Captain Cooks landing place — Attraction in Sydney

Such a historic site pretty much untended due to construction of the new wharf.

Visited today and paid our $8 fee only to find the visitor centre closed at 3pm. Had a walk around looking at the historical information dotted around the site, quite correctly there was lots of information about the land’s aboriginal origin, but strangely very little about Captain Cook and his ship the Endeavour.

Perhaps there is more information in the visitor centre but closing it on an overcast afternoon leaves the fee paying visitor with nothing.

We left visiting the ‘landing monument’ until last only to find the shoreline path blocked by works access for new a loading jetty being built. No warning signage anywhere up at the visitor centre, just a notice about 100m before the dead end on the shoreline path.

Eventually we found a way to the monument only to find it neglected and pretty overgrown with grass, bordered on the road side with unnecessarily high temporary fencing protecting the works access.

Really quite disappointing considering how important this site is...

This art installation is reminiscent of both a ship's ribs and those of a whale. The site is the landing place of the no less than the infamous Lieutenant James Cook. That's right, he was not a Captain by rank! That honour came at a later date.

Within minutes of landing here in a small row boat, two intrepid (indigenous) locals took issue with the trespass by a boat load of foreigners... Dressed in red and white, wearing funny hats. Not taking the hint to leave, they raised their spears to register their protest! Cook then ordered warning shots to be fired from the crew's musket rifles. Upon wounding the thigh with said weapon a charge was made... Sadly, diplomacy was not the order of the day. An angry protest and advance was attempted by the local man, and immediately he was killed. So began the history of the birthplace of modern Australia. One wonders why two guys with spears was deemed a threat to a bunch of Navy men armed with rifles! It was the year 1770, and clearly, any threat however trivial was met with...

I am an independent disability support worker and I took my participant to this lovely place today. She had a great day walking on the beach and rock pools taking photos of the gorgeous scenery. We took the Burrawang Walk Loop which was an easy walk. It begins at the Kamay Visitor centre and passes several sites like the Welcome Wall, Meeting Place, sound scape, Cook's Landing Place,. Ferry Shelter Shed, Bank's Memorial, freshwater stream, and the three bronze sculptures. Lots of photo opportunities and there are huge big trees you can rest under in the shade. There is not a lot of shaded seating along this walk but if you are able it has great views. The park areas have disability toilets and tables and chairs to sit at for lunch, if your lucky you will get a table under a big shady tree. Wonderful day of exploration. Fun had by all. Will definitely be back to try some other...