Sick of Sydney property prices? Sail away in a houseboat for just $65,000

$210,000

482 Silver City Highway ("Murray River Cruising"), Wentworth NSW 2648

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This sleek two-bedroom houseboat on the Darling River offers everything a water-lover could want. 

As well as a sophisticated subway-tiled kitchen with full-sized fridge and oven, the boat comes with a Bluetooth stereo system, off-grid solar capacity, and plenty of surrounding decking to soak up the sun as you float along. 

At just $210,000, the boat is less than a quarter of the price of the median home in Adelaide, the nearest capital city. 

$235,000

"Serendipity" Bruces Bend, Billabong Road, Nichols Point VIC 3501

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This cheerful blue-and-green riverboat on the Murray River, named ‘Serendipity’, is perfect for families with three separate bedrooms, a generous kitchen, and a rooftop entertainment area. 

It even comes with fans and air-conditioning to ward off the heat in summer. 

“Don’t think of this as buying a houseboat! It’s your chance to be off-grid,” the listing urges. 

“This fully refurbished, older style houseboat has all modern conveniences […] allowing you to snub your nose at the rising cost of living. No rates, no electricity or water bills, and no lawns to mow!”

Currently moored in Gladesville, Sydney, this compared two-person liveaboard boat is a complete “floating apartment”. 

Luxury is the name of the game here, with a wine rack, TV and stereo system, and a beautifully renovated galley kitchen. 

And with the median house price in Sydney currently sitting at a record $1.66 million, according to Domain data, the boat’s $65,000 price tag will be a major drawcard for buyers. 

Just down the road in Pittwater, this petite vessel is the quintessential houseboat, with quaint weatherboarding and a pitched roof. 

Built in 2024, the brand-new boat is on the market for $110,000, and can sleep one to two adults. 

And with a high-end nautical finish, the future owners can “have a houseboat that looks like it belongs amongst the most elegant yachts on the bay”, the listing says. 

For just $290,000, sailing enthusiasts in Western Australia can buy a piece of Australian maritime history. 

‘Hiawatha’ was first launched in 1939, and had a dramatic past as a service vessel during World War II. 

These days, the Fremantle boat is better suited to recreational use where its owners can make the most of its luxurious mid-century timber fixtures and fittings.