Cooktown is a small town in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is situated on the coast of the Endeavour River, approximately 650km north of Cairns and 450km south of Thursday Island. The town is the administrative centre of the Cook Shire and has a population of around 2,000 people.
Cooktown is the site of the first recorded European contact with Australia, when in 1770, Captain James Cook beached his ship, the Endeavour, on the banks of the Endeavour River. The town was officially founded in 1873, when gold was discovered in the area.
Cooktown is a popular tourist destination due to its rich history and natural beauty. It is surrounded by tropical rainforest, with the Black Mountain National Park to the west and the Great Barrier Reef to the east. The town is also home to a number of historical sites, including the James Cook Museum, the James Cook Monument, and the Grassy Hill Lookout.
Cooktown is a popular destination for fishing, boating, and bushwalking. There are also a number of attractions in the town, including the Cooktown Botanic Gardens, the Cooktown Art Gallery, and the Cooktown Historic Museum.
The town is also home to a number of festivals and events throughout the year, including the Cooktown and Cape York Expo, the Cooktown Music Festival, and the Endeavour Festival.
Cooktown is an important part of Australia’s history and is an ideal destination for those looking to explore the natural beauty of Far North Queensland.
Experience Cooktown with unforgettable activities by our partner GetYourGuide. The offer is also ideal as a special gift idea for family and friends who are planning to visit Cooktown. Cancellations are possible up to 24h before the start of the activity (unless otherwise stated in the activity description), with a full refund of the booking price.
Cooktown in Australia experiences a tropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters. Summer temperatures reach an average of 28°C (82°F) with high humidity and occasional monsoonal rains. Winter temperatures are milder and average around 18°C (64°F), with low humidity and some light rain. Spring and autumn bring warm temperatures and moderate humidity, with occasional showers. The wet season lasts from December to March, with an average rainfall of over 1,000mm (40 inches). The dry season runs from April to November, with an average rainfall of about 600mm (24 inches).
Our weather forecast for Cooktown helps plan your stay according to the weather. For sunny days, pack light and breathable clothes, swimwear, and sunscreen. For winter weather, it's recommended to bring warm clothes, gloves, a hat, sturdy footwear, and a raincoat.
| Date | Icon | Temperature | Wind speed/gusts | Cloudiness/Visibility | Air humidity/pressure | Sunrise/Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar. 11th 2026 Mar. 11th 2026 | max: 28.3 °C min: 23.7 °C |
7.9 m/s 15.1 m/s |
80.8 % 18.7 m |
90.6 % 1,007 hPa |
06:21:25 18:36:41 |
|
| Mar. 12th 2026 Mar. 12th 2026 | max: 27.7 °C min: 24.2 °C |
9.0 m/s 14.8 m/s |
92.6 % 16.9 m |
90.1 % 1,007 hPa |
06:21:36 18:35:59 |
|
| Mar. 13th 2026 Mar. 13th 2026 | max: 28.0 °C min: 23.3 °C |
14.4 m/s 25.6 m/s |
95.4 % 19.3 m |
89.8 % 1,008 hPa |
06:21:46 18:35:16 |
|
| Mar. 14th 2026 Mar. 14th 2026 | max: 28.8 °C min: 24.4 °C |
20.5 m/s 38.2 m/s |
96.1 % 22.0 m |
86.6 % 1,011 hPa |
06:21:56 18:34:33 |
|
| Mar. 15th 2026 Mar. 15th 2026 | max: 26.1 °C min: 24.7 °C |
19.8 m/s 37.8 m/s |
100.0 % 12.6 m |
91.1 % 1,011 hPa |
06:22:05 18:33:50 |
|
| Mar. 16th 2026 Mar. 16th 2026 | max: 29.4 °C min: 24.5 °C |
18.7 m/s 35.6 m/s |
76.1 % 20.6 m |
81.6 % 1,011 hPa |
06:22:15 18:33:07 |
|
| Mar. 17th 2026 Mar. 17th 2026 | max: 29.0 °C min: 24.6 °C |
21.6 m/s 40.0 m/s |
36.1 % 23.8 m |
74.9 % 1,011 hPa |
06:22:24 18:32:23 |
|
| Mar. 18th 2026 Mar. 18th 2026 | max: 28.8 °C min: 23.9 °C |
21.6 m/s 37.4 m/s |
46.1 % 23.3 m |
75.9 % 1,011 hPa |
06:22:33 18:31:40 |
|
| Mar. 19th 2026 Mar. 19th 2026 | max: 28.9 °C min: 23.9 °C |
22.7 m/s 39.6 m/s |
84.0 % 24.1 m |
71.8 % 1,011 hPa |
06:22:42 18:30:56 |
|
| Mar. 20th 2026 Mar. 20th 2026 | max: 28.9 °C min: 24.2 °C |
21.2 m/s 37.7 m/s |
39.3 % 22.0 m |
77.8 % 1,011 hPa |
06:22:50 18:30:12 |
|
| Mar. 21st 2026 Mar. 21st 2026 | max: 27.8 °C min: 24 °C |
20.9 m/s 37.1 m/s |
76.6 % 19.1 m |
86.7 % 1,011 hPa |
06:22:59 18:29:28 |
|
| Mar. 22nd 2026 Mar. 22nd 2026 | max: 27.2 °C min: 24.7 °C |
20.2 m/s 38.9 m/s |
79.8 % 20.0 m |
88.3 % 1,011 hPa |
06:23:07 18:28:44 |
|
| Mar. 23rd 2026 Mar. 23rd 2026 | max: 27.5 °C min: 24.5 °C |
16.9 m/s 31.9 m/s |
98.4 % 19.9 m |
87.2 % 1,009 hPa |
06:23:16 18:28:00 |
|
| Mar. 24th 2026 Mar. 24th 2026 | max: 27.9 °C min: 24.3 °C |
18.0 m/s 34.9 m/s |
62.5 % 18.4 m |
88.8 % 1,010 hPa |
06:23:24 18:27:16 |
|
| Mar. 25th 2026 Mar. 25th 2026 | max: 29.2 °C min: 24.2 °C |
21.6 m/s 36.7 m/s |
16.8 % 23.9 m |
77.4 % 1,010 hPa |
06:23:32 18:26:32 |
Would you like to travel to Cooktown on a cruise ship or would you just like to know when a certain ship will dock there? Here you will find an overview of the cruise ships that will be calling at the port of Cooktown.
| Date | Ship | Passaengers (min - max) | Arrival | Departure | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 25th 2026 Wednesday, 25th of Nov. 2026 | MS Riviera | 1258 - 1447 | 11:00 am | 08:00 pm | |
| Dec. 11th 2026 Friday, 11th of Dec. 2026 | Seven Seas Explorer | 754 - 829 | 09:30 am | 08:00 pm | |
| Dec. 12th 2026 Saturday, 12th of Dec. 2026 | Seven Seas Explorer | 754 - 829 | 09:30 am | 08:00 pm | |
| Dec. 21st 2026 Monday, 21st of Dec. 2026 | MS Riviera | 1258 - 1447 | 07:00 am | 04:00 pm | |
| Feb. 6th 2027 Saturday, 6th of Feb. 2027 | Seven Seas Explorer | 754 - 829 | 07:00 am | 01:00 pm | |
| Mar. 13th 2027 Saturday, 13th of Mar. 2027 | MS Riviera | 1258 - 1447 | 07:00 am | 04:00 pm | |
| Mar. 22nd 2027 Monday, 22nd of Mar. 2027 | Seven Seas Splendor | 754 - 829 | 07:00 am | 04:00 pm | |
| Mar. 25th 2027 Thursday, 25th of Mar. 2027 | Seven Seas Splendor | 754 - 829 | 07:00 am | 04:00 pm | |
| Jul. 2nd 2027 Friday, 2nd of Jul. 2027 | Seven Seas Navigator | 490 - 557 | 07:00 am | 07:00 pm | |
| Jul. 23rd 2027 Friday, 23rd of Jul. 2027 | Seven Seas Navigator | 490 - 557 | 07:00 am | 05:00 pm | |
| Oct. 29th 2027 Friday, 29th of Oct. 2027 | Azamara Pursuit | 704 - 774 | 02:30 pm | 09:00 pm | |
| Dec. 16th 2027 Thursday, 16th of Dec. 2027 | Seven Seas Mariner | 708 - 779 | 07:00 am | 05:00 pm | |
| Mar. 5th 2028 Sunday, 5th of Mar. 2028 | Azamara Pursuit | 704 - 774 | 07:30 am | 01:00 pm | |
| Mar. 12th 2028 Sunday, 12th of Mar. 2028 | Seven Seas Mariner | 708 - 779 | 07:00 am | 04:00 pm | |
| Mar. 14th 2028 Tuesday, 14th of Mar. 2028 | Seven Seas Mariner | 708 - 779 | 07:00 am | 04:00 pm |
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There are a few basic rules to follow
.| Port | Distance |
|---|---|
| Ribbon Reef in Australia | 89,50 km |
| Lizard Island in Australia | 91,95 km |
| Port Douglas in Australia | 114,46 km |
| Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park in Australia | 152,07 km |
| Cairns in Australia | 156,92 km |
| Creech Reef in Australia | 239,49 km |
