welcome to bear cottage

Just a stone's throw from Manly, Bear Cottage is a children's hospice that was established in 2001. Bear Cottage helps families cope with the impossible - to care for a child who has a life-limiting illness. To care for a child who is unlikely to see their 18th birthday, or their ninth birthday, or sometimes even their first birthday.

For the special kids that stay with us, there is no happy ending, no miracle cure.

This is heartbreaking to think about. But that's only part of the story. Even though the outlook for these kids is a sad one, Bear Cottage is actually one of the most uplifting and inspiring places you could ever visit. Here, children laugh and play.

Life is celebrated, lived to its fullest and also fondly remembered.

Bear Cottage is the first children's hospice in NSW.

It is a place where children with terminal illnesses and their families can stay from time to time and receive rest and medical care in a home-like environment.

Bear Cottage is located on Sydney's Northern Beaches in Manly and is designed as a large family beach home. With specialist medical care available 24 hours a day to take care of the children's medical needs and staff and volunteers to see to daily tasks such as cooking and cleaning, families are provided with the opportunity to spend some quality time together and relax in the tranquil surroundings near all the attractions and amenities of one of Sydney's rational holiday destinations.

In addition to providing respite and end of life care, Bear Cottage runs a number of other programs aimed to support the entire family.

Families do not pay for any Bear Cottage services and all operating expenses are raised entirely through community donations.