Australia's best off the plan coastal developments in 2024
The sea change for those living on Australia's eastern seaboard has never been so alive as it has been over the last few years.
The pandemic changed the game for so many industries. Workers could work from anywhere for a long period, and a large number still can.
Sydney CBD's office vacancy rate sits at over 12 per cent, the highest vacancy rate in a decade according to the Property Council of Australia. No one is rushing back to the office.
The pandemic also drove house prices to record highs, giving homeowners a significant amount of equity in their primary residence.
Some made the seachange full-time during the pandemic and have since moved back to the city for work commitments, keeping the property outside of the city as a holiday home.
Those that didn't do that, and still have flexible work commitments which aren't likely to change in the near future, are starting to look outside of the city for their next property purchase.
Remote working has changed the weekender market forever. A weekend can be stretched to three or four days from the holiday home with remote working, rather than having to make it out of the city on Friday after hours.
Holidaymakers from Sydney tend to often look north and south at quiet coastal locations.
Some only want to head as far as the Central Coast or the Blue Mountains, while others want to be even further from the city, and are willing to drive there, or even fly, if they can spend longer than a standard weekend in the home.
We've looked up and down the New South Wales coastline for the best brand new seachange or holiday home opportunities.
Project: Mana
Location: 86-90 Norton Street, Ballina NSW 2478
Developer: Omira Property Group
Property developer Omira Property Group is bringing their classic coastal style to Ballina, following success in the likes of Byron Bay, Currumbin and Kingscliff.
The new Ballina project, Mana, comprises 14 luxury villas, each with over 220 sqm of internal space. They start from $1.95 million.
C2 Architecture, whose concept embodies an iconic coastal aesthetic with architecture inspired by Palm Springs, is working with designer Mon Palmer of Bare Cabo Design Studio who has developed an interior scheme that emanates calm.
Omira Property Group Director Alasdair Baker says the project will suit the local downsizer market, those who have been on acreages in the region, as well as those from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane who are looking for the Byron Bay-style lifestyle.
"The focus in this region has always been on Byron Bay, but when people travel north or south, they realise the same lifestyle opportunities, with multiple beachside precincts, exist up and down the coastline."
Baker says a project of this calibre needs to have a location to match, which is why they settled on a prime site on Norton Street, a literal stone's throw from North Creek and just over a kilometre to Ballina Fair Shopping Centre.
Project: Kai Residences
Location: 10-12 Willow Avenue, Bogangar NSW 2488
Developer: Omira Property Group
Targeting another coastal location, Omira is also behind Kai Residences, just seven three and four-bedroom townhouses in Cabarita, popular for its beach lifestyle akin to its northern neighbours Casuarina and Kingscliff
Designed by Omira's go-to architecture firm C2 Architecture, Kai Residences is bringing a collection of only high-end townhomes in a premium location along Cudgen Lake.
Each residence features a spacious, open-plan living and dining setting extending to a balcony that brings ample light and the outdoors in.
Practicality meets versatility with a multi-purpose ground floor room, providing ample storage space or an additional living area that opens onto a private courtyard with an outdoor ground-level pool.
Residents of Kai Residences will enjoy panoramic views across Cudgen Lake, the majestic Round Mountain to the south, and Wollumbin Mount Warning in the World Heritage-listed Wollumbin National Park to the west.
Moreover, Kai Residences is conveniently located just three minutes away from Cabarita Beach and Bogangar Beach.
Project: Kailani
Location: 50-52 Beach Road, Batemans Bay NSW 2536
Developer: Kela Building Group
Batemans Bay, around two hours from Canberra and three to four hours south of Sydney past Jervis Bay and Mollymook, is well known for its relaxed beach lifestyle, as well as its proximity to some of the state's best national parks and pristine waterways.
A rare opportunity has recently presented itself in Batemans Bay with the launch of Kailani, a boutique collection of luxury waterside apartments.
There are only five apartments left in the five-level luxury development of 16 units which is being developed and built by the Bowral-based KELA Building Group at 50-52 Beach Road, arguably one of the best sites in Batemans Bay with unobstructed views over nature.
All apartments at Kailani feature a prime northerly aspect with spacious living areas that extend to large balconies offering direct views of Batemans Bay, the foreshore, and the marina.
Designed by architect Nathan Judd of Judd Studio in collaboration with Archebiosis Interior Architects, Kailani was inspired by the natural beauty of the South Coast region and conceptualised with a focus on longevity and timeless design—ensuring that the building remains relevant and of high quality for decades to come.