By Jim Malo
The summer break is a famously busy time of year for coastal property markets, as holidaymakers descend on beach towns and, if they have the cash to spare, snap up a permanent holiday home in their favourite getaway spot.
But buying one of Australia’s best beach houses requires a bit more thought and a bigger budget. From works of incomparable architectural expression to lavish ocean-front homes, here are five stunning beach houses currently on the market that will keep you daydreaming all summer.
Alkira, Cape Tribulation, Queensland
Alkira, also known as the “stamp house”, is maybe one of the most striking beach houses in the country. It might be more correct to call it a rainforest house though, as it’s nestled in nearly 30 hectares of tropical forest in the Daintree National Park. Don’t worry though, there’s access to a private beach via a track through the trees.
The home is built over a lake, and each of the six bedrooms is located in a concrete spur which juts from the open-air, communal living area at the structure’s centre. The home got its “stamp house” nickname because it was built by a prolific stamp collector and property developer, and also because the pool is shaped like the profile of Indigenous man Gwoya Tjungurrayi, which featured on a popular stamp from 1950.
Alkira is remote, at a two and a half hour drive from Cairns, but for nature lovers who also love being in the lap of luxury, it’s hard to beat. It’s a holiday rental (asking thousands of dollars a night) right now and has been a filming location for the Netflix series The Mole. It’s listed for sale with an asking price of more than $7 million.
Border Street, Byron Bay, NSW
Byron Bay has become one of the go-to holiday locations for rich and famous Australians, and the beach houses there are some of the most luxurious – and expensive – anywhere in the country.
The house at 8 Border Street is no exception. Two of the home’s five bedrooms belong to a guesthouse and a nanny’s quarters. The main bedroom features a dehumidified dressing room, and the property stretches along 30 metres of Belongil beachfront. A similar block that didn’t have a home built on it recently sold for $22 million. It’s safe to say this home will sell for much more.
Monaco Street, Broadbeach Waters, Queensland
This Gold Coast stunner doesn’t boast a property boundary that’s also a beach like Border Street, but it does offer its own waterfront views of the Nerang River, and comes with a place to park a boat too.
The six-bedroom home at 87 Monaco Street is just a 20-minute walk to the Gold Coast beach, but tucked away enough to enjoy some serenity in the bustling holiday destination. It has an eye-catching style inside and out, multiple living and dining areas, a gym, a media room, an outdoor kitchen and the list keeps going. It’s listed for auction.
Broadbeach Road, Jan Juc, Victoria
This seven-bedroom Jan Juc home features stunning views of the ocean from parts of the house and accents of natural stone and timber within its expansive interior. It has four kitchens, more than half a dozen living and dining areas, a heated spa and pool in the backyard. An office built from a shipping container is also on-site.
Although it’s not far from the beach, the home at 18 Broadbeach Road is surrounded by bush if that’s more your speed. The house is listed for sale with an asking price of $7.2 million to $7.6 million.
Giaour Street, Byron Bay, NSW
Looking to be within walking distance of Belongil Beach? Well, look no further than 6 Giaour Street. The compound is made up of two buildings; a five-bedroom main house and a three-bedroom, self-contained guesthouse. The property has a Hamptons style, and a landscaped backyard with a pool and jetty which overlooks Belongil Creek.
It’s listed with a price guide of $9 million to $9.9 million, and sits on a 1084 square metre block.