By George Upton
For beachside living
This modern five-bedroom home on the north coast of Cornwall is on the market for £2.7mn and has direct access to Widemouth Bay. The Atlantic swell has made the bay a popular destination for surfers but though the house occupies an exposed position, the property has a walled garden, offering privacy and shelter. There is also a large first-floor balcony, accessed from the open-plan living space, and a roof terrace for warmer weather. Other leisure facilities at the property include a cinema room and a gym with an adjacent sauna.
For entertaining by the ocean
This four-bedroom apartment in Cape Town has a large covered terrace with views over Clifton Bay, offering an ideal vantage point for surfers to check the day’s conditions. If the ocean is too calm, the balcony has a built-in gas barbecue for entertaining outside, or if you’re set on surfing, the city has a variety of other bays and beaches, all a short drive away. The four bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms and balconies, and the apartment, which was recently renovated, includes custom-designed furniture and oak floors throughout. The home is on the market for R67mn ($3.5mn).
For a coastal idyll
This oceanfront five-bedroom house (also main picture, top) looks out over several popular surf breaks that are considered some of the best on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. In addition to being within easy reach of waves suitable for surfers at all levels, from beginners to experts, the property is situated within a preservation area and has a private garden and saltwater pool. On the market for $16mn, the house includes a back-up electrical generator, medical grade water filtration system and a 1,000-bottle wine cellar.
For panoramic views
Bondi Beach is one of the most popular surfing destinations in Australia and is known for its kilometre-long stretch of pristine white sand and clear water. This three-bedroom penthouse apartment in Tamarama, an eastern suburb of Sydney, is a short walk from the beach and has expansive views along the coast from its wraparound balcony. On the market for A$20mn ($12.9mn), the newly built property includes a large kitchen and dining space with floor-to-ceiling glazing, separate balconies for all three bedrooms and, accessed from the dedicated sun room, an external spa pool designed by Ludovica and Roberto Palomba.
For a modern villa
Mexico’s Caribbean coast might not be as well known for surfing as the Pacific coast, but what it lacks in size and consistency of waves, it more than makes up for with year-round temperate waters, meaning you never need to squeeze into a wetsuit. This modern seven-bedroom beachfront villa is a short walk from the Playa del Carmen, which is popular with beginner and intermediate surfers (as well as kitesurfers and windsurfers). The property, which is on the market for $8.9mn, has a swimming pool with integrated Jacuzzi, a kitchen that can be opened to an external dining area and a roof terrace with a bar and grill.
Photography: Christie's International Real Estate; Savills; Sydney Sotheby's International Realty; Strutt & Parker; Engel & Völkers Playa del Carmen
