With Australia renowned for its stunning beaches, rivers and inlets, it’s no surprise that so many over 50s want to move to a picturesque waterfront location in their retirement years.
The good news is that, to enjoy a ‘million dollar coastal lifestyle’, you don’t necessarily have to shell out a million dollars.
In fact, Downsizing.com.au has found some great properties in waterfront sites which can be snapped up for $500,000 or less.
New South Wales locations
The Beachfront lifestyle community is located immediately behind Black Head Beach at the peaceful seaside heaven of Halliday’s Point, located just 20 minutes north of the NSW mid-north coast village of Forster.
Needless to say, the community is perfectly positioned for those who love beachside living. You will also find many birdlife and bushwalking tracks in the nearby national parks, including the Hallidays Point Rainforest Nature Walk, which takes you from Black Head to Diamond Beach.
This is a land lease community, which means you purchase the dwelling (without needing to pay stamp duty) and then rent the land on which the dwelling is located. Dwellings range in price from $325,000 to $450,000, and include both two and three bedrooms.
Meanwhile, Hampshire Villages’ Jettys by the Lake land lease community adjoins Lake Illawarra, at Windang in the State’s Illawarra region.
At this community, pre-loved homes are usually above $360,000.
At Jettys by the Lake, residents are said to enjoy “prawning, fishing, kayaking, crabbing and boating” - which sounds like a fantastic lifestyle! The site is close to Shellharbour and Wollongong, which both offer beaches, shops and medical facilities.
Meanwhile, the NSW suburb of Chain Valley Bay, situated alongside Lake Macquarie, is one of the most regularly searched on our website.
Ingenia Lifestyle's Sunnylake Shores community has 120 homes and is located at Colongra Point on Lake Munmorah, close to Budgewoi and Doyalson. It offers a private community jetty and boat ramp which provide direct access to Lake Munmorah.
A range of new and pre-loved homes are available, with some sites currently under development. Prices range in price from $279,000 for a one-bedroom home to $450,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home.
“Many over 55s are looking to relax and prioritise their lifestyle when they retire. Getting back to nature and living close to the water is one of the perfect ways to do this," said Ingenia's General Manager Residential Communities Nicole Jentz.
“In waterfront communities, it’s about location and convenience. Sunnylake Shores fronts onto Lake Munmorah offering peace and quiet while still close to shopping, entertainment, dining, and everyday services, as well as easy access to the Pacific Motorway for those who want to hit the road.”
“While all our communities offer a resort-style club house with a range of amenities, at Sunnylake Shores we can offer other lifestyle and recreational features, this includes a jetty and boat ramp for residents to enjoy so they can get outdoors and be active.”
You may also want to check out the Port Stephens region, a little to the north of Lake Macquarie, where you will find the Karuah Waters Estate land lease community on the banks of the Karuah River. New home prices start at $260,000.
Queensland locations
Maroochy Lifestyle Resort is located on the gentle Maroochy River at Maroochydore in the State’s Sunshine Coast. The wonderful waterfront location provides many opportunities for fishing, boating, crabbing and bird watching as well as a myriad of water sports.
This community has an active and very friendly social committee that makes full use of its new community centre. Residents enjoy regular Friday night get togethers at the onsite Shali’s Courtyard Café as well as exciting day trips on the community bus.
As of March 2021, two homes were about to be built priced under $400,000.
Meanwhile, prices start at $449,000 at Seachange Riverside Coomera on the Gold Coast.
Positioned on the banks of the Coomera River, this boutique community is limited to 124 premium homes. The resort features a five-star country club.
Victorian locations
Pelican Shores is located on Corio Bay, just outside of Geelong and at the gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula. There is a village boardwalk that runs along the waterfront, which many residents use to go for a walk, including with their dog.
The village is exceedingly well-named, given adjoining waterway is home to many friendly pelicans and black swans.
At Pelican Shores, absolute waterfront homes sell for around $500,000. However other homes within the village start at around $220,000.
Pelican Shores is 10 minutes from Geelong and an hour from Melbourne, so has easy access to shops, medical facilities and transport. Its close proximity to the Bellarine Peninsula also allows for easy outings to historic townships, beaches and wineries.
Western Australian locations
Western Australia’s long coastline and rivers provide a great backdrop for retirement living.
You can, for instance, check out, Mandurah Gardens Estate which overlooks the southern boundary of the Serpentine River. The village features 158 two-and three-bedroom homes (all free standing), available from just $150,000.
You might also want to look at this three-bedroom independent living unit for $485,000 located at Capecare Bay Village near Busselton in south-western WA. The village is located on Geographe Bay with private access to the beach.
Comments from our CEO
"One of the many benefits of downsizing into a lifestyle village or retirement community is that it allows people to access fantastic lifestyle locations for a fraction of the price of traditional property in the same area," said Downsizing.com.au CEO Amanda Graham.
“The good news is it's still possible for downsizers to enjoy a dream lifestyle on the waterfront, close to beaches and rivers and pay less than $500,000.
"Our website and email alerts allow our readers to easily find these types of properties."
Waterfront sites across Australia
Downsizing.com.au is your number one location to find over 50s homes across Australia, including retirement villages, land lease communities and general downsizer-friendly homes.
Take the following steps to find waterfront sites in your preferred area.
- Search for a suburb on our home page
- Go the ‘filters’ tab at the top of the results page
- Scroll down to ‘Onsite facilities’ and click on ‘waterfront sites’ and then update your search.
You can also search for properties with a range of other aquatic facilities, including boat storage areas, boat ramps and swimming pools.
