Cherry Tree Bay

Beach

There are two swimming beaches at Cooktown; the secluded Cherry Tree Bay and more accessible and popular Finch Bay. Cherry Tree Bay is an attractive small beach, 200 m long, lying at the foot of Captain Cook’s lookout on 200 m high Grassy Hill. It faces east and picks up... Read more

There are two swimming beaches at Cooktown; the secluded Cherry Tree Bay and more accessible and popular Finch Bay. Cherry Tree Bay is an attractive small beach, 200 m long, lying at the foot of Captain Cook’s lookout on 200 m high Grassy Hill. It faces east and picks up low waves generated by the Trades. The beach can only be reached on foot, or by boat. There are two walking tracks, one leading from the Grassy Hill Road down the slopes for 400 m to the beach, the other a 600 m walk over the hill from the Finch Bay car park. For this reason it is usually deserted. It is, however, worth the walk. It is bounded by high rounded granitic boulders which become progressively exposed at low tide. There is a dry, narrow beach at high tide, which is partly shaded by overhanging trees, while at low tide the low beach is as wide as it is long (Fig. 2.12a).

Swimming

This is a relatively safe beach, particularly at high tide. When the Trades are blowing, waves up to 1 m high break across a wide, shallow surf zone.

Surfing

There are waves when you have a strong Trade wind blowing, however they tend to be short and sloppy.

Fishing

The rocks on either side provide the best spots at high tide.

General

This is a picturesque beach and worth the walk if you want some solitude and some small waves to play in.