Whether to live in or enjoy as a weekend escape, South Australia has some amazing beachside homes to be enjoyed.

And they’re in hot demand, Harcourts South Coast sales agent Kathleen Fry said.

“The market is the strongest I’ve seen it in my 20-year real estate career,” she said.

“I’m getting multiple offers for every property I list and most properties are either selling at the top of the price range or above.

“A lot of the holiday rental owners have decided to use their holiday homes themselves because they are not travelling, so there’s a shortage of holiday rentals.

“There are too many buyers out there for the market to slow down anytime soon.”

Ouwens Casserly Real Estate agent Linda Van Hooff said the metro coastal market was also on fire.

“The level of inquiry has been very strong and I was still selling between Christmas and New Year,” she said.

“There are a lot of people who had previously owned beach houses down on the Fleurieu who are now, post-Covid, selling them to buy a better metro home so they can enjoy that lifestyle year-round.

“They don’t necessarily need to be on the water, just within walking distance of it.

“Interstate buyers are also extremely active and still buying sight unseen, and there are still plenty of local buyers prepared to spend top dollar on the right property.”

Now that we’ve given you some market insight, let’s get to what you really want to see. Here are SA’s 20 best beach houses as chosen by our Real Estate and Home teams. Trust us, you’re not going to want to miss number 1.

20. Henley Beach

Often beach homes suffer from a lack of a meaningful front or back yard. But this property values its inside and outdoor living spaces equally. Throw in an esplanade address and it’s not hard to see why this one was snapped up quickly. This is what executive style beach living is all about.

19. Port Lincoln

This place won’t be to everyone’s liking, but it’s on this list because it perfectly captures the aesthetic of the grand coastal homes of the early 80s. The thing’s like a time capsule. Plus there’s enough space for you to host your own Tuna toss.

18. Browns Beach, Kangaroo Island

When it comes to great beach houses, some of the state’s best are only accessible by ferry. In that they’re on KI. And this one – One at Browns Beach – is nothing short of stunning. That huge glass window really blurs the boundary between inside and out.

17. Middleton

How can you put a price on this stunning view? According to CoreLogic it can be done, with the home recently selling for $2.575 million, setting a new record for Middleton. This waterfront marvel offers an interrupted view of a popular surf beach.

16. Yambara

It might be a tiny house, but this Eyre Peninsula holiday attraction has huge appeal. Sure, bells and whistles are nice, but sometimes its nice to strip that back and simply enjoy your surroundings. Size doesn’t always matter.

15. Encounter Bay

Not all great coastal properties are modern masterpieces, and this 57 Franklin Parade, Encounter Bay home shows character charm still holds huge appeal. Those water views certainly don’t hurt either.

14. Middleton

The sand, the rocks, the waves, the ocean air – shut up and take me to this Middleton place already. Seriously, I’m working from home today and need a break from my kids. With that big glass window, it’s hard to see where the house finishes and the outside world begins.

13. Encounter Bay

Franklin Parade is a pretty special part of the world. Walk one way to The Bluff, head the other way to Victor, or jump in a kayak and head straight out to the island in front. That’s if you ever want to leave this waterfront stunner.

12. Middleton

Waking to the sounds of the pounding waves at Middleton’s famous Surfers Pde - what could be better than that? And really, where better to do it from than this stunner? Middleton’s been a family favourite for decades, and from those floor-to-ceiling windows, you can clearly see why.

11. Port Lincoln

Port Lincoln’s home to some sensational properties, but few come close to the pure spectacle this North Point Ave home is. Marina one side, beach the other – it gives you the best of both worlds. Trust us, inside’s even more impressive.

10. Deep Creek

The sea may be calm in this photo, but you’ll never be short of a wave with that stunning curved ceiling. Taking in views over the Fleurieu Peninsula to Kangaroo Island beyond, this might just be the ultimate beach house. Who said the beach sucks in winter?

9. Island Beach, Kangaroo Island

Island Beach is one of Kangaroo Island’s most picturesque, and this Nepean Drive stunner allows you to take all of its charms inside in fine style. With a panoramic view that looks like it was lifted straight from an ’80s petrol station cigarette advertising poster, you’ll never want to come back to the mainland.

8. Encounter Bay

As close to The Bluff as you can get, this Encounter Bay home offers about as impressive a coastal view as you’re likely to find in South Australia. And, with a crisp white decor, it’s set to be on trend for years.

7. Myponga Beach

We think Myponga Beach is one of SA’s best-kept secrets. And there’s really no better place to enjoy it from than this stunning Stacey Court home. It’s flash but it still has a kind of quaint charm Myponga Beach is renowned for.

6. Emu Bay

Perched above Emu Bay on Kangaroo Island, luxury accommodation Dune House offers stunning beach views and the opportunity for a private getaway. And look at it – that beach is practically begging to be walked on.

5. Glenelg North

Well here’s something you don’t see everyday. Well, not in Adelaide anyway. And that’s why this Glenelg North home made the list. This Mediterranean marvel has the style absolutely nailed, and has us all longing for our next overseas escape. Live here and you won’t have to.

4. Glenelg South

When it comes to metro coastal homes, you can’t afford to overlook this stunning Glenelg South property. It recently sold for a whopping $5.1 million. When you look at it’s location, lifestyle features and the view it would enjoy from its elevated block, it’s not hard to see why someone felt comfortable paying its high price.

3. Tennyson

This flashy Tennyson home won’t be to everyone’s tastes, however you can’t deny this modern marvel is anything short of spectacular. Having sold for $5.2 million, it offers unobstructed views of one of the state’s most prized pieces of coastline.

2. Rocky Point, Kangaroo Island

We could have included any one of more than a dozen amazing photos of this stunning home, but we thought we’d let it’s stunning location speak for itself. Owned by the Dutton family since 1918, it’s sold last year for $6.5 million – a record for the island.

1. Nalyappa, Yorke Peninsula

Where’s Nalyappa, you ask? Does it really matter when you’re in a place as stunning as this? I mean really, does it get any better than this? Oh, and it’s not far from Moonta and Port Hughes on the Yorke Peninsula, to answer your earlier question.