Black Mountain & Lion's Den

OVERVIEW

Visit two of Cooktown’s most iconic sites: one, a mysterious heap of enormous boulders; the other, a pub that’s been a fixture in the bush for since 1875. First up is a geological oddity steeped in aboriginal myth – and still giving most visitors the chills. Black Mountain is an enormous labyrinthine jumble of granite, some as large as a house, randomly stacked on each other as if defying gravity. Over millions of years, the soil that was once between them has eroded away, creating a warren of narrow gaps and passageways that lead deep inside the “mountain.” Needless to say, this has led to many accounts of people and even entire herds of cattle disappearing inside this maze without a trace. Even just gazing out on this place is haunting. Your next stop will be a haunt of a different sort – a legendary watering hole in the bush that’s been serving offbeat frontier characters their afternoon “coldies” for well over a century. Many have left a record of their visit scrawled on the Lion’s Den Pub’s walls, doors – even its roof. You’ll be served a cool drink of your own here, and a deep draft of atmosphere.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel south from Cooktown by coach to where two iconic landmarks await you in the bush.
• Visit Black Mountain’s pile of huge granite boulders riddled with maze-like passageways and imagine how people and cattle could get lost and vanish inside.
• Stop in at the Lion’s Den Pub for a complimentary cold one, and to soak up the seriously quirky character – and characters – in this hole-in-the-bush venue.
• Hear about the cyclone and floods which almost swept away the pub in December 2024 and how remote communities came together to rebuilt the iconic pub.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.