Why Stanage Bay Is The Perfect Holiday Destination
Never heard of Stanage Bay? Neither had we before planning our next destination on our lap of Australia after visiting the beef capital known as Rockhampton.
If Stanage Bay isn’t on your must-see list, we’ve supplied a guide to share why you should book your next holiday here. Trust us when we say, you won’t leave disappointed.
Before we get into the why, let’s talk about the town. Stanage Bay is a small, incredibly stunning Queensland coastal town with approximately 100 residents.
Unlike a lot of other well-known coastal towns, this one remains untouched. You’ll find only one store in the town that acts as the post office, bar, cafe, convenience store, fuel stop, etc.
The town also runs on rain water only, so please ensure to bring enough water for your stay as you won’t find any here.
How To Get To Stanage Bay
Now, where is Stanage Bay? This sleepy coastal town in Queensland is approximately 2.5 hours North of Rockhampton.
This trek will have you winding over corrugated roads through cattle farms. This also means you’ll drive over cattle grids. Make sure to keep an eye out for the wandering cattle.
We opted to air down our tyres, however, if you’re not towing this may not be necessary for your travels. The road can be a bit rough, so make sure to drive to the conditions.
Not gonna lie, we thought we were on a bum steer for the last 30 minutes of our journey. Driving through dry mountainous cattle lands with no evidence of the coast – we weren’t sure what we were driving in to!
But keep on persisting, it is well worth what is on the other side!
Eventually you crest over the hill and there it is – the most surreal views of the magical coastline known as Stanage Bay.
Things To Do in Stanage Bay
Stanage Bay doesn’t have a lot to offer in regards to activites, so if you are after an adventurous holiday – this isn’t the destination for you. If you’re looking for a fishing haven or a relaxing time at the beach for a reset – this is your place!
The area is known as a fishing hot spot (especially with a boat). So don’t forget to pack all the fishing and crabbing gear to score a free meal.
You can opt for land fishing, boat fishing (keep in mind there is no boat hire or tours here), estuary fishing or straight off the jetty.
Of course, we left empty handed but we still enjoyed our time with our rods. We even spotted sea turtles at the jetty, so no complaints here!
If fishing isn’t your calling, not a drama pack a picnic lunch and hike up one of the mountains surrounding the coastline – you will not be disappointed with the view. Pretty sure Nick got over me saying “WOW” over and over again as we peaked over the top.
The beaches are well worth some time to explore during low tide. The rocky crops surrounding the coast, hold A LOT of sea life! We spent hours every day strolling through the rock pools finding crabs, fish and coral we’d never seen before.
Side note on the rock pool discovery – if you have soft feet like me, take the water shoes. Trust me, you’ll enjoy the experience more.
No matter how you decide to spend your time, Stanage Bay is a great destination to escape the hustle and bustle with not much here to do but enjoy nature and the company of your travel buddy.
Where To Stay In Stanage Bay
Stanage Bay has 4 donation camp sites, so it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to stay here! Alternatively if camping isn’t for you, enquire at the Fishing Accommodation in town to book your stay.
Keep in mind there are no facilities or dump point for your toilet waste, rubbish bins or water fill ups.
You will require to be completely self sufficient when visiting, so make sure to pack enough food to get you through. If you do run out of some of the essentials, pop into the Plumtree Store for any of the necessity items.
Only one of the sites are not suitable for caravans/towing. Make sure to do your research before planning your stay. However, as the camping grounds are donation only, it’s first in for all sites.
We were extremely lucky to arrive mid-week and scored the last camp site at the glorious Flat Rock at Stanage Bay.
At first, we had no idea why they called the site Flat Rock until low tide arrived. On the left hand side of your practically private beach there it is – a great big flat rock full of sea grass.
Why We Loved Stanage Bay
This calm and relaxing coastal town offers incredible views with all the shades of blue on the ocean that we’ve only experienced on the Great Barrier Reef.
We preferred Stanage Bay a lot more than Woodgate or 1770 due to the remote, away from the world feeling you get when taking in the ocean.
Additional Information Before Planning Your Stay
- Reception is limited. Nick has telstra which worked, whereas I had no Optus reception. Make sure to do all your research before hitting the Bay (tidal times, weather, etc).
- If it rains, you will be stuck as the water ways do flood, so be prepared to move if it does begin to rain.
- The beaches high and low tides are extreme, you’ll want to pay attention for this for fishing times.
- Only a small convenience store so make sure to bring all the food, water and supplies you’ll need for your stay. You may be able to find some of the essentials at Plumtree, however it’s not guaranteed and small town pricey.
- The town is run on tank water so bring enough water for your stay as there is no water available to travellers.
- Stanage Bay have nesting turtles during the right seasons, make sure not to disturb them.
- You will need to be self-contained with no facilities, bins or toilet waste areas. Make sure to take your rubbish with you!
Our Final Thoughts
If we had the choice of missing Stanage Bay or going back, we would 100% go back to this amazing town to experience the serenity that goes with the secluded beach vibes.
We personally found 4 days was the perfect amount of time to explore the rock pools, attempt fishing, climb the mountains and generally take in the scenery. You might opt for a longer stay but we were in desperate need of a shower.
Have you visited Stanage Bay, what did you think?
