Coast and Country: Your beach dream home

17-19 Moana Court, St Andrews Beach
6 bedrooms 4 bathrooms 6 car 
$4 million-plus

A huge house with a similarly large horizon, this beachfront property has no roads to cross to get to the sand and the surf. 

St Andrews Beach is a rugged part of the Mornington Peninsula’s coast and it’s less coffee and catching up and more bracing dips and powerful breezes, although it’s only 10 to 15 minutes from all the popular tourist spots. 

The 750-square-metre house is built around a huge indoor pool, which is a fabulous addition and one that makes the house useable all year. Beyond the pool, there are seven rooms that qualify as “living rooms” or at least areas where family members of different ages or interests could spread out. 

These include a home theatre, rumpus room and sitting area on the lower level and a large kitchen, family and meals area on the upper level. 

Both levels’ main living areas open to decks with sea views. There are two bedrooms on the lower level and four, including the main with sea views, en suite and doors to a balcony, on the upper level. The block is huge, with the house set towards the seaward end – only metres to the gate to the sand and sea. 

RT Edgar, 5985 9988, Michael Kivlighon​, 0408 886 666

617 Howes Creek Road, Mansfield
$850,000-plus
5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 car spaces

In such a classically Australian setting, you expect to see the man from Snowy River galloping past, this farmlet of 2.4 hectares is blessed with a backdrop of undulating hills dotted with beautiful mature gums.

The colonial-style brick house has a layout that makes the most of the views; verandahs, clad with creeper, run all around the house and the main bedroom and formal living are both designed with bay windows overlooking the front garden.

The country-style kitchen adjoins a large casual living area, with open fireplace, which opens to an outdoor dining area and a large swimming pool. Horse lovers will enjoy the well equipped stables and exercise yard. 

Mansfield DPG, 5775 1118, Jenny Ford on 0425 737 037.

105 Jetty Lane, Lang Lang
$2 million-plus
5 bedrooms 3 bathrooms 4 car spaces

This rather grand estate is in an area where many never stop; Lang Lang is just a signpost on the way to Phillip Island for most drivers. Here, though, there are almost 40 hectares of waterfront land, with a newly built Victorian-inspired mansion overlooking the private lake.

At almost 500 square metres, the 1860s-style house should be enough for most families and there are multiple living areas, with the main open-plan area upstairs adjoining a huge indoor-outdoor entertaining area.

The 300-metre frontage to Westernport bay will appeal to those who love fishing, and the property’s post-and-rail fencing, stables, shelters and exercise yard offer a sophisticated set up for horses. A two-bedroom guest or manager’s cottage is a bonus.   

Expressions of interest closing November 23,  Kaye Charles Real Estate, 9707 0111, Amanda Charles; Kay & Burton, 9820 1111,  Matt Davis, 0412 466 858  

95 McCanns Road, Mount Duneed
$1.4 million-plus
4 bedrooms 1 bathroom 11 car spaces 

Between Geelong and Torquay, this property offers country life within easy reach of the coast and the city.

There is history and charm in the 1870s house and in the large and long-established garden. The house has four bedrooms either side of a central hallway and they share a period bathroom.

Living areas are large and include a combined kitchen, living and dining area, which opens to a  sweet bay-windowed sunroom overlooking the formal hedged garden. A second sitting area has windows on two sides and also overlooks the garden.

Much of the house has original timber panelled walls, and the paint has been stripped back. The 32 hectares allows plenty of room for horses and livestock. 

Expressions of interest closing November 20 GOR Real Estate, 5261 5088, Geoff Bennett, 0458 513 860