From Notch Point to Tide Water Park: Our Coastal Detour Turned Out Better Than Expected

Sometimes the best camping spots are the ones you never planned on. Our original plan was simple enough: head into Notch Point for a few days of fishing and relaxing. But, in typical timing-that-only-happens-on-holidays fashion, the access road was closed the exact week we turned up.

So we shifted to Plan B — Camilla Beach. It looked promising, but when we arrived it felt like half of Queensland had the same idea. Every site was full, every flat patch was spoken for, and we weren’t keen on shoehorning Tia between someone’s awning and someone else’s generator.

A quick look on HipCamp revealed a nearby option called Tide Water Park, and in the spirit of embracing surprises, we booked a couple of nights. And honestly? The place gave off serious Stanage Bay vibes. Quiet, rustic, and sitting right near the water.

A short afternoon walk along the beach gave us the biggest surprise of the day — stingrays gliding through the shallows right at our feet, and what we’re pretty sure was a shovel-nosed shark cruising past too. Absolutely magic.

Back at camp we settled in for a calm evening, got the campfire ticking away and cooked a simple but delicious Chicken Bake for dinner. Not exactly the plan for the trip, but definitely a win in the end.

The full story — including our failed Notch Point attempt, arrival at Tide Water Park, close encounters with local marine life and our first-night campfire — is in the video.