ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Seka Mrkonja
3 months ago
Highly recommended!
karen McArthur
2 months ago
We went on a tour with Discovery Tours today, doing the Mossman Gorge, Daintree / Daintree River Cruise, finishing of visiting Cape Tribulation…
Our driver was James, who was exceptional.
Giving running commentary along the trip. Guiding his group of people through all the different areas. Thanks James, top job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cooktown worth visiting on a trip to Cairns?
Absolutely — Cooktown offers something most Cairns visitors never see: genuine remote Far North Queensland, deep history, Aboriginal culture, and landscapes that shift dramatically from rainforest to river country to rugged headlands. It is well off the typical reef-and-rainforest circuit and rewards travellers who want more than the highlights.
How do you get from Cairns to Cooktown?
You can travel from Cairns to Cooktown by road, 4WD tour or scenic flight, depending on the tour option and season. Guided tours are a popular choice because they can include stops through the Daintree Rainforest, Cape Tribulation and the Bloomfield Track, with local commentary along the way.
What's the difference between a 1-day and a 3-day Cooktown tour from Cairns?
A 1-day tour is a fast-paced 4WD adventure (departing 6.30am and returning 7.30pm) that traverses the Bloomfield Track through the Daintree, crosses the Daintree River, and gives you time to explore Cooktown before returning via the Mulligan Highway a full and rewarding day for those with limited time. The 3-day tours are small-group immersive journeys that allow you to spend nights in Cooktown, explore at a relaxed pace, visit key cultural and historical sites in depth, and include the Daintree, Cape Tribulation, and Atherton Tablelands along the way.
Is the Bloomfield Track suitable for all vehicles?
The Bloomfield Track requires a high clearance 4WD vehicle and is not recommended for conventional vehicles, Campervans, or Caravans. Tour departures use purpose-built 4WD vehicles with experienced guides who know the road conditions year round.
How far is Cooktown from Cairns?
Cooktown is approximately 330 kilometres north of Cairns via the inland Mulligan Highway (around 4 hours driving), or roughly 240 kilometres via the coastal Bloomfield Track route — but the Bloomfield Track takes longer due to road conditions, making both routes a similar total travel time.
Can you visit the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation on the way to Cooktown?
Yes, tours travelling via the Bloomfield Track pass through the heart of the Daintree Rainforest and along the Cape Tribulation coast, making it possible to experience World Heritage rainforest, beach stops, and creek crossings all in the same journey. The 3-day tours provide more time to explore Cape Tribulation Beach and Thornton Beach, while the 1-day tour passes through as part of the route north.
What is the best time of year to visit Cooktown?
The dry season — May through November — is the best time to visit Cooktown from Cairns. Roads are at their most reliable, weather is clear and comfortable, and the Bloomfield Track is accessible. During the wet season (November to April), the Bloomfield Track can become impassable, and some tours operate via the inland Mulligan Highway only.
For questions about bookings, cancellations, group travel and accessibility, visit our page.
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