13: Find a classic Aussie beach house

As a nation of beach-dwellers, we’ve perfected the concept of the ultimate, classic beach house. It doesn’t need to be fancy (in fact, it shouldn’t be!) but it must have some or all of the following: an outdoor eating area; big windows to let in the sea breezes; direct access to the beach; lazy ceiling fans; a hammock for whiling away lazy afternoons with a book; a frangipani tree; and an outdoor tap to wash off sandy feet. The best beach houses smell of the ocean; their well-worn floors tell the stories of all the families who have called it home for the summer before yours. Fibro or timber; whitewashed or candy-coloured; sprawling or small and perfectly formed – you’ll know the perfect one when you clap eyes on it. Move in, unpack and prepare to relaaaaaaaaaax.Try these…

NSW

Snapper Lodge, Newport – Almost outrageously kitsch, this dream beach house is crammed with cool beachy knick-knacks, has a miniature lighthouse on the deck, and is smack on the water at Newport in Sydney’s northern beaches, with views across Pittwater. From $750 per night for 2-4 nights, $650 per night for 5+nights (high season is a minimum of 1-2 week bookings). Sleeps four. 02 9331 2881.

Susan’s Beach House, Broken Head – Light, airy and tropical, Susan’s is the ‘rustic-luxe’ Byron Bay beach house you’ve always dreamed of buying, just a two-minute stroll to stunning Broken Head Beach. From $350 (Sun-Thurs) per night to $450 (Fri/Sat) in low season; or $500 per night (Sun-Thurs) to $600 per night (Fri/Sat) peak season. Sleeps six. 0416 124 797.

Vic

Bear Gully Coastal Cottages , Tarwin, Gippsland – Four private, self-contained cottages in a beautiful setting overlooking Wilson’s Promontory. Throw in a hidden little beach all to yourselves, hammocks, barbecue and log fires for chilly nights, and you’ve got a perfect getaway for families or groups. From $265 per night (midweek) to $340 per night (Christmas period). Sleeps 2-4. 03 5663 2364.

Millers Rest, Blairgowrie, Mornington Peninsula – Family-friendly, with all the necessary mod cons (including an open-plan kitchen with Smeg appliances) and outdoor deck, the house is close to several beaches and a 15-minute walk to Blairgowrie village. From $200 per night (low season, two-night minimum) or $2000 per week (high season). Sleeps eight. 03 9775 3325.

Qld

Koda Beach Bungalows, Mission Beach – Affordable and oh-so-cute, these beach bungalows have everything you need for a chilled-out tropical getaway, including outdoor showers, outdoor eating areas, BBQ and access to a swimming pool. From $165 per night (low season) to $185 per night (high season). Sleeps four. 07 4068 7100.

Sunset Villa, 1770, Gladstone – This is classic beach shack living – bright blue walls, surrounded by native trees and flowers, open-plan sleeping and living, and beach views from the verandah. The villa houses two self-contained apartments, so it’s good for groups. From $600 per week (low season) or $1600 per week (high season). Sleeps four per apartment. 07 4974 9990; 1770.

WA

Beach Cottage, Dunsborough – This beautifully restored beach house is a midsummer night’s dream, with a gorgeous timber deck under the flame tree providing beach views (there’s direct beach access, too). There’s also a light, bright atrium/living room and the requisite rustic chic vibe. From $433 per night (low season) or $3150 per week (high season). Sleeps six. 08 9750 5444.

Lantana Cottage, Albany – Shabby-chic, with whitewashed walls and a verandah providing hillside views out to Middleton Beach, this cottage has a lovely ambience combined with mod cons like a huge plasma TV and iPod docking station. From $860 for three nights (off peak) to $945 for three nights (peak). Sleeps seven. (08) 9750 5444.

SA

Beach Huts Middleton, Middleton – Candy-striped and cute as a button (hello, white picket fences!), these easy-breezy cottages are particularly great for groups of families who want to holiday together. From $150 to $235 per night. Sleeps 2-5, depending on hut (additional fees for extra adults or children). 08 8554 3933.

Windsong Beach House, Boatswains Poin t – With direct beach access, this gorgeously fitted-out abode near Robe on the Limestone Coast has a spa, open fireplace, gas barbecue, laundry and even a doggy snooze area for family afternoon nap time. From $265 per night (low season) to $295 per night (high season). Sleeps six. 1300 760 629.

NT

Coast Holiday House, Darwin – This 70s-style, elevated holiday house boasts open-plan living and dining, air-con and ceiling fans to beat the Darwin heat, and views of the harbour and CBD. There are bikes and fishing rods to help you explore the local hot spots, too. From $295 per night. Sleeps eight. 08 8942 3012.

Wagait Beach Bush Retreat, Wagait Beach – Set among natural bushland and tropical gardens, this secluded property is perfect for some serious time out (it’s a 128 kilometre drive from Darwin, or a 15-minute ferry ride across the harbour). It’s a great base for exploring this little community, with beaches, fishing, and wetlands on offer – plus, there’s a private pool on your doorstep. From $245 per night. Sleeps four. 08 8978 5123.

Tas

Aurora Beach Cottage, Long Point, Bicheno – This character-filled, stone and timber cottage is secluded, private and beautifully kitted out, with sunrooms and windows offering beachfront views and a stone fireplace completing the true beach shack vibe. From $230 per night. Not able to accommodate children under 12. Sleeps four. 03 6375 1774. aurorabeachcottage.com.au

Paradise Beach House, Boat Harbour – This modern yet cosy retreat boasts bay and beach views, a covered verandah with barbecue for enjoying lazy meals, and a bunch of fishing, surfing, snorkelling and other equipment for you to make the most of this pretty little beachside pocket of Tassie’s north-west coast. From $240 per night (minimum two-night stay) depending on guest numbers. Sleeps 2-6. 03 6445 1390.

12 << Ride a horse into the ocean Enter an ocean swim as a family >> 14

Back to 101 Unforgettable Coastal Experiences

From thundering waterfalls to ancient Indigenous art, Kimberley’s raw beauty will take your breath away.

Wild, pristine, and shaped by nature, the Kimberley Coast is one of Australia’s most spectacular landscapes. A remote and rugged frontier that remains a bucket list destination for many travellers. Its most breathtaking attractions – including Montgomery Reef, King George Falls and Horizontal Falls – are accessible only by sea or air, making a guided expedition cruise aboard Silversea’s luxury expedition ship, Silver Cloud, the ideal way to explore it.

From its intricate intertidal zones to ancient rock art, extreme tides and rare wildlife found nowhere else in Australia – or the world – this journey offers an unparalleled exploration of one of Earth’s last true wildernesses.

Why Silversea?

Silversea offers a 10-day expedition departing Broome, or an extended 16-day expedition voyage from Indonesia, including landings on the hidden gems of Palopo Sulawesi and Komodo. Accompanied by expert guides and specialists in marine biology, history and geology, guests gain a deeper understanding of the Kimberley’s dramatic landscapes, rich cultural heritage and extraordinary biodiversity.

Silversea offers one of the experiential travel industry’s leading crew-to-guest ratios. Along with all-suite accommodation (80 per cent with private verandah), 24-hour butler service, a swimming pool and four dining options. Silver Cloud also has an experienced crew of multilingual expedition guides and specialists in marine biology, history and geology to enhance your Kimberley Experience.

silversea cruise ship pool deck — Take a dip in the pool deck.

1. Koolama Bay

Before visitors see King George Falls, they hear them – a growing rumble in the distance, steady and foreboding as the Zodiac glides through the gorge, the sound echoing off sheer rock formations. At 80 meters tall, the twin cascades carve through the red cliffs, churning the waters below in a spectacular finale – but Koolama Bay holds secrets beyond its striking scenery.

Named after a ship that beached here following an aerial attack by Japanese bombers in World War II, the bay may seem desolate, yet it teems with life. With Silversea’s expert guides on their 10-day Kimberley itinerary, guests gain a sharper eye for its hidden wonders – rock wallabies darting across the cliffs, crocodiles lurking among dense green mangroves, and high above, the silhouette of a bird of prey circling the sky.

King George Falls at koolama bay excursion on Silversea Kimberley Cruise — Take a shore excursion to see King George Falls.

2. Freshwater Cove / Wijingarra Butt Butt

Connect with Country on a wet landing at Freshwater Cove, also known as Wijingarra Butt Butt. Considered one of the most special experiences on both the 16-day and 10-day Kimberley cruises, Silversea guests are welcomed by the traditional Indigenous custodians of the land, painted with traditional ochre, and invited to take part in a smoking ceremony.

Located on the mainland near Montgomery Reef, Wijingarra Butt Butt holds deep cultural significance to the local Indigenous community. Here, rock formations along the shore represent spiritual ancestors, and guests are guided to a nearby rock overhang filled with ancient art, where traditional owners share the stories and meaning behind these sacred paintings.

welcome to country on freshwater cove during silversea kimberley cruise — Take part in a smoking ceremony. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

3. Vansittart Bay (Jar Island)

Modern history, ancient culture and mystery converge in Vansittart Bay, which is also known as Jar Island. Here, the first thing to catch the eye is the dented, silver fuselage of a World War II-era C-53 plane – a striking relic of the past. Yet, the true cultural treasures lie just a short hike away where two distinct styles of Indigenous rock art – Gwion Gwion and Wandjina – can be found.

The Wandjina figures, deeply connected to Indigenous traditions, stand in stark contrast to the enigmatic Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) paintings, which date back more than 12,000 years. Significantly different in form and style, the two different styles create a striking juxtaposition, offering a rare glimpse into the region’s rich and complex past.

aerial view of Vansittart Bay, See it in you Silversea Kimberley Cruise. — Explore ancient Gwion Gwion rock art at Vansittart Bay. (Image: Janelle Lugge)

4. Horizontal Falls

Part illusion, part natural phenomenon, the Kimberley’s much-lauded Horizontal Falls aren’t a waterfall, but a tidal and geographic spectacle that visitors have to see to comprehend. Known as Garaanngaddim, the phenomenon occurs when seawater rushes through two narrow gaps- one just twenty metres wide, and the other seven metres in width, between the escarpments of Talbot Bay.

With each tidal shift, the force of the water creates whirlpools, furious currents and the illusion of a horizontal cascade as thousands of gallons of water are pushed and pulled in through the gap every six hours with relentless movement, making this one of the Kimberley ’s most mesmerising natural wonders.

Horizontal Falls are described as "One of the greatest wonders of the natural world". They are formed from a break in-between the McLarty Ranges reaching up to 25m in width. The natural phenomenon is created as seawater builds up faster on one side of the gaps than the other, creating a waterfall up to 5m high on a King tide. — Watch whirlpools and furious currents collide. (Image: Janelle Lugge)

5. Montgomery Reef

As the tide turns in Montgomery Reef, magic happens. With the Kimberley’s legendary tides varying up to ten metres, at low tide the submerged reef almost appears to rise from the depths: exposing up to four metres of the sandstone reef.

The impact is otherworldly: as the water drains, waterfalls cascade on either side of the channel, turtles left exposed scramble and dive, and fish leap in search of sanctuary in shallow pools. Meanwhile, the dinner bell rings for the migratory seabirds dugongs, reef sharks and dolphins that scavenge and feast in the area.

Using zodiacs, guests cruise through one of the world’s most significant inshore reef systems navigated by experienced guides, exploring the most intricate and fascinating parts of a 300-square-kilometre-wide biodiversity hotspot.

aerial view of boat going along Montgomery Reef — Witness seabirds, dolphins and reef sharks on the hunt.

6. Mitchell Falls by Helicopter

Experiencing the Kimberley by sea allows you to feel the power of the tides, but travelling by helicopter reveals the sandstone tapestry of the Kimberley, a landscape geologists believe is over 1.8 billion years old.

One of Silversea’s most popular optional excursions , guests who opt to fly into the interior from the onboard helipad soar up above the rust-coloured landscape of the Mitchell plateau, taking in one of Australia’s most scenic waterfalls: Mitchell Falls, a series of four emerald-coloured pools gently cascades into each other, before plunging down to the river below.

Seeing the landscape from above reveals a landscape weaved and shaped by the power of the freshwater wet season, juxtaposed to the constant lapping of the relentless and powerful tide on the coast.

aerial view of mitchell falls on silversea helicopter excursion — See emerald pools cascade into the river below. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

7. Indigenous Art Caves, Wandjina Art

The Kimberley Region of Western Australia is home to some of the most striking and significant

Indigenous rock art in Australia. Dotted throughout the landscape are caves, cliffs and rock overhangs depicting the striking, ethereal image of Wandjina, the rainmaker spirit and creation being central to many of the Dreamtime stories in this region.

Some of the paintings are regularly repainted by traditional custodians, while others are believed to be over 4,000 years old. Each artwork serves as both a cultural record and a living connection to the past, offering a rare opportunity to engage with the enduring traditions of the Kimberley’s Indigenous communities.

Freshwater Cover Rock Art the kimberleys — Walk among cultural records preserved in stone. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

See the best of this incredible part of the world on a Silversea Kimberley cruise. Book your 10- or extended 16-day expedition voyage at silversea.com

13: Find a classic Aussie beach house

NSW

Vic

Qld

WA

SA

NT

Tas

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