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

Peppers Gladstone proves its worth its salt, blending five-star comfort with access to the Great Barrier Reef.

Peppers Gladstone is the first five-star property to open within the Gladstone region. Full stop.  Whether you want to base yourself in the town itself or head out on day trips to some of the neighbouring islands or beaches in central Queensland, the hotel is right in position.

I hadn’t been to Gladstone since I was about 11, one of four kids in the back of a VW kombi van on our annual summer holiday down south. My Dad, an English subject master, encouraged us to make up a sing-song of the place names as we bounced along the Bruce Highway to Brisbane. And Gladstone was both part of the chorus line – Gladstone, Miram Vale, the sun breaks through, Gin Gin and Bundaberg we’re coming for you – and an engaging geography lesson. The staccato tune has stayed with me ever since.

Decades on, the prospect of returning to Gladstone made me nostalgic for the carefree East Coast road trips of my childhood. Peppers Gladstone opened in Gladdie, as the town is affectionately known, in February 2025.

Location

the Port of Gladstone Harbour as captured from above — The hotel’s location offers convenient access to the Great Barrier Reef. (Image: Mark Fitz/Tourism and Events Queensland)

You can’t tell the story of Gladstone without acknowledging its role as a major export hub for billions of dollars’ worth of coal and liquid natural gas. While the Port of Gladstone Harbour Tour is one of the most popular tours in town, visitors to the region should also widen that circle to include its abundance of pristine beaches, untouched islands and subtropical hinterland. Gladstone is right now caught in the crosshairs of being a major multi-commodity port and a jumping-off point to the southern reaches of the Great Barrier Reef.

Gladstone is about a six-hour drive north of Brisbane and hour-long flight from the state’s capital.

the Tannum Sands as captured from above — Stretches of golden sand at Tannum Sands. (Image: Mark Fitz/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Staying at Peppers Gladstone gives visitors access to Heron Island and Lady Musgrave Island at the southern reaches of the Great Barrier Reef. It’s also a launch pad to pristine beaches like Agnes Water, 1770 and Tannum Sands. Green thumbs will also enjoy a jaunt to the 83-hectare Tondoon Botanic Gardens, which has 3000 plant varieties, a Japanese tea garden, sculptures, herbarium and lake.

General manager Craig Conley is somewhat of an evangelist for the area’s attractions and says the Peppers property is a great example of the area’s evolution.

Peppers Gladstone shares its footprint with Mantra Gladstone and marks the first new-build hotel to open in the region in more than a decade. It is, says general manager Craig Conley, a clear sign that the Capricorn Coast town is evolving as a place to linger.

Style and character

the lounge in Peppers Gladstone — The interior is awash with earthy tones.

Accor, in collaboration with Yaralla Sports Club, launched the five-star hotel in early 2025 to provide a five-star accommodation option for visitors in town for business or leisure.

“Peppers Gladstone has helped put the town on the map,” says Conley. “And, being a dual-branded property, it offers guests a choice between the familiar comforts of a Mantra property and the elevated experience of Peppers,” he says.

The property speaks to its locale. And each room is themed – Outback, Coastal, City, Rainforest – reflecting the diversity of the surrounding landscape. We’re in an Outback room, which is all earthy tones and textured wallpaper, and a reminder that we’re deep in the agro-industrial Queensland countryside.

“The Peppers experience is about community and connection. It feels like a hub for the local community,” says Conley.

Given Gladstone is a town built around heavy industry, the Accor property is designed to accommodate some of the executives who are visiting the town on business.

Facilities

the pool at Peppers Gladstone — The magnesium swimming pool beckons for a relaxing dip.

The outdoor terrace includes a heated magnesium swimming pool with complimentary drinks at the pool deck bar (during select hours). Guests are also invited to access an eight-seater cinema room and well-appointed nearby gym. There’s also secure undercover parking, wi-fi and an indoor-outdoor space near the pool and terrace designed for all seasons. Guests staying at Peppers Gladstone can also watch their favourite sporting team on the big screen at the adjacent Yaralla Sports Club.

Rooms

Designed by BSPN Architects and constructed by Mettle Projects, Peppers Gladstone offers a range of different accommodation options, from King Studio Rooms to Superior Two-Bedroom Apartments. All guestrooms feature fully equipped kitchens, king-sized beds, large flatscreen TVs with screen-casting capabilities and a minibar stocked with complimentary non-alcoholic drinks.

a look inside the bathroom with a tub at Peppers Gladstone — Each suite comes with spacious bathrooms.

Peppers Gladstone is essentially a 32-room hotel. But the dual-branded hotel concept means the property itself can accommodate more than 150 guests, thanks to an additional 60 rooms as part of Mantra Gladstone, making it perfectly suited for weddings and large gatherings.

Food and drink

the on-site bar at Peppers Gladstone — Pull up a chair at the on-site bar for a drink or two.

Onsite restaurant Encore is open for breakfast and dinner.  Breakfast is served between 5.30am and 9am and includes a live cooking station for omelettes and eggs cooked to order and includes buffet favourites like fresh fruit, yoghurt, pastries as well as grilled bacon, chipolatas and grilled vegetables. Dinner is served buffet-style and the menu changes daily. It also includes the option of a stone-grill where you can cook your wagyu, salmon or eye fillet to your liking at a stone grill delivered to your table (for an additional $6.50). There’s also the adjacent Shingle Inn, popular for burgers and salads.

The pool deck is also open for a beverage at the end of the day where you can supervise the children in the swimming pool. Nearby Ward’s Brewery is a top spot to test the barometer of this true-blue borough. The pub has a big screen promotion of Lady Musgrave Island and the Great Barrier Reef playing on a loop and is filled with travellers plotting their next move. Peppers Gladstone also has a member’s lounge, which is a welcoming space for a hot or cold beverage.

Does Peppers Gladstone have access for guests with disabilities?

Yes, Peppers Gladstone is wheelchair accessible.

Is Peppers Gladstone family-friendly?

a mother and child exploring Tondoon Botanic Gardens — Take your little ones to Tondoon Botanic Gardens for a refreshing stroll. (Image: Mark Fitz/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Yes, the hotel is family-friendly. It’s also located near to protected beaches and islands that are perfect for little ones who are learning to snorkel. Take a stroller to explore the city’s open spaces with a wander along the Millennium Esplanade at Tannum Sands Beach, which has a playground and barbecues, and East Shores Parklands, which has a waterfront boardwalk, green space, barbecues and water play area.

Details

Best for: Large groups and business or leisure travellers.
Address: Corner Wood & Bell St, Barney Point

Price: From $240 per night.

13: Find a classic Aussie beach house

NSW

Vic

Qld

WA

SA

NT

Tas

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