Dave Swan at Happy Valley, Caloundra. Picture: Glenn Barnes Source: TheAustralian FOR Dave Swan, as a surfer, being close to the water is the most important thing. "It's about personal sanity," he says. I couldn't live away from the beach. It's a beautiful lifestyle and good to introduce the kids to the beach. Swan has three criteria when searching for the perfect spot for a surfer to live: not too crowded, so you feel you have left the hustle and bustle of city life; not too remote, so you still have a range of facilities such as schools, doctors and shops; and, most important, a range of breaks that work in a variety of conditions. But picking the best location for a surfer to live in Australia is as varied as surfboard sizes. Many of the top surf locations, such as the Gold Coast, provide great waves, but the big growth in surfing means crowds, so more and more surfers are looking to shift to more remote locations such as Agnes Water on Queensland's Discovery Coast between Bundaberg and Gladstone, and the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria. "They don't want the crowds," Swan says. They like their little corner of the world and they like it the way it is. Coastal property prices around Australia were smashed in the global financial crisis but there are signs markets in beach locations are bottoming, and now is a good time for surfers eyeing their dream property to start looking for deals. Elliot Struck, editor of niche professional surfing publication Stab Magazine, says surfers "aren't surfers any more": now anyone surfs, including lawyers, stockbrokers and accountants. "It's about finding a balance of what appeals to you personally," he says when deciding on the best place to live. Swan left a busy media life working in most of the big cities around the country and settled at Battery Hill, near Moffat Beach at the southern end of Queensland's Sunshine Coast, which includes famous surf destinations such as Noosa. Swan says the beaches around Caloundra are some of the best surf spots on the Sunshine Coast, with beach breaks and "nice little A-frames," but if he were to live elsewhere he likes the look of the south coast of NSW around Kiama and Gerringong and farther south around Ulladulla. Other surfers also like Culburra on the NSW South Coast, home of pro surfer Owen Wright, for its "nice breaks." Bendalong Point, near Ulladulla, is also a long-time weekend getaway for Sydney surfers offering waves in most conditions. "They have magical surf spots," he says. The water's a little bit colder but the surf is sensational; it's a really nice part of the world, with acreage, pastures, forest and then the magic surf spots. Swan also likes the surf coast of Victoria, which is centred on Torquay where Rip Curl and Quiksilver are based, and the famous Bells Beach. SQM Research's Louis Christopher, a surfer, says coastal areas and surfing spots have been hit extremely hard in recent years. Some areas on the Gold Coast, around Coolangatta for example, recorded falls of 50 per cent, which came after post-GFC belt tightening and slumps in tourism. But there are signs of that changing: the dollar has been falling for most of the year and tourist numbers, are bouncing back. Interest rates are also near record lows. "I'm very confident we've seen bottoms hit in coast markets," Christopher says. Stab Magazine's Struck says he prefers to live in big cities that also have surf beaches. Sydney, he says, "has all the things I love about big cities: vibrancy, energy and creativity." But in just a half hour or 45 minutes, residents can get to a surf beach, such as Bondi or Maroubra in the east or Dee Why, Curl Curl, Freshwater and Narrabeen in the north. One of the problems with city surfing is crowds. For more secluded waves, Struck likes the mid-north coast of NSW around Forster and Coffs Harbour. "It's so much easier to find really decent waves with a quarter of the people of what you have in Sydney," he says. But often there is a reason for crowds: excellent waves. Struck says that in terms of quality surfing, it's hard to go past the Gold Coast, including Duranbah, Greenmount, Kirra and Burleigh. "It's the most famous and crowded surfing area for a reason," he says. Andrew Bell, owner of Ray White Surfers Paradise Group, says the Gold Coast market is up about 8 per cent. Bell says mortgage-in-possession stock has washed through and the market is being buoyed by low interest rates and a 19 per cent rise in tourism, which has brought more buyers into the market. After prices fell about 30 per cent on average, the market is now relatively cheap. "It's really looking good value compared with Sydney and Melbourne," he says. For something quieter, Struck also likes Western Australia, particularly Margaret River, which is known for its wineries as well as surf beaches. "The waves there are just unbelievable if you know what you're looking for," he says. But the price of real estate is inflated by tourism and wineries and very few locals have the the luxury of waves on their doorstep. Barry Granville, principal of Margaret River's First National Real Estate, says prices in the area have dropped significantly since the GFC and haven't really recovered. "There are properties available at prices that have probably been achieved in 05-06," he says. Activity in the town of Margaret River itself has been strong, particularly for properties under $600,000. But beach locations, including Prevelly and Gnarabup, have been quieter, which makes entry reasonably affordable. No 1/9 Papadakis Avenue, Prevelly, for example, has uninterrupted ocean views and direct trail access to the beach and is on the market for $739,000. But Granville says you can buy a cottage/shack on 1000sq m from the high $500,000s to $600,000. For more cashed-up surfers, tightly held Gracetown near Margaret River is another option. Most of the houses have 180-degree ocean views. At Gracetown, 10 Earl Place is on the market for $999,999. The two-bedroom beach shack with jarrah floorboards has views over South Point. Moffat-based Swan agrees that crowds are an issue for surfers that drives many to more obscure locations, such as the Shipwreck Coast of Victoria, which includes towns such as Port Fairy. Keith Curtain, who operates GO Surf School in Port Fairy, says the Shipwreck Coast around Port Campbell and the Twelve Apostles is a rugged stretch of ocean and the waves are hazardous, but breathtaking; East Beach in Port Fairy itself, however, has ideal waves for beginner and experienced surfers. Paul Robertson, director of agents Robertson Port Fairy, says the area has a big surf culture and while it isn't as dear as Lorne or Torquay, which are closer to Melbourne, median prices are about $450,000 to $500,000. On the market for $775,000, 74 Ocean Drive Port Fairy has panoramic ocean views, four bedrooms and is a short walk to Pea Soup Cove. South Australia's Yorke Peninsula is known for its spectacular waves, and insiders say property is dirt cheap in Streaky Bay, which has plenty of waves. Still in South Australia, Kangaroo Island is chic these days. "But the remote west end of the island has some mythical waves," says one veteran surfer. Property prices on the island are generally a bargain compared with the main land. Swan says many surfers are often secretive about good locations. He says Agnes Water, between Bundaberg and Gladstone, is another quieter location that locals protect. Wayne "Grom" Mellick moved to Agnes Water 30 years ago and stayed for the surf; he now runs a surf store and learn-to-surf school in the town. "It's absolutely perfect; it's my lifestyle," he says. I'm living my dream and I couldn't be in a better spot than where I am. Agnes Water is the most northern surfing spot on the east coast and Mellick says it is also a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef that has "fantastic, awesome heavy reef breaks offshore." Many say Agnes Water is like Byron Bay 30 years ago. "It's still pretty well untouched up here," Mellick says. But it has attracted big names: Billabong founder Gordon Merchant and Rip Curl founder Doug Warbrick own property there. It is unlikely to be overrun like Byron has, though, because the surf is significantly smaller. James White, sales manager at PRD Agnes Water 1770, says the local market has toned back during the past few years after strong mining-related growth from Gladstone. White says surfers can buy a house there for anywhere between $300,000 and $1 million, though most surfers pick up land for about $150,000 and a house for about $300,000. Ballina is another pick. Residential prices are not as expensive as nearby Byron and it has an airport for city commuters. It also has North Wall, apparently a "swell magnet" on even the smallest days. SQM's Christopher says while coastal markets have stabilised, there remains a perception that holiday locations are very volatile and dangerous to invest in. "It's going to take some time before we see a big recovery happen because people are very cautious," he says. But surfers may want to drop in on the market a bit earlier, before it takes off.