Cape York Weekly FREE – #288 | Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Editorial: lmortimer@region.com.au|Advertising: sales@region.com.au
COOKTOWN COLOUR
INSIDE TODAY
History, hilarity at diverse Discovery Festival CLASSICS HIT THE TIP Page 2
WEIPA OSHC IN LIMBO Page 3 AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS Pages 8 & 9 Junior Burger rocks out with young fans at the 2026 Cooktown Discovery Festival. Photo: Cook Shire Council.
by LUKE MORTIMER
The 67th annual re-enactment of Captain Cook’s landing and first contact. Photo: Luke Mortimer/Cape York Weekly.
SPIRITS were soaring, streets were bustling and venues were packed at the 47th annual Cooktown Discovery Festival. The much-loved Cape York event drew a crowd of about a couple of thousand to the hub of the Cook Shire from Friday to Sunday. Businesses like the Shipwreck Cafe were hectic, with available seats often few and far between. A small selection of busy market stalls pumped out food and drinks at a rapid rate, while watering holes like
the Sovereign Hotel heaved with patrons quenching their thirst. Cook locals were out in force and many attendees the Cape York Weekly crossed paths with were long-time residents, keen to catch up with familiar faces. But some visitors stopped off to soak in the colourful atmosphere, including those tackling bucket-list trips to the tip of the peninsula. Dee and Art Dredge drove up from Victoria and decided to stay on the Cape a little longer for the festival.
“We were only just here for the tip and then realised the festival was on, so we just extended it a couple of days,” Mr Dredge said. “We’ve just been towing a caravan, doing about four or five hours on the road a day, seeing the sights along the way.” The pair described the Cape as “beautiful” and Ms Dredge said the peninsula was “absolutely a bucket list trip”, particularly for her husband. They enjoyed the Friday morning reconciliation re-enactment. – Full coverage pages 16 & 17
HIGH TEA FOR SHELTER Page 9
LAURA SADDLES UP Page 15
WHAT’S ON @ THE ALBY... MONDAY $18 PASTA
NIGHT
YOUR CHOICE OF SAUCE TOSSED WITH YOUR FAVOURITE PASTA: SPAGHETTI LINGUINE CHICKEN TORTELLINI OR GF PENNE
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
TACOS! TRIVIA YOUR CHOICE NIGHT OF 3 TACOS FOR $15
SPORTS BAR 6PM - 8.30PM
FROM 7.30PM
$15
RUMP NIGHT
FRIDAY 5.30 – 7.30PM
JAG THE JOKER
JACKPOTS WEEKLY ‘TIL JOKER IS FOUND!
+ MEAT TRAY RAFFLES
7PM ‘til late
Cameron Cusack PLAYING LIVE!
THE DECK RESTAURANT IS OPEN 7 DAYS, 6 TO 8.30PM