If you look at brochure for Cooktown from the 1990s it will advertise beaches and swimming as a feature of the town, but all those references have been removed from any recently produced documentation. Finch Bay and Cherry Tree Bay both have nice beaches, and you can drive to Finch Bay, and walk to Cherry Tree Bay. Crocodiles have been sighted at times on both beaches, and marine stingers are present during the season.
Crocodiles and stingers also inhabit the creeks, take care when bushwalking during the wet, if the creeks are up over the track, don't cross them.
