5 beautiful coastal towns to buy property in South Australia

Many of the coastal towns and suburbs around South Australia are idyllic as well as affordable, offering up the kind of beauty and lifestyle one would pay millions for in other states.

Some of these towns have low numbers of permanent residents, making them the perfect weekend retreat for those seeking peace and quiet and an escape from the chaos of living in a big city. Their often quiet, laidback lifestyle make them ideal retirement destinations, as well as the perfect place to raise a family. Others are tourist hotspots, offering plenty of recreational activities that take advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings.

Glenelg

• Median house price: $1,067,500
• Population: 3,451
• Average age group: 25-34

The suburb of Glenelg is a funky seaside town just half an hour drive from Adelaide, making it extremely popular among young professionals. The beautiful seascape provides excellent jogging and dog-walking trails, and the beach itself is a perfect place for locals to cool down in on warm summer days.

The suburb has a rich history, as it was the site of the original mainland settlement in South Australia in 1836 and today has quite a youthful vibe. Art deco houses and pubs stand alongside contemporary restaurants, cafes, shops and apartments, all with sweeping sea views, so it is easy to see how this town is so popular for family homes and investment properties.

Robe

• Median house price: $321,000
• Population: 1,020
• Average age group: 55-64

A charming seaside town, Robe sits along the beautiful Limestone Coast of South Australia, about an hour and a half drive away from Mt Gambier, the state’s second largest city. The seaside location offers up spectacular views, as well as good surf and a number of good fishing spots.

The quiet nature of the town makes it a particularly ideal retirement destination, but at times, the town can also be popular with tourists, particularly over the Christmas period, when the population can swell to over 10,000 people. The Robe Obelisk (pictured) and the star-shaped Robe Lighthouse are two major tourist attractions.

Coffin Bay

• Median house price: $290,000
• Population: 611
• Average age group: 55-64

If it’s an escape from the city you’re after, then look no further than the beautiful Coffin Bay. Coffin Bay is a very quiet, secluded town on the south-western side of the Eyre Peninsula. Surrounded by pristine waters and gorgeous national parklands, the town is 7 hours outside of Adelaide, and a half hour drive west of Port Lincoln.

In Coffin Bay, nature is literally at your doorstep, with dolphins, seals, sea lions, emus and kangaroos also calling this place home. An abundance of bays and inlets offer plenty of opportunities for fishing, as well as snorkelling, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding and all other kinds of water activities. This could make Coffin Bay a great spot for an investment property or a holiday home.

Port Lincoln

• Median house price: $300,000
• Population: 14,076
• Average age group: 0-14

Port Lincoln sits on the banks of the Eyre Peninsula’s Boston Bay, a large natural harbour three times bigger than Sydney Harbour, and is often referred to as “The Seafood Capital of Australia” thanks to the thriving fishing industry and the award-winning restaurants offering mouthwatering seafood fare.

The town is a popular and affordable place to live as well as visit. A safe, clean and naturally beautiful location, the Port is particularly popular among families and couples with children, with one of the biggest draws for tourists, and all those seeking a little bit of adventure, is the opportunity to go diving with sharks!

Looking to buy a bit further inland? Look at these 6 beautiful country towns to buy property in South Australia.

Port Augusta

• Median house price: $154,000
• Population: 7,339
• Average age group: 0-14

Nicknamed “The Crossroads” and known as a gateway to the outback, Port Augusta sits at the head of the Spencer Gulf, with the spectacular Flinders Ranges a short distance away. The area is made up of young couples with children, and is a serene pocket of South Australia, 3 and a half hours drive from Adelaide.

Port Augusta offers peace and quiet without being too isolated and with the range of upgrades that have been applied to the town in recent years, including the rolling out of the National Broadband Network, the completion of a 7.8km coastal pathway for pedestrians and cyclists, and the construction of a small airport, has turned it into a busy hub to visit.

Upgrades to infrastructure and amenities, modern shops and restaurants, and beautiful waterside scenery make Port Augusta the perfect mix of a modern cosmopolitan city and quiet coastal town.