As holiday time kicks in after Christmas festivities, daydreams drift towards beach getaways, barbecues, celebrations and leisure time.
The holiday shack has been a staple of the Australian vacation for as long as sandy feet and sunburn have symbolised summer.
Picture yourself stepping into one of these 15 authentic cabins, cottages and cute weekenders. The holiday lifestyle might even be cheaper than you think.
Peppermint Grove Beach
Quirky charm near the sea at Peppermint Grove Beach, about 205 kilometres from Perth. Photo: Supplied
This beach shack between Bunbury and Busselton has been making holiday memories since the 1960s. It has two bedrooms with a flexible floor plan for holidays and long weekends with extra guests. The 1027-square-metre block has two driveways and there’s also a big, powered workshop. See more
Coogee
Cute cottage at Coogee Beach, about 30 kilometres south of the Perth CBD. Photo: Supplied
You can see the ocean from the front deck and main bedroom of this neat one-bedroom cottage in Coogee Beach Caravan Park. The beach is a five-minute walk away, the surf club is next door and it could all be yours for $70,000. See more
Henderson
A beach shack that stands out from the crowd at Henderson, on Cockburn Beach. Photo: Supplied
With solar power for electricity, no water bills and no land tax, this shack at Naval Base, about 36 kilometres from Perth, offers life almost off the grid. The one-bedroom cottage is $65,000, plus a $2500-a-year leasing fee. See more
Abbey
A beach shack by the bay near Busselton, about 220 kilometres south of Perth. Photo: Supplied
The blue waters of Abbey Beach and Geographe Bay are just across the road and Busselton is a short drive from this two-bedroom house. Described as “original”, the shack sits on a 911-square-metre block with the potential for duplex development and there’s also a boat ramp close by. See more
Dawesville
Blue to match the waters of the nearby ocean and estuary in Dawesville, 90 kilometres from Perth. Photo: Supplied
Bring the boat and the caravan too because this bright-blue holiday house on a 572-square-metre block has plenty of room. The estuary is nearby for crabbing, swimming and walks by the water. The house has two bedrooms, plus there’s a separate shed with its own patio could be a teenagers’ retreat or even a man cave. See more
Preston Beach
Peaceful Preston Beach is about 125 kilometres south of Perth. Photo: Supplied
The beach, a shop and a golf course are all close by at this two-bedroom house at Preston Beach. Airconditioning and ceiling fans offer summer comfort and there’s a wood stove for winter getaways. The price tag is $135,000. See more
Augusta
The three-bedroom house in Augusta, 315 kilometres from Perth. Photo: Supplied
With three bedrooms and views of Hardy Inlet, this property offers more than the average holiday house. The 1012-square-metre site is on WA’s most south-westerly point where the Indian and Southern oceans meet. Augusta is a popular tourist destination and famous for its whale-watching opportunities. See more
Falcon
The deck of this Falcon shack is ideal for lazy summer days. Photo: Supplied
With recently renovated kitchen and bathroom, this three-bedroom house offers a holiday base only 80 kilometres from Perth. There’s a separate shed as well as plenty of lawn and, if extending is an option, there are potential ocean views from a second storey. See more
Hopetoun
A house on a big block in Hopetoun, about 575 kilometres south-east of Perth. Photo: Supplied
One street and bushland is all that separates this house from the Southern Ocean coastline. There are three bedrooms and a laneway offers access to bring in the boat and just about anything else you need – the site is a generous 1012 square metres. See more
Madora Bay
The Madora Bay beach shack is 68 kilometres – less than an hour’s drive – from Perth. Photo: Supplied
Madora Bay Beach is 75 metres away from this solid two-bedroom “retro” house with a big covered patio and games room. It’s about an hour’s drive from Perth and there’s a also shed on the 765-square-metre block. See more
Lancelin
The “renovator’s delight” at Lancelin, about 130 kilometres north of Perth. Photo: Supplied
Here’s the ideal beach shack for a DIY enthusiast and it’s in one of WA’s favourite holiday destinations, Lancelin. The main bedroom is upstairs, the patio is enclosed and there’s a big shed on the 1214-square-metre site as well. See more
Bremer Bay
The original holiday shack in Bremer Bay, 500 kilometres south-east of Perth. Photo: Supplied
This four-bedroom house is one of the southern town’s original fishing shacks. It was brought in as a two-bedroom transportable in 1990 – with jarrah floorboards – and extended soon after. As an added bonus, the river dinghy stored in the shed comes with the house, which on the market for $260,000. See more
Falcon
A long history of good times and fishing stories awaits the new owner of the shack at 1 Irving Avenue, Falcon. Photo: Supplied
The same local fishing family has always owned this character cottage surrounded by trees and next to a park. Every morning, according to the Domain property listing, father and sons would go down to the estuary, watch the sunrise and catch their quota for the day. The three-bedroom house with “good bones” is on 808 square metres. See more
Leeman
The house at the centre of Leeman, about 265 kilometres north of Perth, has ocean views. Photo: Supplied
With three bedrooms and three bathrooms over two storeys, plus parking for six cars, there’s room for family and friends at this Leeman shack. The 116-square-metre property, with rear-lane access, is one block from the beach and close to the town’s jetty and shops. See more
Lancelin
Easy-care site plus a quaint house in Lancelin. Photo: Supplied
Just a short walk from the beach and shops is this tidy two-bedroom shack in Lancelin. The house is well maintained and there’s a shed on the 966-square-metre block, which is close enough to Perth for easy weekend escapes. See more