Only 40 kilometres north of Sydney’s bustling CBD is a suburb where there are no cars, roads or shops.
Imagine an unplugged life, in a postcode of about 50 properties.
The price of such peace and quiet is $1.45 million, on the market right now in Coasters Retreat.
Bushland, beaches and coves surround the sophisticated, three-bedroom timber oasis listed at 29 Coasters Retreat.
The nature-lovers’ suburb, on the shores of the Pittwater in the Ku-ring-gai National Park, is accessible only by ferry.
The ferry operates seven days a week, on the hour, to and from Palm Beach, where Coasters residents are permitted to leave their cars. Shopping and essentials are picked up in Palm Beach and toted across the water to their secluded Coasters sanctuaries.
Listing agent Amy Young of Laing+Simmons Young Property says the warm, Scandi style of the dual-level house, which is offered for private sale, would be right at home in the Southern Highlands. However, it marries with its waterfront position perfectly.
Colossal cathedral ceilings bounce natural light around generous, flowing interiors. Picture windows and French doors frame the bushland.
The vendors will miss the family of wallabies that visit the back door in the afternoons, Young says.
“It could be a home in Bowral, and there it fits beautifully on the coastline,” she says.
“Those soaring high ceilings are open in loft style to the master bedroom, and the windows reach right up.
“You get the northerly aspect coming through beautiful louvered windows.”
The block of land flows down to the water and is 300 metres – or a five-minute walk – from two wharves, for commuting or a day of fishing.
“You can paddle board straight off the edge of the foreshore,” Young says.
Being the ideal city getaway, the suburb is not always full.
“It’s an extremely accessible place to have a holiday home and quite a few of the residents live between two properties – a Sydney residence and a Coasters residence,” Young says.
“About half of the residences are occupied full time, and a lot of the residents use that ferry as their primary service to get to and from home.”
Former residents – and clients of Young – who have sold up and departed, still come back for the local book club.
She says locals look out for one another, and a WhatsApp group keeps them informed about everything they need in their private corner of the world.
“If somebody needs a tradie or is getting a tradie across, they’ll pop it in the WhatsApp to say, ‘Hey, does anybody else need a painter or the gutters done? Whatever it may be,” Young says.
“What I’ve come to learn about Coasters is that very special, true sense of community.”
The art deco apartment is one of only six and boasts a view that belongs on a Sydney tourism billboard. The wraparound balcony is a dress-circle seat to the ever-changing harbour. The ferry wharf is at the end of the street.
The McMahons Point Ferry Wharf is steps away from this neat studio apartment. The Harbour Bridge also seems within touching distance, making this a little pad with a mega view.
The original cottage has been extended to create a slick, five-bedroom haven over two levels, with a pool. A studio offers additional accommodation or a workspace. Stroll to the foreshore and wharf.