Tide turns at new Cottage facility

Local children’s charity Cottage by the Sea will support an additional 700 children each year, following the opening of its new Riptide respite facility.

Riptide is expected to provide a much-needed boost for families seeking respite by the sea.

The facility, which the charity said “aims to leave a lasting impression on the children who visit”, features 28 beds and rooms for staff, a suspended hammock and library for relaxation, a climbing wall and indoor slide for adventure, as well as a commercial kitchen.

Cottage by the Sea chief executive Adam Wake said Riptide will build confidence that ripples across generations.

“Our programs are more than a few nights away – they change lives,” he said.

“Our team works really, really hard to reach as many children as we can by offering some of the best programs possible and this new building represents the opportunity to reach more by expanding our capacity.”

Wake said the lessons learned at Cottage can “set the trajectory for an entirely new path forward in life”.

“Just last week a visiting teacher said to me that we can’t teach these skills in a classroom,” he said.

“He was referring to children challenging themselves, building stronger relationships and developing resilience, all while having so much fun.

“Riptide is the embodiment of this philosophy, and an extension of what we have been able to achieve for more than 135 years at Cottage.”

The new facility was officially opened last month.

Guests at the launch event a fortnight ago also heard from Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy, who shared a few words of encouragement in a congratulatory video message.

As a child, he holidayed at what was then the Riptide Motel, an experience that later inspired the name of his 2013 hit Riptide.

The facility is now taking on families and children as part of their 2026 program.

For more information, head to cottagebythesea.com.au