Latest News

This October, the cemetery will once again become the stage for an atmospheric journey through Cooktown’s rich and colourful history, with local stories brought to life through theatre, music and performance, and tickets are now on sale! For the third year in a row,...

Far North Queensland has no shortage of stories to tell, and this October, some of the region’s best will be screening right here in Cooktown! The 2025 Understory Film Festival finalist selection brings together 24 outstanding short films created across Far North...

Cook Shire Council is inviting the community to help shape planning for more housing and future residential growth in Cooktown, with consultation now open for the Cooktown Residential Masterplan. The project is looking at how future housing could be supported by the...

An Australian Government Mobile Service Centre Desert Rose will be visiting Cooktown soon. Australian Government Mobile Service Centres travel to rural and regional communities to provide community members with information and access to government services. They offer...

There’s a rare splash of turquoise appearing in the Cooktown Botanic Gardens this week and it is worth stopping by to see. The spectacular Jade Vine, or Strongylodon macrobotrys, has begun to flower, giving you the chance to see one of the plant world’s most striking...

For the third year in a row Box Jelly Theatre Company is returning to Cooktown with The Spirits of Cooktown, a unique community theatre experience inspired by the true stories, characters and lives connected to the Cooktown Pioneer Cemetery. This October, the cemetery...

Some of Cooktown’s littlest readers celebrated the magic of books, stories and imagination at Cooktown Library, with a special Storytime session marking Children’s Book Week. Council’s Library team hosted a free morning of hands-on activities designed to encourage...

All 120 tickets to An Evening with Dr Karl: The Science of Survival were snapped up in just two and a half hours, setting a new record as the fastest Cook Shire Council event to sell out. It turns out there are plenty of curious minds and science lovers around...

Last week, Cooktown Library turned into a mini science lab for Science Week, with children and carers joining in a science-themed First 5 Forever Storytime and an after-school activity session packed with hands-on fun. There were electronic circuits to build, magnets...

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and Council will undertake a hazard reduction burn on the Endeavour River National Park and on the eastern section of the Cooktown Airport land. This burn will occur Wednesday 26 August, weather and conditions permitting....

Sweat Session regulars, there’s time for one more workout before the classes take a short break! The final Sweat Session Fitness Class will be held Thursday 27 August 2026 before classes wrap up for the time being. While the classes take a pause, there are still...

Get ready to plant some creativity, get crafty and let imaginations grow! Cook Shire Libraries are bringing a garden full of FREE school holiday fun to Cooktown, Lakeland and Bloomfield this September and October. Across both weeks of the school holidays, young...

Make a splash these school holidays at the Cooktown Swimming Pool! Ready to swap the school routine for pool time? The Cooktown Swimming Pool is turning up the fun these September–October school holidays, with Splash N’ Play and weekday free introductory swim lessons...

Ready to take centre stage? Young performers can spend four action-packed days creating characters, trying new things, building confidence and discovering the magic of theatre with Box Jelly Theatre Co. these September school holidays. Back by popular demand, Box...

Blankets, snacks, and a big-screen movie – what better way to spend a Friday afternoon these upcoming school holidays? There’s no better way to spend a school holiday Friday than kicking back with a movie, your favourite snacks and the people you love. So, grab your...

Grab a racquet and get ready to hit the court — experienced tennis coaches are making the trip from Cairns to Cooktown for three huge days of FREE school holiday tennis! This September school holidays, the Cooktown Tennis Courts are the place to be, with Baseline...

Racquets, movies, theatre, pool days, and plenty of creativity — the September school holidays are anything but boring! School’s out from Monday 21 September to Friday 2 October, and families across Cooktown, Lakeland and Bloomfield will have plenty of reasons to get...

That cupboard you’ve been avoiding? The clothes you haven’t worn in years? The kids’ gear they’ve outgrown and the perfectly good stuff taking over the shed? This is your sign to clear it out – and maybe make some cash while you’re at it. Spring into the Markets is...

The wait is nearly over! After a few weeks closed, the Cooktown Swimming Pool is getting ready to welcome the community back — and what better way to reopen than with a BIG day of free fun! On Saturday 19 September, the Cooktown Swimming Pool will officially reopen...

Free afternoon workshop, live local music and a whole lot of country fun are coming to the Cooktown Shire Hall. Dust off your dancing boots and get ready to kick up your heels — Bootz n Beatz is bringing a foot-stomping night of line dancing, live music and country...

Please be advised that the Cooktown Splash Park is back open. Thank you for your patience while repairs were carried out. 

Handrails are being installed on the Finch Bay beach access track, with works starting today. The installation is expected to take approximately three to four days, weather permitting. Finch Bay access will remain open to the public throughout the works, with crew in...

Grab your creative spirit and come along for a series of free Women’s Creative Recovery Workshops, bringing women together to create, connect and unwind. The workshops will provide a welcoming space to explore arts and crafts while supporting recovery, wellbeing,...

Cook Shire’s Stronger Together Community Choir is back this August, with a free weekend of singing, choir leadership and community connection in Cooktown. Held at the Cooktown Events Centre on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August, the workshop weekend will bring new and...

Gather the family and head to Cooktown Library this Indigenous Literacy Day for an afternoon of stories, creativity, culture and connection. On Wednesday 2 September, families are invited to come together to discover books and stories celebrating the voices, languages...

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) will undertake a hazard reduction burn on the Endeavour River National Park and on the eastern section of the Cooktown Airport land. This burn is likely to occur today or tomorrow, weather and conditions pending. Smoke may...

Critical thinking was on the agenda at Cooktown Library last week as community members of all ages came together for the Truth Be Told misinformation and disinformation session. With 20 attendees at the free session, including members of the 60s and Better Group...

Grab your little pirates and prepare for a morning of stories, songs and seaside adventure when Pirate Playtime drops anchor at Cooktown Library. Families with children aged 0–5 years are invited to climb aboard the library's Musical Ship on Wednesday 16 September for...

Missing your weekly aqua aerobics class? Waterless Workouts are a fun, low-impact way to stay active until you're back in the pool. Join Peta for a friendly one-hour group fitness class featuring the same gentle style of movement you know and enjoy from aqua...

Cook Shire residents are being encouraged to help build a more accurate picture of the region by taking part in the 2026 Census on Tuesday 11 August. Held every five years, the Census counts people and households across Australia and provides important information...

Council's Biosecurity team is encouraging the community to remain vigilant and report sick or dead wild birds as part of ongoing surveillance for avian influenza (bird flu). H5 bird flu has recently been detected in Queensland, however there are currently no known...

It starts with dedication, perseverance and the people who make sport part of our community. Across Cook Shire, athletes, teams and sporting contributors achieve remarkable things every year. Now it's time to celebrate them. Nominations are now open for the 36th North...

Community members are advised that contractors will be using the Marton Boat Ramp from Tuesday 4 August for approximately two days to remove derelict vessels from the Endeavour River. The boat ramp will remain open to the public, but the area may be busier than usual...

THESE BURNS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED Residents are advised that several planned hazard reduction burns will take place across Cook Shire from Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August 2026. Smoke may be visible in and around the affected areas. All burns are planned and controlled...

Looking for a fun day out while learning more about how you can support your community? The SES Open Day is coming to Lakeland on Saturday, 22 August 2026, inviting families, residents and anyone interested in volunteering to come along, meet the local SES team and...

PLEASE BE ADVISED: This event has been cancelled due to low registration numbers, despite speakers travelling from Cairns and Atherton to present in Cooktown. Property owners, landlords and renters are invited to join local fire and land management experts for a...

A contractor will carry out a single helicopter lift tomorrow morning to deliver large, heavy finishing pieces to the Scenic Rim project site. Because the work area is reached only by a walking trail through steep bushland, the materials cannot be safely carried in by...

Get ready for an afternoon of curiosity, creativity and discovery. What happens when you mix curious young minds with a room full of science experiments, engineering challenges and creative problem-solving? You get an afternoon where learning feels like an adventure....

Looking for a fun after-school activity? Young people aged 6–12 years are invited to join a free six-week drumming program at Rossville Hall. Running throughout August and September, the free after-school workshops will give young school-aged children the chance to...

Please be advised of a planned burn to take place near Mulligan Highway. Residents and motorists are advised that the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and Yuku Baja Muliku Rangers will be conducting planned burns within Annan River (Yuku Baja Muliku)...

Access to Finch Bay has reopened, with the new boardwalk now ready for residents and visitors to use. The boardwalk structure provides a more accessible, stable and reliable route to the beach than the previous sand track. Designed to improve access for a wider range...