Home buyers in search of a sea change have caught a lucky break, with a panel of property experts revealing their hottest coastal suburb picks for 2026.
There are 19 coastal, harbourside and portside hotspots featured in the latest realestate.com.au Hot 100 – a list of suburbs with the best growth prospects in 2026 compiled by leading property experts.
Beachside suburbs are highly sought after right across the country, making them tightly held and often commanding premium price tags.
The list is compiled by a panel of experts including leaders of national real estate agencies, buyer's agents, researchers, investors and an academic, with additional data and analysis from PropTrack.
| Suburb | State | Median house price | Annual price change |
| Albany | WA | $903,000 | 10% |
| Alkimos | WA | $730,000 | 9% |
| Bateau Bay | NSW | $1,170,000 | 4% |
| Battery Point | TAS | $1,588,000 | 18% |
| Cairns | QLD | N/A | N/A |
| Five Dock | NSW | $2,826,000 | 7% |
| Kingston | TAS | $739,000 | 0% |
| Little Bay | NSW | $2,805,000 | 8% |
| Mackay | QLD | N/A | N/A |
| Port Adelaide | SA | $719,000 | 7% |
| Port Melbourne | VIC | $1,569,000 | 1% |
| Rapid Creek | NT | $763,000 | -5% |
| Rockingham | WA | $760,000 | 15% |
| Sans Souci | NSW | $2,700,000 | 17% |
| Sorell | TAS | $710,000 | 10% |
| South Bunbury | WA | $700,000 | 8% |
| South Coogee | NSW | $4,450,000 | 1% |
| Townsville | QLD | N/A | N/A |
| Williamstown | VIC | $1,566,000 | 0% |
The Hot 100 suburbs are selected on several growth drivers that should not only support home values in the year ahead, but see prices outperform against the broader market.
Suburbs are nominated based on the following growth drivers:
Here's a closer look at some of the standout coastal property markets in this year’s Hot 100.
Western Australia’s South Bunbury has the cheapest house prices out of the coastal suburbs picked for this year’s Hot 100, with a median house price of $700,000.
Nestled along WA’s coastline around two hours south of Perth, South Bunbury’s beaches, schools and recreational facilities have been supporting strong buyer demand.
The suburb’s well‑established community networks, access to regional jobs, and proximity to the pristine Leschenault Inlet – a water lover’s paradise – have added to its appeal.
Belinda Conner of Elders, who nominated the suburb, said the city of Bunbury was often referred to as WA’s “second city” because it served as the economic and service hub for the state’s southwest region.
South Coogee is one of Sydney’s most tightly held coastal suburbs, where multimillion-dollar homes cling to clifftops overlooking the ocean.
With a median house price of $4.45 million, South Coogee is not only the most expensive coastal suburb in this year’s Hot 100, but the most expensive suburb overall on the list.
Proximity to Coogee Beach, limited housing stock and strong demand from affluent buyers have cemented its reputation as one of the city’s most coveted places to live.
Recent multimillion deals include the $12.4 million sale of the five-bedroom house at 6 Palmer Street last September, and the $8.2 million sale of the four-bedroom house at 33 Denning Street.
Home prices have been on the move in Hobart’s Battery Point, which is known for its character-filled streets, sandstone cottages and heritage terraces.
Its prime position next to the CBD and the waterfront, coupled with the buzz of Salamanca Place and its famous markets, has made it one of the most sought-after coastal addresses in the city.
That demand has translated into home price growth, with Battery Point recording the fastest-growing house prices – up 18% during the year to November – among the coastal suburbs in this year’s list.
The suburb was nominated by The Agency’s Matt Lahood and McGrath’s John McGrath, joining an elite group of seven ‘high conviction’ suburbs that were nominated by multiple experts.
Known as the ‘jewel in the west’, it’s no surprise that Melbourne’s Williamstown has seen the greatest rise in demand among its coastal rivals.
Williamstown recorded a 60% year-on-year rise in demand for houses during the year to November, according to PropTrack.
It boasts stunning views of the city across the bay and offers a unique maritime feel, harking back to its days as Melbourne’s first port.
Transport options into the city are also close at hand, with road, rail and ferry links capable of delivering residents into the CBD in under 30 minutes.
Rapid Creek in Darwin is home to the cheapest apartment prices out of the Hot 100’s coastal club, with a median unit price of $440,000.
It’s known for its leafy foreshore park and beaches, offering a coastal lifestyle with urban convenience.
Rapid Creek is home to The Essington School, one of the Darwin’s top private schools, and is close to Charles Darwin University, providing a large pool of both students and education workers.
Recent deals include the $458,000 sale of the two-bedroom apartment at 7/24 Sergison Circuit, and the $345,000 sale of the one-bedroom apartment at 9/83 Aralia Street.
Unsurprisingly, the coastal suburb with the most expensive apartment prices is South Coogee, with a median unit price of $1.39 million.
Port Adelaide has the fastest growing apartment prices among its waterfront counterparts, with the median unit price rising 45% to $603,000 during the year to November.
The suburb, located in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, has experienced an impressive evolution into a vibrant, community-oriented place to live.
Retail and hospitality upgrades have helped shift the area’s reputation, with plenty of further upside ahead, according to LJ Hooker’s Mathew Tiller.
Recent deals include the $680,000 sale of the two-bedroom apartment at 7/31 Formby Crescent, and the $880,000 sale of the two-bedroom apartment at 5/83 Lipson Street.
