The Cooktown Botanic gardens are just on the edge of town, a couple of blocks behind the museum. There is a café and toilets here.
From the gardens you can walk an easy 800 metres to beautiful Finch Bay, or you can drive. We drove as it was extremely hot, but we have heard that the walk is lovely, over bridges and creeks and emerging out onto the beach between two giant boulders. It’s very easy walk for kids, we were told, however don’t attempt the other walk to Cherry Tree Bay with the kids!
As for swimming at Finch Bay – we wouldn’t advise it due to crocodiles and stingers, plus it’s not patrolled, but people do swim here apparently. We did wade over the shallow water to the sandbar for some awesome photos opportunities.