The spots around Australia where a waterfront home may actually be within reach

Living near water is a dream for home buyers who want somewhere to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But it’s also an expensive dream, with waterfront properties often selling at a premium.

Yet there are some surprisingly affordable areas around Australia where the serenity of a home by the water might just be within reach.

Wentworth Point is Sydney’s largest urban regeneration project on the harbour foreshore and is quickly becoming a sought-after real estate destination. Located 35 minutes from the CBD, the suburb is home to Willow, an apartment complex at Sekisui House’s Sanctuary development.  

The apartments in Willow offer affordability not commonly seen in Sydney’s harbourside suburbs and come with the bonus of being surrounded by parklands.

Willow

Shop 9, 1 Burroway Road, Wentworth Point, NSW 2127

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This proximity to nature inspired the design of the three buildings that make up Willow, says architect James McCarthy, director at Turner. 

“Willow celebrates its direct parkland location by drawing nature into its streetscapes, into the large podium courtyards and up through the buildings to the rooftop terraces,” he says. 

“The stepped and angled facades allow for a predominance of corner-type apartments that enjoy the river breezes and northerly aspect. The buildings have a softness to their form, with the gentle curves to their facades mimicking the bends of the nearby Parramatta River.”

The location gives residents easy access to 45 kilometres of bike paths around Sydney Olympic Park and 47.7 hectares of parklands, as well as shopping, sporting and entertainment precincts.

Willow also has a lagoon-style pool, giving residents another space to relax around the water. 

“The resort-like pool area with its infinity edge is one of the heroes within the project,” McCarthy says. “Its freeform shape allows for areas to relax around the water’s edge with daybeds and cabanas, and an outdoor dining pavilion adjacent for gatherings.”

Researchers have long associated water with physical and mental wellness. In a 2013 UK study with more than 20,000 participants, ocean and coastal locations were found to be the happiest places for people to visit. 

Buyers who search beyond well-known waterside spots can be rewarded with properties that come without the costly price tag. 

These locations may be a little further afield, so buyers need to cast a wide net, says Dragan Dimovski of Buyers Agency Australia.

“There are plenty of opportunities for buyers to purchase affordable waterside property,” he says.

“Looking beyond the traditional lens of beachside properties, buyers can purchase waterside property further out from the city, in rural areas or even close to riversides or wetlands.”

Dimovski points to the coastal town of Machans Beach north of Cairns where beachfront houses with endless ocean views can be bought for under $1 million. 

Burnett Heads is another relatively low-cost option in Queensland. The town has many large houses with sweeping ocean views, just a 15-minute drive from Bundaberg.

In Western Australia, Dimovski says Port Kennedy, 45 minutes from Perth’s CBD, is a standout for ocean views. The median price of a three-bedroom house there is $388,000. There’s also the nearby coastal haven of Golden Bay, where buyers can find a beachfront house for less than $1 million.

South Australia has stunning stretches of coastline and some beautiful seaside properties to match. At Victor Harbour, one hour and 15 minutes from Adelaide, three-bedroom houses by the water sell for a median of $520,000.

And in Victoria, the Mornington Peninsula has affordable options at Tootgarook, where the median house price is $990,000, and Rosebud at $897,500. Both seaside towns are less built up than neighbouring suburbs and are within a one hour and 20-minute drive from Melbourne.