South Australia’s leading real estate agents rate their best coastal address

ACCORDING to leading real estate agents, the state’s best coastal address is just a short drive from the Adelaide CBD — which one is it?

Carmine and Sonia Mignone are selling their 233 Esplanade property and buying next door. Picture. Noelle Bobrige

FOR many people, owning a beachside home is part of the great Australian dream for many.

And, according to leading real estate agents, the state’s best coastal address is found just a short drive from the city.

The Advertiser asked 25 agents who deal in coastal residential property from across the state to select South Australia’s most prestigious seaside street.

They each selected five streets to buy in, giving five votes to their top pick down to one vote for their fifth favourite.

Their results revealed the Esplanade at Henley Beach to be Adelaide’s perfect place to buy a waterfront home.

Suggestions came from far and wide — from Flinders Grove, Island Beach on Kangaroo Island, to Sultana Point Rd in Edithburgh — but the Esplanade at Henley Beach was the clear winner. In fact, lots of Adelaide’s esplanade addresses performed well, with real estate agents ranking the waterfront street at Somerton Park, Glenelg South, Grange, Brighton and Port Willunga and Silver Sands among our most prestigious coastal addresses.

Phil McMahon Real Estate managing director Phil McMahon said many South Australians said Adelaide’s coastal properties represented exceptional value.

“We see similar properties on the seafront interstate for double, triple, quadruple the price — it’s unbelievable,” Mr McMahon said.

Mr McMahon said SA’s coastal properties were mainly bought by locals and that our low prices reflected our conservative nature.

“Coastal buying in Adelaide is sensational and one day our conservative Adelaide population is going to say, ‘that was pretty good buying 10 years ago, why didn’t we do it’,” Mr McMahon said.

“We are unique — Henley Beach is 15 minutes from Adelaide, Port Adelaide is 10 minutes, Glenelg is 12 minutes from the city.

“We live in an idyllic situation here.” because it’s gulf protected waters, there aren’t huge waves and it is very accessible.”

Mr McMahon said metropolitan coastal properties were highly sought-after for their lifestyle offerings as much as their location. “All the coast is a hotspot at the moment — Henley, Grange, Glenelg, Somerton Park, Brighton — it’s absolutely booming and it’s 100 per cent about the lifestyle,” Mr McMahon said.

“I stand in awe of what we’ve got to offer here. One day Adelaide people are going to miss out and the overseas people will start buying up whatever they can — but at the moment Adelaide people have got it to themselves.”

Although South Australia’s real estate agents identified Henley Beach as the state’s most prestigious seaside address, realestate.com.au data shows that over the past year, Middleton, on the Fleurieu Peninsula, was the most searched for coastal SA town on the property website.

Port Elliot was the second most searched-for coastal suburb, ahead of Carrickalinga, Victor Harbor and Goolwa.

Stansbury, Ardrossan, Encounter Bay, Port Vincent and Normanville rounded out the top 10.

Real Estate Institute chief executive officer Greg Troughton said the South Australia’s country coastal regions were performing well and fetching good prices.

“My members are saying it has been better than in previous years and, coming through the summer months, they are excited about what the potential might be, particularly on the south coast,” Mr Troughton said.

“I’m also hearing optimism on Yorke Peninsula as well, so there seems to be some buoyancy at the moment.

“We’re the most affordable mainland state and, combine that with some of the best coastal towns and hamlets on the planet, and I can’t imagine why you’d want to go anywhere else.”

Mr Troughton Mr Troughton said the duplication of the southern Expressway had helped make everyday commuting feasible for city workers and said record low interest rates had put owning a coastal home within reach of many and that many smaller coastal towns had undergone a revival in recent years and had daggy shacks replaced with stunning townhouses. He said owning a coastal property was a status symbol and that beach houses made a great investment.

Mr Troughton said baby boomers had been actively buying in the coastal market — particularly around Goolwa and Victor Harbor — as they were well serviced by hospitals and shops.

THEY LOVE THE ESPLANADE SO MUCH THAT THEY’RE BUYING NEXT DOOR

By Tom Bowden

CARMINE Mignone and his wife Sonia love living on the waterfront at Henley Beach so much they’re selling their 233 ­Esplanade home ... to buy 231 Esplanade.

The Mignones bought the property 15 years ago and Mr ­Mignone said the Esplanade offered a great lifestyle close to within easy reach of the city.

“It’s about a 20-minute drive from the city and whenever we get friends that come over from interstate or overseas they marvel at the cleanliness, the openness and how close it is to everything,” Mr Mignone said.

Carmine and Sonia Mignone are selling their 233 Esplanade property and buying next door. Picture. Noelle Bobrige

“I think we as a state take it too much for granted.

“The beach is beautiful, the sand is clean and there’s some redevelopment in the pipeline.

“I don’t think there is a negative to living on the Esplanade — it’s close to Henley Square and there’s a lot of community functions there throughout the year.”

The couple bought their 233 Esplanade property for $501,000 15 years ago and Mr Mignone said property values along the sought-after waterfront strip had since increased dramatically.

“It was just beginning to boom,” Mr Mignone said.

“When I bought it that was one of the record prices at the time. ” Mr Mignone said.

“Now the Esplanade is more and more desirable because they’re all developing along that stretch. There’s no more land there, so everything’s becoming more tightly held.

“There’s a lot of competition for properties along there and they command some pretty good prices.”

Mr Mignone and his wife are selling their home through Karl Niehus of LJ Hooker St Peters because they have bought the house next doorand said they were keen to stay in the popular coastal suburb.

“We love Henley Beach, we just needed a bigger house,” Mr Mignone said.

BEST BEACHES

For the best summer fun, all roads lead to Aldinga

By Tom Bowden

SOUTH Australia is home to some truly spectacular beaches.

Whether you fish, swim, snorkel, camp or simply enjoy long walks at sunset with that special someone, SA’s beaches have got you covered.

We turned to you, the people of South Australia, to help us find our state’s best beaches.

DIVE IN: Benny Walker and his son Oshan at Port Noarlunga. Picture: NOELLE BOBRIGE

Through a survey on advertiser.com.au we asked you to tell us the best South Australian beaches in a number of different categories — the best beach for families, swimming, surfing, diving and snorkelling; fishing, holidaying, camping, walking and exploring; cafes, restaurants and shops; the most picturesque beach and what you thought was the best beach overall.

Well, the results are in.

So load up the car, pack the boogie boards and get down to your favourite beach today.

Just don’t forget to slip, slop and slap!

Best Beach

1 ALDINGA

2 SEMAPHORE

3 MOANA

The duplication of the Southern Expressway has made Aldinga more accessible than ever. Port Noarlunga, Maslin, Carrickalinga, Silver Sands, Port Willunga, Wallaroo and Henley Beach completed the top 10.

Kids and families

1 ALDINGA

2 SEMAPHORE

3 MOANA

A gradual drop-off and being able to drive your car on to the beach make Aldinga a family favourite and a hotspot for Australia Day celebrations. Port Noarlunga, Glenelg, Silver Sands, Carrickalinga, Horseshoe Bay, Wallaroo and Brighton rounded out the top 10.

Swimming

1 ALDINGA

2 SEMAPHORE

3 MOANA

Adelaide’s metropolitan beaches dominated the best swimming category. Port Noarlunga, Brighton, Glenelg, Henley, Silver Sands, Carrickalinga and Port Elliot completed the top 10.

Surfing

1 MIDDLETON

2 WAITPINGA

3 CACTUS

Middleton took this one by a country mile, offering good breaks just over an hour from the city. Moana, Southport, Goolwa, Pondalowie, Boomer Beach, Seaford and Aldinga rounded out the top 10.

Fishing

1 PORT NOARLUNGA

2 BROWNS

3 WALLAROO

It’s not uncommon to see fishermen shoulder-to- shoulder along the Port Noarlunga jetty, braving the winter wind for their chance to hook a monster salmon.

Rapid Bay, Waitpinga, Aldinga, Goolwa, Semaphore, Brighton and Southport completed the top 10.

Diving and Snorkelling

1 PORT NOARLUNGA

2 ALDINGA

3 NOARLUNGA

One of the best-loved reefs in the state, Port Noarlunga offers a safe place to get up close with thousands of fish in a protected marine environment. Second Valley, Rapid Bay, Glenelg, Port Willunga, Robe and Semaphore and Edithburgh rounded out the top nine and Edithburgh, Grange and Marion Bay shared 10th.

Holidaying

1 PORT ELLIOT/
HORSESHOE BAY

2 ALDINGA BEACH

3 NORMANVILLE

Famous for its great beaches and legendary bakery, Port Elliot has a range of accommodation options and is a short drive from Victor Harbor. Robe, Carrickalinga, West Beach, Wallaroo, Moonta, Victor Harbor and Glenelg completed the top 10.

Camping

1 RAPID BAY

2 MOANA

3 WEST BEACH

Rapid Bay is close to other Fleurieu hot spots including Normanville and Carrickalinga and provides great access to the Deep Creek Conservation Park.

Normanville, Robe, Aldinga, Port Elliot, Goolwa, Marion Bay and The Coorong rounded out the top 10.

Most picturesque

1 PORT WILLUNGA

2 ALDINGA

3 MASLIN

With its majestic cliffs and the weathered pylons of its former jetty, there would be few metropolitan beaches more photographed than Port Willunga. Port Noarlunga, Carrickalinga, Horseshoe Bay, South Port, Vivonne Bay and Semaphore completed the top nine and Robe and Sellicks shared 10th.

Walking and exploring

1 ALDINGA

2 SEMAPHORE

3 HALLETT COVE

Long, flat and expansive seems to be the order of the day when it comes to walking and exploring, and the south has these in spades — dominating the top 10 best spots. They are

Port Willunga, Maslin, Sellicks, Carrickalinga, Port Noarlunga and Moana claimed the top nine places with Port Elliot and Second Valley sharing 10th.

Cafes, restaurants and coffee shops

1 GLENELG

2 HENLEY BEACH

3 SEMAPHORE

With its hip bars, great restaurants and easy access to the city, it’s not hard to see why millions flock to Glenelg each summer.

Distant beaches also ranked highly. Brighton, Port Noarlunga, Victor Harbor, Port Elliot/Horseshoe Bay as well as, Robe, Aldinga and Port Lincoln rounded out the top 10.

WHY ALDINGA IS SUCH A FAVOURITE

A FAMILY-FRIENDLY beach with a country feel makes Aldinga the best in the state, says local Simon Rothwell.

Aldinga topped the state in four categories of the advertiser.com. au Best Beach survey, taking the honours for swimming, families, walking and exploring.

It also took out the coveted title of best beach overall.

SHORE THING: Rachelle and Kristen Rothwell with their grandmother Jannette, and at rear, parents Simon and Sherryl at Aldinga. Picture: TRICIA WATKINSON.

Mr Rothwell, 47, and his family are all involved with the Aldinga Bay Surf Life Saving Club and he said Aldinga was the clear winner.

“It’s remote enough that you have the country and the hills in the background but you’re still only 45 minutes from the city,” he said.

“At all the metro beaches you’ve got to park and walk, but at Aldinga you can drive on to the beach and everything’s right there.

“It’s a meeting place for locals, and they’ll drive on to the beach and meet there on a hot evening.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of tourists from all around the world who say it’s one of the best beaches they’ve been to.”