MISSION Beach residents have watched a 3-4m crocodile swim back and forth in the ocean just off a popular paddling and walking beach at the tourist town south of Cairns.

Wongaling Beach resident Mary Schiess said the croc appeared to be trying to sun itself as it moved through the water along the beachfront beside Reid Rd, coming to within 50m of the shore at some stages of a four-hour stay. Croc watchers have estimated the reptile was definitely 3m long and maybe up to 4m.

"It had a lot of itself out of the water," Ms Schiess said.

"It was heading north but then it turned and started coming south closer to the beach, then went backwards and forwards, reappeared and disappeared and finally went north again," she said.

Residents spotted the reptile about 8am on Friday at the southern end of the area known as Wongaling Beach.

Ms Schiess said it did not come onto the foreshore but came close enough and stayed long enough for people to warn a paddler not to go out and others not to go swimming.

A warning is also in place at Cairns’ Holloways Beach where a 2-3m crocodile, plus a larger beast, have been seen sunning themselves on the river bank across from the community’s boat ramp.

The Department of Environmental and Resource Management spokesman could not be contacted yesterday by The Cairns Post about the sightings.

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