James Cook first set foot on the Australian continent at Botany Bay on 29 April 1770.

Quick Scoop

  • The crew of the Endeavour first sighted the east coast of Australia on 19 April 1770, off what is now known as Point Hicks.
  • They then sailed north along the coast looking for a suitable anchorage before coming to Botany Bay, near present-day Sydney.
  • On 29 April 1770, Cook and some of his men went ashore at Botany Bay, making their first recorded European landing on the Australian mainland.

A Bit More Context

  • Cook’s time at Botany Bay lasted about a week, during which his crew collected botanical specimens and attempted contact with the local Dharawal people.
  • Later in 1770, after charting much of the east coast, Cook claimed the entire coastline he had mapped for Britain, naming it New South Wales.

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