Town Overview

Weipa is a vibrant and sustainable coastal community of approximately 4,000 people, located on Albatross Bay on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula, in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The township sits around 200km from Australia’s northern tip and about 800km from Cairns by road (or 500km by air). Despite the distance from other major cities, the Weipa township contains most of the facilities and conveniences of modern living.

Rich in both natural beauty and cultural heritage, this region of the western Cape York Peninsula features stunning beaches, unspoiled wilderness and unrivaled fishing making Weipa the ideal base to explore the Cape’s many attractions. It is home to a number of different Traditional Owner groups, each contributing to the unique diversity of the area.

Climate

Weipa enjoys a tropical climate, with two distinct seasons – the ‘wet’ and the ‘dry’. The wet season brings monsoonal rains and humidity between November and April, while the ‘dry’ season from May to October tends to be warm and dry.  On average, Weipa receives 2,051mm of rain annually, with 97% of that falling in the wet season. Average temperatures are between 19ºC and 36ºC all year round.

Mining operations

The Weipa region is extremely rich in bauxite, with much of the surrounding land around the township leased to the mining company Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto Weipa is a major contributor to the regional economy, making significant investments in local infrastructure. 

Rio Tinto owns and operates the Weipa bauxite mine, holding three leases that span 3,860 square kilometers of western Cape York.