Our first Take a Break program at Riptide
March 01, 2026
We were thrilled to welcome Nicholson Primary School back to Cottage by the Sea for their 2026 Take a Break program. This was the first group to trial our newly opened Riptide Cottage, bringing plenty of excitement and curiosity with them.
A highlight for the children was canoeing at The Point – building confidence and teamwork on the water. Another standout experience on the program was the Marine Discovery Centre boat charter. The participants visited Popes Eye where the seals lazed in the sun, before heading into a classroom session to deepen their understanding of the marine environment they had been exploring all week.
Between activities, there was plenty of time to relax, enjoy meals together and take part in games in the new Riptide Cottage. They were the first to use the colourful new bunk rooms, hang out in the suspended hammock and enjoy downtime in the new upstairs rumpus room with jaw-dropping views of Swan Bay and the Queenscliff surrounds.
It was a week filled with laughter, new challenges and unforgettable coastal experiences. We loved hosting Nicholson Primary School as our first official Take a Break group at Riptide!
It was the most fun I have ever had.
My time at Cottage by the Sea made me feel so much better and stronger.
It was the best camp I have ever been on.
This camp’s gonna be one of the memories that sticks with us forever.
The staff make the camp feel like home.
Program participant feedback
The kids who were scared about swimming in the surf entered the water after some convincing. After about 10 minutes, they were thoroughly enjoying themselves and didn’t want to get out. They were begging to get back in the water the next day.
The personal growth on Cottage by the Sea camps is the most I ever see – it has been outstanding.
Visiting teacher feedback