Many of us dream of escaping to a beach house for the summer. Whether it’s for the weekend or the whole month, there’s something special that happens when you first slip off your shoes and relax into life by the sea. Long hours spent lounging on the veranda make the days feel longer, while salty ocean swims and plenty of sunshine help us sleep deeper, and of course, there are very few things that a glass of wine by the ocean can’t fix.
As any beach house-goer knows, the best beach houses aren’t the ones with the most modern furniture or the latest technology, but the ones that create a space for unwinding and connecting — a big deck with a view of the ocean, a wood fire within reach of a pile of board games, and the type of laidback interiors that don’t stress you out when your children drag half the beach inside.
With these features in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the best beach houses to book all around Australia — from the wild coast of Western Australia to the prettiest corners of New South Wales.
Best beach houses to book in Australia for 2026
Eyre Peninsula, SA
Best for: couples, seclusion
Located on the Eyre Peninsula, this gorgeous little surf shack sits on a secluded section of the South Australian coastline. The shack’s interiors have been lovingly curated by South Australian interior designer Sarah Hall, whose choice of muted yellows and laidback furnishings give the home its nostalgic charm.
The highlight of the home is its ocean-facing front deck, where guests are invited to spend hours lazing in the hammock and watching the waves roll in. An indoor fireplace and record player bring an element of romance to the home, while an outdoor fire pit is the only place to spend cool evenings under the stars.
Key features:
- Beachfront location
- Off-grid and solar powered
- Pets allowed
Falmouth, Tasmania
Best for: couples, families, winter escapes
This lovely fisherman’s cottage draws the romantics to Tasmania’s sleepy seaside town of Falmouth. The home’s careful curation of vintage knick-knacks, outdoor bath and proximity to the ocean make it somewhere that’s just as beautiful in a winter storm as it is in the morning sun.
Days are spent eating fresh oysters and spotting the local sea life, while nights consist of curling up with a glass of Tassie wine by the outdoor fire place and listening to the sound of the ocean.
Key features:
- Ocean views
- Cosy interiors
- Outdoor bath
Narrawallee, NSW
Best for: groups of friends, big families
Beach holidays are better spent with friends, and this sunny beachfront home in the New South Wales town of Narrawallee ticks all of the boxes. With its high ceilings, stylish Hamptons-style interiors and deck overlooking the ocean, it’s a beach house that will please everyone — and with space for up to 10 people, you won’t have any problems fitting them all in.
The location on New South Wales’ beloved South Coast is also a highlight, with the property being just a 10-minute walk (or two minutes’ drive if you’re feeling lazy) to Mollymook beach.
Key features:
- Hamptons-style interiors
- Balcony views
- South Coast location
Bremer Bay, WA
Best for: families, groups of friends
Nestled into the dunes of Western Australia’s beautiful Bremer Bay, this beach house sits on a generous 100 acres of bushland. With its big ocean-facing windows, timber-lined walls and oversized deck, the unique design embraces its spectacular natural environment.
The cosy woodfire fireplaces add to the property’s charm and make it hard to do anything else than curl up with your favourite book.
Key features:
- Nestled into the landscape
- Timber-lined interiors
- Cosy wood fireplace
Bedarra Island, Qld
Best for: families, groups of friends
Fulfil your Robinson Crusoe fantasy at this secluded four-bedroom, three-bathroom beach-house hub on Bedarra Island in Far North Queensland. With a palm-fringed, white sandy beach on your doorstop, you can skorkel, kayak, fish for your dinner or simply rot on a beach blanket with a book… or three.
Because there are three buildings, including a renovated cottage once owned by Australian artist Noel Wood — which he lived in as a recluse for 45 years — there’s plenty of space for a couple of familes or a group of mates.
Key features:
- Large covered deck
- Freestanding bathtub with jungle views
- 500m from the centre of Bedarra Island
Kangaroo Island, SA
Best for: summer escapes, large families
Kangaroos are literally your neighbours at this elegant new beach house in iconic Stokes Bay. Tastefully decorated in calming hues, ‘Coast’ will have you inhaling and exhaling slower than you ever thought you could.
Two spacious living areas mean that kids and adults can do their own thing, while a vast outdoor deck and BBQ with views over the bay and cliffs will bring everyone together to watch the sun go down. Take a 4-minute stroll to the beach, then wash the sand away in a beautiful stone outdoor shower.
Key features:
- Sleeps 8 people
- 50km from Kingscote Airport
- Air-conditioning, dishwasher and streaming services
Yamba, NSW
Best for: couples, singles
Design enthusiasts will adore this lovingly restored beachside apartment in Yamba on NSW’s north coast — one of just three — reimagined by One Teaspoon designer Jamie Blakey.
The one-bedroom ‘Sundowner’ suite embodies midcentury surf culture and psychedelic vibes with a chic, harmonious colour palette, and it’s just steps from Yamba village, the main beach and an ocean pool. Its king bed is dressed in French linen, the bathroom features playful chequerboard tiles and there’s a communal backyard for unwinding after a surf.
Key features:
- Record player
- Custom kitchenette
- Full laundry access
Marengo, Vic
Best for: families, groups of friends, pets
With only the Great Ocean Walk separating this pretty blue beach house from the sea, this property is the perfect place to spend some time on Victoria’s Otway Coast.
Outside, there’s a big ocean-facing deck to enjoy your morning coffee and a firepit for nights curled up with a glass of wine. The interiors are just as impressive with the property’s large kitchen boasting ocean views, which turn even doing the dishes into a pleasant task.
The home’s proximity to one of the country’s best walks, access to a private sauna and its acceptance of our furry friends only give the property bonus points.
Key features:
- Pet friendly
- The deck’s ocean views
- Private sauna
This article originally appeared on Home Beautiful and is republished here with permission.
