Live at Australia's best beaches from $400,000
Looking for a home at or near one of the best Australian beaches but don’t have a $4 million budget?
Tourism Australia’s official beach ambassador recently announced 2024’s best beaches, and it turns out not a single one of these coveted locations comes with a multimillion-dollar price tag.
Houses near Squeaky Beach in Victoria, which took out the number 1 spot as Australia’s best beach for 2024, have a median price of $690,000 – that’s $3.5 million less than the median price for a house near Manly Beach in Sydney ($4.2 million) and $3 million less than the median price for a house near Coogee Beach ($3.757 million), on Domain data.
The median price for a house in Byron Bay or Noosa Heads? About $2 million.
In Long Beach, South Australia, buyers can find a property close to this beach idyll for $400,000.
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite properties, either at or near the top 10 best beaches, as named by Tourism Australia, for you.
| Beach | Location | Median house price |
| Squeaky Beach, Victoria | Gippsland-South West | $690,000 |
| The Farm, NSW (Killalea Beach) | Kiama-Shellharbour | $932,500 |
| Cockle Creek, Tasmania | Huon – Bruny Island | $610,000 |
| Madfish Bay, Western Australia | Denmark | $535,000 |
| Pulu Blanc Madar Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands | – | N/A |
| Cylinder Beach, Queensland | Cleveland – Stradbroke | $770,000 |
| Long Beach, South Australia | Limestone Coast | $400,000 |
| Cow Bay, Queensland | Port Douglas-Daintree | $762,500 |
| Casuarina Beach, Northern Territory | Darwin City | $787,500 |
Squeaky Beach, Victoria
This year, the hidden gem in Wilsons Promontory National Park was crowned the best beach in the nation. Squeaky Beach stretches for 700 metres and is known to have wombats, kangaroos, and emus parading around, sharing the beach with beachgoers.
Living directly next to Squeaky Beach is not possible since it’s in a nature reserve. However, its nearest town – Yanakie – is only a half-hour drive from the beach. Yanakie is located in the Gippsland-South West region, where the median price for a house is $690,000, according to Domain data.
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In Yanakie, this beautiful three-bedroom blue country-style house is just a 15-minute drive to the national park. It has ample backyard space for pets and children to play.
Alternatively, for something more high-end, this seven-bedroom property has perfect views of the ocean, Corner Inlet Marine Park and the national park. It’s the closest you can get to living near the best beach in Australia.
The Farm, NSW (Killalea Beach)
Next on the list is The Farm, known as one of the best surf beaches in NSW. The beach is part of the Killalea Regional Park, and two small headlands bookend it. Much like Squeaky Beach, buying property in the regional park is impossible.
Its closest residential location is Shell Cove, just a four-minute drive to the beachside. The median price for a property in the Kiama-Shellharbour region is $932,500.
This Shell Cove 225 square metre home is in the Waterfront Maria Precinct, and it’s a 30-minute walk (about 2.4 kilometres) from The Farm. Who wouldn’t want to do a five-kilometre run that includes going through one of Australia’s best beaches?
Cockle Creek, Tasmania
Located in the southernmost drivable point of Australia, Cockle Creek in Tasmania is known for having its waters drift between 12 to 18 degrees Celsius. This beach is part of the Southwest National Park, so living with creek views is impossible.
However, six kilometres north is Recherche, the closest suburb to the beach. Recherche is located within the region of Huon-Bruny Island, where the median price for a house is $610,000.
Recherche is a tightly held town that only sees houses coming into the market once a blue moon. Most houses have spectacular views of Pigsties Bay and are just an 11-minute drive to Tassie’s best beach.
This bayside timber home has a three-sided deck to enjoy beautiful sunrises and is perfect for a BBQ. Plus, the property has three acres of native bushland for $540,000.
Madfish Bay, Western Australia
In William Bay National Park, Madfish Bay is a semi-sheltered lagoon, perfect for kids and non-confident swimmers. It’s also a great place to snorkel and watch local sea life thrive.
The beach is a 20-minute drive from Denmark (the town, not the country), where the median house price is $535,000.
This timber house is a 25-minute drive to Madfish Bay, and it boasts cottagecore vibes with its wooden floorboards and features. Plus, it comes with mature fruit trees, the perfect pre-beach snack.
On the more affordable end, this yellow brick home has a more modern interior and is a 25-minute drive to Madfish Bay. Plus, it’s near the centre of Denmark’s CBD, offering the best of both worlds.
Pulu Blanc Madar Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
A six-hour flight west of Perth, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are known for their picture-perfect beauty. This year, the southernmost island, Pulu Blan Madar, was crowned as one of the best beaches to visit in 2024.
Buying property here is challenging as everything is tightly held. The last time a property was listed on Domain was in 2021. This island property sold for $510,000 and is just a stroll away from crystal clear waters.
Cylinder Beach, Queensland
Nestled in North Stradbroke Island, Cylinder Beach is considered one of Queensland’s safest beaches due to its relatively small and calm waves.
The beach is part of the small town of Point Lookout, where a house sells for around a couple of million dollars.
This beachside cottage house costs $2.4 million and offers beach views from the lounge room. It’s a two-minute walk to Cylinder Beach, and it also has views of Shag Rock and Moreton Island.
This townhouse is on the more affordable end, starting at $699,000, and it offers ocean views from the balcony – great for those slow mornings.
Long Beach, South Australia
Next on the list is Long Beach in South Australia. This curved beach spans 12 kilometres, and bringing cars up to the water’s edge is okay.
The closest town is Robe, just a four-minute drive from the sandy beaches in the Limestone Coast region. The median price for a house in this picturesque part of the world? $400,000.
This four-bedroom house is only 150 metres away from Long Beach, and it comes with a spa to relax after an ocean swim.
Cow Bay, Queensland
Cow Bay beach is nestled between Daintree River and Cape Tribulation and among the World Heritage Daintree Rainforest.
The beach is home to cream sand and multi-blue-hued water, making it a paradise. But be aware that crocodiles also call this northern Queensland region home, so it’s essential to exercise caution.
The beach is part of the town of Cow Bay, where property closer to the beach is tightly held. However, finding a house or two a bit further inland is possible.
Nestled in the rainforest, this house has a road that’ll give easy access to Cow Bay beach. It also comes with several fruit trees to feed the crocodiles (not advised).
Casuarina Beach, Northern Territory
Last on the list is Casuarina Beach, located in Darwin. A backdrop of paperbarks, mangroves and Casuarina trees surrounds the beach. Plus, for the adventurous types, there is a 500-metre nude section.
A home in Brinkin would be best for easy access to the beach. There are house and unit options with a vast range of prices.
This two-bedroom apartment is less than a five-minute walk to the beach, and each room comes with air-conditioning – perfect for those sweltering days.
For something more luxurious, this seaside house has spectacular ocean views from various windows throughout the property. It’s also just a short stroll away from the ocean waves.
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