Matey's musings: Friends with benefits

For our last few days at Cooktown Klaas, Jetty and their four-wheel drive visited, so we showed them some special places near Cooktown. Captain the tour guide wore them out, but they seemed to enjoy it as much as we did. The view from Grassy Hill is a must for any visitor to Cooktown, with the walk across to Cherry Tree Bay and Finch Bay also mandatory.

The many-coloured sands at Cape Bedford were as striking as the first time we saw them. Just before the dunes you pass through a glade enchanted by innumerable butterflies fluttering all around you. Next you drive (at low tide) across the wet sand and to your left a row of paperbarks announce the fresh water flowing out from beneath the dunes. To your right the sea water reminds you that soon it will return. Next you drive past the multicoloured dunes. We discovered a path up into a ‘canyon’ with a fresh water spring half way up. With the wind blowing we watched the dunes slowly moving via ‘sandfalls’ at the edges.