Hate the beach? These river towns have shade
Numerous coastal towns have gained a reputation as sea-change destinations in recent years. But for those seeking a tree change instead, finding the perfect spot can be a challenge.
While many intriguing towns away from the coast remain largely uncharted, these regional settlements are often every bit as charming as their oceanfront counterparts.
What’s more, many are located on rivers and offer an abundance of water-based leisure activities. Here are three towns boasting idyllic waterfront settings, thriving communities and affordable-yet-strengthening property markets.
Which would you choose?
Hay, NSW
Sleepy Hay spreads out along the banks of the Murrumbidgee River in the NSW Riverina region.
“It is one of the most laid-back places you will ever visit,” said Paul Murphy, licensee at LJ Hooker Hay.
That may be due in part to the terrain: Hay sits on the Hay Plains, which are pancake-flat and roll lazily as far as the eye can see. Come sunset, the landscape glows all the way to the horizon, to awe-inspiring effect.
The flat terrain also makes Hay a favourite of cyclists, who can hire free bicycles from the Hay Visitor Information Centre and explore the Bidgee Riverside Trail.
Sandy Point Beach, on the banks of the Murrumbidgee, is a locals’ favourite for swimming and fishing.
Murphy said an increase in local house prices could be attributed to a slow but steady stream of tree-changers.
“It’s an out-of-the-way little place, but you’re still only 90 minutes’ drive to Griffith, and from there you can fly to Sydney or Melbourne.
The median house price in Hay has risen 73.9 per cent over the past five years but remains at just $247,000, on Cotality data to November.
The town is a regional centre for wool production, which gives it a distinctive flavour, said Murphy.
The annual Hay Rodeo in March attracts competitors and spectators from across Australia, and the Hay Merino Sheep Show is held each June. Come November, the Hay Races, takes place outside town.
“There is a culture of activity here,” Murphy said. “We have every club you can think of: golfing, fishing, shooting.”
Murphy admitted that, with a population of less than 3000, “everyone knows what’s going on with everyone”, But that, he said, was one of Hay’s biggest draws.
“It’s a friendly little bush town – and it feels safe.”
Bright, VIC
Keen skiers often visit Bright, about an hour from the NSW border in Victoria’s High Country, on their way to Mount Hotham and other ski fields nearby. But the town is much more than a winter-stopover destination.
“We have four amazing seasons that really do make the year feel different at each stage,” said Gerard Gray from Dickens Real Estate.
“There are crisp winter mornings with blue skies, and deciduous trees that look incredible in the autumn. Summer is hot enough for a splash in the river.”
That river, the Ovens, is the perfect spot for a picnic, said Gray. The river is also lined with cycle paths. Bright is something of a biking mecca, with plenty of off-road options and a mountain-biking park for adrenaline junkies, too.
Gray said the demographics of Bright had morphed in the past decade.
“Retirees used to be the largest market segment, but now we’re seeing lots of families: people who might work for finance companies in Sydney and drive up to the office once a month.”
The town’s median house price has increased 34.8 per cent in the past five years to almost $971,000, according to Cotality.
“Buyers here have a spread of options, from two-bedroom units to five-bedroom houses with pools,” said Gray. He said families were buying into a friendly, outdoorsy lifestyle when choosing Bright.
“It’s the junior football and the junior mountain biking, it’s the pony club. It’s lazy afternoons on the river.”
Despite the influx of residents from the city, Gray said Bright’s small-town vibe remained intact.
“People here still don’t lock their doors. It’s a close-knit community.”
Imbil, QLD
It’s just 45 minutes from the Sunshine Coast, but the bucolic Mary Valley feels far removed from the seaside buzz of South East Queensland.
Nestled in the valley’s heart, fringed by rolling fields and scenic forests, is Imbil: a town of about 1000 located along scenic Yabba Creek.
“When I first came here, 15 years ago, it felt like a frontier town,” said Ron Jeffery, principal of RJR Property.
“The whole western side of the Mary Valley is either national park or state forest, so there is a real sense of being surrounded by nature.”
More recently, Imbil has developed a reputation for the land sports and water sports on offer, and for its rural charm.
The median house price has risen 91.1 per cent over the past five years and sits at $816,000, according to Cotality.
“About half the people I sell homes to are relocating from Brisbane,” said Jeffery.
Another quarter is moving from the Sunshine Coast.
“The Sunshine Coast is getting just as busy as the Gold Coast now,” said Jeffery.
“People are moving to Imbil because they want that quiet, sleepy feel. They want to get away from the maddening crowds.”
With Noosa a short drive away and the Brisbane CBD reachable in under two hours, Imbil presents a compelling option for tree-changers who wish to remain connected. But they needn’t leave the Mary Valley to entertain themselves.
Near Imbil, at Lake Borumba, locals swim, boat and water-ski. In town, both kayaking and fishing are popular on Yabba Creek.
Each July, the Mary Valley Art Festival brings the region’s artists to Imbil Public Hall to compete for around $10,000 in prize money.
There’s also the annual Far-A-Way Easter Endurance Carnival, one of Australia’s most popular endurance horse-riding events.
Jeffery conceded that property prices in Imbil had risen “significantly”.
“But they are still much more palatable than in the city. And when you go to the shops, you run into a dozen people you know. It feels like a real community.”
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