There are plenty of places to live near the coast.

But Timbarra feels different.

It's one of few private, gated community estates in the country. It is surrounded by trees, natural bushland and the coastal landscape that makes this part of the Mid North Coast so special.

There’s no busy main road running through the middle of it. No rows of holiday apartments.

No feeling that you're living in the middle of a tourist town.

Instead, there’s plenty of space between the homes, a sense of privacy and a community that feels tucked away from the world.

And yet the beach is just there.

Perhaps that's what makes Timbarra different.

Some places are made for entertaining.

The two main decks at this place are perfect for this. 

As the afternoon fades, the entertaining area at 28 Grasstrees comes into its own.

A drink with friends.

Dinner outside.

The fire glowing as the light disappears.

The garden around you and the evening sounds of the coast.

There’s no need for anything elaborate.

Just good company, something to eat and a beautiful place to sit.

This is what coastal living can feel like when life isn't in a hurry.

www.28grasstrees.au

Spring maybe highlights this more - where the Grevillias - they are a front yard feature of this property - almost compete with the grasstrees for attention. There a two grasstrees either side of the front path leading to the large dining deck, then several more in direct view to the north east over the deck and many more east and south of the property.

The Dunbogan or South Beach as some call it, south of the Timbarra estate, there's a hidden 4WD track to the beach. Sensible beach driving can feel liberating when the tide is out and mostly deserted. The drive south to Diamond Head is highly recommended.

The day starts quietly.

The first sound isn't traffic.

It's the birds to start with.

You open the doors and let the morning air in. The garden is waking up, the grasstrees are moving gently in the breeze and somewhere in the distance there's the unmistakable sound of the coast.

Coffee on the deck.

Maybe a walk down to the beach.

Maybe breakfast outside.

There's nowhere you need to rush to.

And that's one of the things we love about 28 Grasstrees.

It's not just a house.

It's a place where a morning can simply be a morning.

One of the things we love about 28 Grasstrees is that you can have the feeling of being away from it all - without actually being far away.

Laurieton village is around five minutes away for the things you need every day, Coles, hardware, coffee, shopping, cafes, services and the river.

And Port Macquarie is around 40 minutes to the north when you want the bigger town, more extensive shopping, restaurants, top medical or other services.

So you can enjoy the peace and privacy of living here, while the everyday conveniences are still within easy reach.

It's a simple combination:

Close enough to everything. Far enough from the bustle.

Open for young and older locals this is very popular putt-putt style attraction. Enormous fun and not expensive. Situated right outside the Kew Country Club clubhouse, seniors, kids and family groups all welcome.

A timely picture can tell a story can't it?

One swimmer and almost no beach goers or walkers at 4pm on a mid week afternoon.

A super safe beach for swimmers with plenty of shelter and a great place to stretch the legs.

You could never go back to busy beaches and parking hassles after this !

This is Kew Country Club owned and operated by the Laurieton United Services Club (LUSC). It's a delightful challenging 18 holes of golf with men's and ladies competitions with plenty of time for social play.

Many members will say this is as good or better than Port Macquarie Golf Club ... and most agree it's more social and friendly .. and certainly cheaper to join.

A 12 minute drive from Dunbogan just to the west side of the Pacific Highway.

Oh ... the square at the time of this shot was under construction. It is a now an 18 hole Mini Golf Course!

Every town or village should have a good local club and Laurieton is lucky enough to have the LUSC.

Well managed with a very good restaurant and entertainment venue and situated right on the north side of the Camden Haven River.

Well worth a visit if you haven't already been.

Sometimes you don't realise how much having the beach nearby can change your day.

A morning walk.

A swim before breakfast.

A stroll along the sand as the sun goes down.

Or simply knowing that whenever you feel like it, the beach is just there.

From 28 Grasstrees, you’re close to Dunbogan Surf Beach, Pilot Beach (pic shown) and Washhouse Beach (to the right of the break-wall) without living in the middle of a busy coastal town.

No big decision. No packing the car. No fighting for a car space.

Just walk, drive a few minutes, or go whenever the mood takes you.

Perhaps that's one of the great pleasures of living here.

The beach isn't an occasional destination. It's part of everyday life.

The day starts quietly.

The first sound isn't traffic.

It's the birds.

You open the doors and let the morning air in. The garden is waking up, the trees are moving gently in the breeze and somewhere in the distance there's the unmistakable sound of the coast.

Coffee on the deck.

Maybe a walk down to the beach.

Maybe breakfast outside.

There's nowhere you need to rush to.

And that's one of the things we love about 28 Grasstrees.

It's not just a house.

It's a place where a morning can simply be a morning.

Imagine waking to birdsong, fresh sea air and the feeling that life has slowed down a little.

Close enough to enjoy the beautiful Dunbogan or North Haven surf beaches, the safe Pilot beach or Washhouse beach and be far enough from the traffic, crowds and constant activity of a busy coastal town.

Here, the coastline is part of everyday life - but peace, privacy and space are too.

28 Grasstrees is a private home in a quiet, gated beachside community, south of Port Macquarie.

Maybe the question isn’t “Where can I live by the beach?”

Maybe it’s “Can I live by the beach in a quiet location but reasonably close to a good size town?”

There are 28 Grasstrees either immediately on the block or in view close by.

Some are tall and elegant and two are rare 4 headers. Others are young and still finding their way.

They’ve been here for years, long before we arrived—and they’re part of what makes this place feel so special.

We’re told they take 100 years to grow a metre so some would be 400 or more years old. That sounds about right - we’ve lived here for 25 years. 

What does happen quickly is some of the grasstrees, every year about July, start to grow a large seed stem and that can appear in a few weeks. Then it’s party time for the Lorikeets, Honey Eaters and other local birds.

So we decided that if we were going to give our home a name, there was really only one choice. We settled on 28 Grasstrees.

It’s not a name we invented for marketing. It’s simply what has always been here.

And every time we look at them, we’re reminded that this is a place where nature is allowed to be itself.