GROPER CONSERVATION Chris and Miguel are heading to Cooktown, their final destination on their FNQ road trip. On the way they meet some characters at The Lions Den Hotel, including snake handler Jim, Bones (who plays the bones) and Queensland s best looking camel, Lucy, and her best mate Bay the pig. Whilst Cooktown doesn t quite live up to Miguel's expectation of a "chef's paradise", Chris is in his element, meeting up with some local conservationists and the resident gropers they are helping to protect.
ABOUT THE LIONS DEN HOTEL The Lions Den Hotel is situated on the Bloomfield Track, 4km from the sealed Mulligan Highway to Cooktown or 65km north of Cape Tribulation via the 4WD Bloomfield Track. It was built in 1875 on the banks of the Little Annan River, surrounded by 100 year old mango trees and tropical landscapes. It is a landmark hotel made of timber and iron, famous for its quirky decorations and walls adorned with visitor s signatures. Wonderfully situated in a lush valley,the Lions Den Hotel offers powered and unpowered camping (suitable for even the largest caravans and camper trailers), unique safari style lodges nestled amongst the trees, single and double room accommodation (dongas), children s playground, natural swimming holes and beautiful grounds overlooked by mysterious Black Mountain.
ABOUT COOKTOWN Cooktown in Far North Queensland might be a little town, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in beauty, historical and geographical significance, and buckets of character. It is home to stone buildings that have seen a century or two, an ancient cemetery that tells a tale or three, and a terrific pub. Perched on the Endeavour River, Cooktown s origins are deeply coloured by its years of geographic isolation. Up until January 2006 it could be accessed only by 4WD and today could be described as sleepy, idyllic, and community-minded. Rich with indigenous culture and art, historical museums and monuments, it is surrounded by lush rainforest. In 1770 Captain James Cook, for whom the town is named, ran the Endeavour onto the Great Barrier Reef off Cape Tribulation and found safe habour where the town now stands, leading to a 48-day stay in the area. It was during that stay while his ship was being mended, that Cook had his first meaningful contact with Aboriginal people. The imposing stone monolith of Cook s Pillar marks the spot on the banks of the river where the Endeavour limped ashore and the landing is commemorated with a reenactment every June at the town s Endeavor Festival. The town even has a museum featuring original artifacts recovered from Cook s pioneering vessel. Cooktown also marks the end of the continuously sealed road north and is the jumping off point of the 4WD pilgrimage to the tip of Cape York Australia s most northerly point. A popular stop for travellers heading north to Cooktown is the Lion s Den Hotel. It was established in 1875 and is the oldest pub in Queensland, holding the longest continual licence. It was originally built to serve miners from the local tin mine, and the walls are still lined with old miners wages as they used to note them on the wall and mark them off as they drank their earnings away. There is a swimmable creek at the back, and a colourful local character, Jim Synes the local snake catcher lives across from the pub. He has been known to bring his snakes into the pub, and his bung-kneed, rescue camel Lucy is a local icon.
ABOUT GIANT GROPERS
The Endeavour River is home to some very large, very hungry locals a population of giant gropers. Gropers are the biggest bony fish found on coral reefs, and the aquatic emblem of Queensland, capable of growing up to 3.5 metres and reaching weights of 400kg. Considered a vulnerable species, the Queensland groper is a no-take fish. In Queensland, catching and possessing the groper is totally prohibited. And if accidentally caught, they should be immediately and carefully returned to the water. Thomas Anderson, prawn trawler and owner of the Cook s Landing waterfront kiosk in Cooktown, works with Duncan and Kate Smith, who run the local Sea Dog Vet clinic, to help conserve the resident population that congregate around the wharf. The bait from nearby fishermen attracts the gropers, and consequentially they often end up with hooks and fishing line stuck in and around their mouths. Every evening at high tide Thomas and the Smiths lure the fish to the steps on the wharf with food to check their health and remove any debris they ve accumulated, ensuring they don t suffer from any long term injury and that the population continues to thrive. WEBLINKS For motorhome hire information head to: To plan your Queensland holiday head to: http://www.apollocamper.com http://www.queensland.com For further information on these experiences check out the following links: http://www.cooktownandcapeyork.com https://www.seadogvets.com