Taking a break in style, and comfort

With anecdotal evidence emerging that Western Australians are taking shorter breaks more often, particularly in the cooler months, there is growing demand for self-contained luxury holiday homes in the South West and other popular regions.

Holiday accommodation management company In-House Holidays principal, Jacqueline Keller, said more and more people were taking short breaks down south in the quieter winter months to enjoy the region’s premium restaurants and wineries.

“A lot of people are now discovering that Margaret River is a nice place to go in winter,” she said.

“It tends to be less crowded, and tends to be cheaper in terms of accommodation rates.”

Favoured destinations, such as Eagle Bay, Margaret River and Yallingup, which offer panoramic ocean views and are located close to wineries, have experienced an increase in new holiday home construction activity.

Private Properties principal Rosie Harris said a number of her overseas clients, who first came to the area on holiday, had returned to buy property and build holiday homes, using local architects, builders and furnishings.

“I can think of at least five properties on our books where the owners originally arrived as guests, stayed in one of our houses and then bought a property and built a house on it,” she said.

Ms Harris said the demand for holiday home accommodation remained buoyant.

“There’s still tremendous interest down there. We’re already booked out next January, and we could have booked out Easter at least four times over.”

Here are some of the newest and most luxurious homes on the market, both down south and in other popular destinations.

Maitraya, Albany

Perched on the edge of a 130-hectare property on the Southern Ocean and bordering a national park is this eight bedroom, seven bathroom house, arguably one of the best private holiday retreats in the state.

The owners bought the property a year ago, and have spent the past year remodelling the house and updating the furnishings.

The house features an indoor pool and separate internal courtyard, and comes complete with its own private airstrip.

“It’s completely out of the box compared to everything else we’ve got,” property manager Rosie Harris said.

The property can also be used as a conference venue, with a number of sitting, living and dining areas available, in addition to a theatre room and two large courtyards – with the added benefit of having accommodation co-located on the site.

The owners are looking to construct a tennis court and four-hole golf course on the property.

Weekly tariff: $12,000 low season; $14,000 high season.

Illawarra, Eagle Bay 

Illawarra is a new property set on just less than a hectare on the hillside overlooking Eagle Bay.

The property was built by an English couple based in Singapore, who came as visitors to the area and loved it so much they bought a property and built their own holiday house.

It can accommodate two families in its four ground-floor bedrooms, with the two master suites enjoying private ensuite facilities.

The property has a number of family-friendly features, including a separate TV and games room, a tennis court and a tree house.

Weekly tariff: $2,445 low season; $4,200 high season.

Seascape, Busselton

Drop the kids off at the grandparents’ house if you’re looking to book this luxury home, located directly across the road from the waters of Geographe Bay.

This recently completed adults-only retreat, managed by Dunsborough Holiday Homes, has ocean views from every room of the house.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom home can easily cater for up to three couples, with all able to have some extra privacy with their own ensuite and private entrance.

And for little a bit extra, guests can make use of the property’s in-house masseuse and a 7-series BMW.

Weekly tariff: $10,500.

Delkinley House, Margaret River

Located on 100ha in the Metricup wine region in Margaret River, Delkinley House only came on the market late last year and has already proved a popular family retreat.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom house is located close to some of the region’s best-known wineries, and 10 minutes’ drive from the Margaret River township and five minutes to Cowaramup.

Property manager Jacqueline Keller, of Inhouse Holiday Homes, says the property’s seclusion and privacy is one of its key features.

“For people who want to feel like they’re in the middle on nowhere, that’s the place,” she said.

Weekly tariff: $1,500 low season; $2,700 high season.

Saltwater Beach House, Margaret River

This architecturally designed home is just a five-minute walk to Prevelly Beach and has more than enough space to enjoy a holiday in comfort.

Managed by Inhouse Holiday Homes, Saltwater Beach House is a new four-bedroom, two-bathroom home with spacious living areas, state-of-the-art kitchen, and panoramic views of the ocean and nearby bushland.

The expansive outdoor patio and sundeck complete with outdoor barbeque is one of its standout features.

Weekly tariff: $2,000 low season; $4,200 high season.

Tannamurra, Swan Valley

Just 30 minutes’ drive north of Perth in the Darling Ranges is this homestead property, set on 131ha of parkland and private gardens.

A five-minute drive to the Swan Valley wine region, this four-bedroom, three-bathroom  Tuscan-style home is furnished throughout with antiques from France, Italy and Australia.

The gardens around the house and beyond were voted as among the best six country gardens in Australia in the late 1990s.

There are also five dams filled with freshwater crayfish, with guests welcome to catch their own dinner.

Weekly tariff: $3,000 low season; $3,600 high season.