This family home in Avalon is defined by two things: views and stairs. It’s built on a steep block and takes advantage of the Careel Bay views by incorporating levels. Each level has a water outlook, making for a pretty ideal northern beaches vibe.

The design aesthetic is mostly contemporary, and multiple timber decks ensure that the home takes full advantage of the outlook. One of the best parts of the home, though, is its quirky details, which can be perceived both in the décor and in the architecture. An example of this is the top floor of the house, a hidey-hole study at the home’s tip that, again, presents a glorious view.

The home is on the market, and I can see how it’s a pretty appealing package for home-buyers; views, architectural interest and a price around $1.325 million that seems spot on. The stairs up to the home also make a pretty decent exercise option, if you’re the kind of person who’s into running stairs (I am, and always seem to be identifying new stair-run locations…).

I love this wall sticker. Plus, I am significantly taller than the tallest height on it, which, even though it's intended for children, I take as an achievement.

Quirkiness rarely goes astray in my books. This children's bedroom also had an interesting second level/deck.

Light and space is well-incorporated into the master bedroom, which has this sitting area.

This post marks the first time The House Hunter has hit Sutherland Shire! Perhaps I was inspired by the beach trip taken last week. There’s no better way to be introduced to the Shire’s traditional beach spot, either, than this quintessential beach house at Cronulla. The only thing prettier than this home’s art deco frontage is its view – it offers direct access to Gunnamatta Bay, and is located on one of Cronulla’s prettiest, most private spots. For the fortunate owner, the backyard provides an extremely special, and rare, place to unwind, entertain or appreciate Sydney’s most aesthetically appealing features. You can literally step down from the stone retaining wall to the sand or the water, depending on the tide.

The large land size and stunning address mean that the property’s owners are currently looking for offers over $4.05 million. As well as the land’s foundational qualities, which offer everything needed to build one of the modern, glass-fronted mansions sprouting up across Sutherland’s best locations, the property offers a cute original home and separate studio. The home’s façade is in the P&O style, which seems particularly appropriate for the location -  it would be a shame to demolish it, and I feel that any new house built on the site would only be improved by incorporating the pre-existing form.

For those with the cash for it, though, the house offers the prospect of a seriously great beach house – the beautiful cobbled path leading to the house gives it a touch of whimsy, and the house’s timber beams are perfect for the rustic beach look. While a renovation would make it pop, simply brushing up on some of the corners and a coat of paint would make the house a perfect getaway, especially as it would retain all of the character of the original building. For fans of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the place encapsulates the wind, sand and stars paradigm the author used as the title of his engaging memoir.

“It’s a knockdown,” according to one local.

I totally disagree, although I don’t doubt that the next purchaser will knock down the quintessential beach shack and build one of the sprawling contemporary mega-homes already adorning most of the plots that adjoin Forresters Beach.

I knew about this house, which is currently up for sale with offers sought over $1.55 million, as I grew up in the area. Its peeling paint, pretty front garden and unbeatable beachfront position render it the perfect holiday home, and the idea of building a new place on the land makes me sad. It’s the kind of vacationer I aspire to own … when I make all my riches, of course.

Forresters Beach is a Central Coast suburb wedged between Terrigal and The Entrance (it borders Wamberal and Bateau Bay). It is notable for having an unpatrolled beach, and for also having exclusive access to Spoon Bay, a lovely, secluded … well, bay … that will take you to Wamberal and Terrigal beaches if you keep walking along the sand. It is an interesting place – small enough to walk from one end of the suburb to another (if you can be bothered), built primarily on sand, yet accommodating a wide variety of housing styles and inhabitants.

The beach side of the suburb houses the most covetable real estate (and, well … people), while the northern end of the suburb contains mostly middle-of-the road suburbia brick and weatherboard places. A large portion of the houses were once weekenders, so the suburb has its fair share of small fibro cottages.

This house stands out as it has one of the suburb’s best positions (with direct access to the beach), yet retains its character. It’s a beach home through and through – the kind of place you look forward to travelling to in summer, its floorboards inescapably covered with sand, its floor-to-ceiling windows letting in the salty sea breeze.

Its private beach stairs

Forresters Beach, on an unfortunately gloomy day