Clever way Aussie family get to live out Bali dream
An Aussie family have revealed the stunning way they were able to live out their retirement dream early in Bali thanks to a stroke of property fortune.
Life in Amanda and Tom Nowland’s Central Coast home is pretty great.
After spending years perfecting the property, adding automation, tech gadgets, energy efficiency and the dream outdoor entertaining space, the couple have decided to sell the home.
The only thing that may be better than their life on The Central Coast, is their new life in Bali.
“We were actually going to move and do something when we retire,” Ms Nowland said.
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“Then my husband said to me, do you know what? Why are we waiting until we retire? Why don’t we just give it a go? Let’s not wait until we are old, let’s do it now while we are young.”
The family have purchased a dive shop ‘No Fear Diving’ as well as two villas they are leasing out for holiday makers for income. They have also bought a block of land in Amed on the north eastern tip of the island, where they plan to build their dream home.
A few years off from empty nesters, their 14 year old son has made the move with them and is attending a small international school with 40 students.
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“We thought it would be an amazing experience for him to grow up in another country and live in a different culture and be exposed to things that he may not actually get here (in Australia),” she said.
Their son could already speak Indonesian after six months and was also learning French and German.
“It’s away from the hustle and bustle of Bali, so it is a bit like being here on The Central Coast, you’ve got the beauty of the beaches, good cafes and places to eat and shop and are able to do all the things close to Sydney in a couple of hours. It’s very similar.”
With crystal clear water with black sand beaches, there are local cafes and eateries all within distance and only a few hours from the busier Canggu and Seminyak.
“It's a more relaxed way of life, and this gives us the ability to have more family time as well. We really noticed here that we all go so fast all the time, I don’t think we take time to stop and smell the roses,” Ms Nowland said.
Mr Nowland had always been an avid diver and their son had become one too, with Ms Nowland recently obtaining her licence so she can join them.
“I’ve worked in the city my whole career and my husband’s had a landscaping business so we have always been really busy. Now diving is finished by 2 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon, school finishes at the same time so we’re looking forward to being able to go throw a ball in the afternoon or go for a dive or swim together,”
The family still regularly came back and visit their family and friends in Australia, but now have decided to fully commit and sell their “entertainers dream,” in Bateau Bay on The Central Coast.
“It’s a beautiful home and we will be sad to leave it,” she said. “My husband is quite handy so he’s added all these automations … but the best part of the home is the view.”
Located at 45 Kipling Drive, the home has a large alfresco entertaining area with outdoor fully fitted kitchen and TV, 10m deep pool with spa, weather and automated controlled blinds and a fully equipped gym all come with the house.
Listing agent McGrath’s Scott Falconer said the home is unassuming from the street, but the high tech elements, and outdoor living arrangement was unbeatable.
“It’s just like, wow,” he said. “The kitchen outside is better than the one outside … they’ve thought everything through it's a real lifestyle home,” Mr Falconer said.
After adding 14kW solar system with 15KW batteries, the home is now completely off-grid.
“You don’t pay a single electricity bill,” he added. “It's the perfect home for someone who loves outdoor entertaining or has teenagers that will make the most of the gym and the movie room.”
With five-bedrooms, two-bathrooms and a garage, the home has been listed for sale with a $1.8m guide.
Originally published as Clever way Aussie family get to live out Bali dream