There’s something very pleasant about the heavenly scent of salty breezes and slipping off the sandals to immerse toes in squeaky-white sand. Pinch yourself, it could be true and it could be you, on an absolute beachfront private estate in a peerless, incomparable position at Sunshine Beach, on the Coral Sea.

From the sweeping driveway at the end of the cul-de-sac, past the tennis court to the porte-cochere with the taller-than-tall white front doors, it’s obvious. This is a palatial residence of grand proportions, an edgy take on classic modern architecture with splashes of Noosa panache. It’s all sublimely in tune with the sub-tropics, the sea and the coastal sand dune ecosystem.

The sense of arrival is certainly impressive, but hold your breath – the inside is spectacularly beguiling.

The residence has been completely re-imagined with a back-to-bare renovation by multi-award winning international designer David Hicks, whose reputation for distinctly bold, high-gloss, high-end interiors precedes him. The design is reminiscent of lavish resorts around the world, including a nostalgic nod to the Italian Riviera with a wealth of nuances such as terrazzo and ribbed lacquered timber. Subtle textures, layered throughout are indicative of the bushland surrounds yet twisted and melded with high quality finishes. A dark floor ‘grounds’ all the spaces; walls and joinery are bright white; and rigorous space planning accomplished ocean views from every room.

Grandiose living and dining spaces for all occasions and purposes, serviced by domestic and commercial kitchens, sweep the width of the residence and continue in a seamless fashion out to the vast terraces and gazebos. Continuous informal bench seating which wraps around the glazing line facing the ocean, half frames another perfect space for a cocktail party or just quiet times after surfing.

Redolent of a boutique hotel is the atrium where above the staircase a chandelier takes centre stage, and upstairs the six overly generous bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms including the grand master suite, have every pertinent 5-star accoutrement. Custom joinery incorporating timber, woven wallpaper and ribbed lacquered timber were designed for a casual yet refined feature in the bedrooms; blue glass walls adorn the ensuites and allow light into the showers whilst mimicking the intense colours of the ocean beyond; and heavily grained marble in the bathrooms (also used in the kitchen), provide an organic graphic to the spaces and elevate sophistication to a new high.

Adding magnitude to indoor, outdoor and beachside living is a glass-fronted pool which dazzles harmoniously with the ocean; expansive terraces and alfresco dining options; park-like gardens; a full size tennis court with cabana; and a self-contained guest cottage with undercover access from main house. This really is the epitome of an idyllic escape to a private resort.

There’s no doubting the raw natural beauty of Sunshine Beach. It has an irresistible attraction for those in upper echelons of success within Australia, and all over the globe. It’s spoken about in boardrooms and at business lunches by investors and those aspiring to owning a home in the real estate hot-spot.

“A beachhouse in the front row with nothing but the sea in front is the ultimate prize,” enthuses Tom Offermann Real Estate’s Nic Hunter. “Those who know Sunshine Beach appreciate the privileged location. Some have found it so enticing they’ve bought sight unseen from overseas.

“Understandable given the amenable subtropical climate, also enjoying anonymity at one of the world’s best beaches or at the nearby vibrant Sunshine Beach village with its award-winning restaurants, and where the local café society preserve the ‘barefoot if you like’ attitude. Respect for personal privacy is integral to the local way of life.”

There’s simply nothing like living at Sunshine Beach in the front row. It rivals the very best on Australia’s East Coast.

7 bedrooms 8 bathrooms 4 car garage
Separate self-contained guest cottage
Private beachfront estate: 3595m2 on 2 separate titles
Beach frontage: 44m
Side boundary abutting nature reserve: 25m
Back to bare wall renovation by internationally renowned designer David Hicks
Domestic & commercial kitchens; wine storage
App activated CBUS,alarms, surveillance systems, ducted aircon
Full-size tennis court with cabana
Hotel-style pool, terraces & gardens
One-only neighbour
One minute walk to Sunshine Beach Village, Surf Club and patrolled beach