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If you’re anything like me, you might (perhaps shamefully) be obsessed with The Summer I Turned Pretty, now in its third and final season on Prime Video. Whether you read Jenny Han’s book series as a teenager, or became a fan through the 2022 TV adaptation, there is something so infuriating yet magical about the teen drama and the way it taps into a familiar zeitgeist, especially the dreamy setting of the iconic Cousins Beach house.
Part of the show’s appeal lies in its sun-soaked, nostalgic aura. The way it’s filmed, framed, and scored evokes The OC and other 2000s teen dramas, so it’s no wonder this show has a chokehold on an older crowd. And it’s that familiar, wistful energy that makes you yearn about a summer getaway drenched in salt, sunshine, and perhaps a little love triangle to boot.
Here in Australia, we don’t have the luxury of New England’s coastline just around the corner, but thankfully, our own shores offer plenty of dreamy coastal escapes. For anyone inspired by the show’s locations, we’ve rounded up a few local gems that bring The Summer I Turned Pretty right to our backyard.
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Top stays inspired by The Summer I Turned Pretty
- Best stay in New South Wales: The Palms at Byron
- Best stay in Victoria: Spacious ocean view home
- Best stay in Queensland: The Village at Peregian Beach
- Best stay in South Australia: Historic Harbour Masters House
Holiday homes in New South Wales
01
The Palms at Byron
Byron Bay
Best for: retro nostalgia
Sleeps: 6 people
This A-frame, modern-retro luxury home is a nod to Byron Bay’s 60s and 70s allure, from the polished timber floors to the adornings and unique finishings, promising a nostalgic retreat that mirrors the warmth of the Cousins home.
Reasons to stay:
- Unique A-frame holiday home
- Retro-feel
- Three-bedroom beachfront retreat
- Open-plan space
- Beach access
02
The Beach House
Yamba
Best for: whale watching
Sleeps: 6 people
Located in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, this beachfront escape imbues a coastal presence reminiscent of the Cousins home. With unmatched views over Main Beach and Lovers Point, whale-watch from bed, soak up the coastal romance, and cue the Conrad-level longing.
Reasons to stay:
- Two-bedroom home
- Newly restored, circa 1950 beach house
- Right on Yamba Beach in the small seaside town
03
Mandala Beach House
Callala Bay
Best for: south coast dreaming
Sleeps: 12 people
Mandala Beach House is a six-bedroom stay in Callala Bay that effortlessly combines barefoot luxury with laidback sophistication. Located right across the road from the pristine waters of Jervis Bay, this luxury beach house has everything you would need for a family or group getaway, accommodating up to 12 guests.
Reasons to stay:
- Sleeps up to 12 guests
- Beachfront location in Jervis Bay
- Heated swimming pool, luxe interiors
- Free parking
Holiday homes in Victoria
04
Spacious ocean view home
Anglesea
Best for: picturesque coastal views
Sleeps: 10 people
A stay large enough for a family – or for avoiding your ex and future sister-in-law – this spectacular ocean-view property offers two levels of luxury: from stone baths to firepit gatherings to whale-watching from your deck, all overlooking the picturesque coastal landscape of Anglesea.
Reasons to stay:
- Four-bedroom, two-story home
- Large entertainers deck overlooking Point Roadknight Beach
- Outdoor firepit area with entertaining area
- Three-minute walk to Ware’s Lookout
05
The Hideaway
Torquay
Best for: open-concept living
Sleeps: 6 people
Drawing inspiration from the owner’s favourite seaside destinations across the globe, this surf shack is just 200 metres from the beach, making it perfect for some beach-side bliss. The interior is fresh and bright with a white-washed palette, high ceilings and skylights. This show might not give you any peace (poor Connie baby), but you will for sure feel some on the open verandah furnished with swinging chairs and floating lounges framed by palm trees.
Reasons to stay:
- Three-bedroom home
- Child-friendly home with three generous bedrooms
- A short stroll from Whites Beach
- Wood-fired pizza oven, fire pit and BBQ
Holiday homes in Queensland
06
The Village at Peregian Beach
Peregian Beach
Best for: pool-side yearning
Sleeps: 6 people
Just 200 metres from the beach and a short stroll to Peregian’s village square of boutiques, cool cafés, and seaside markets, The Village at Peregian Beach offers a laid-back coastal escape with ocean views for days. Spend your time luxuriating by your private pool, dining alfresco, or curling up with your favourite book that evokes a nostalgic summer – you already know what we’re recommending!
Reasons to stay:
- Three-bedroom stay 200m from beach
- Private pool
- Outdoor shower
- Spacious balcony with panoramic views of the water
- 20-minute walk to Peregian Beach village.
07
The Palm House
Mooloolaba
Best for: laidback luxury
Sleeps: 4 people
This boutique guesthouse embodies everything you love about relaxed coastal living: poolside relaxation, sipping cocktails on a sun-drenched deck, and luxury interiors that inspire a main-character coastal getaway. From European Oak herringbone floors to French doors that open onto the large shared pool, this light-filled, sophisticated home is the perfect backdrop for plotting summer love triangles and stirring TV-smashing drama – we’re looking at you, Belly.
Reasons to stay:
- Two-bedroom guesthouse
- Hand-picked furnishings and homewares from Morocco, Indonesia and India
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Gated parking and quiet residential neighbourhood
- Book alongside The Pool House to accommodate up to 8 guests
Holiday homes in South Australia
08
Historic Harbour Masters House
Beachport
Best for: luxuriating in history
Sleeps: 10 people
Nestled between the ocean and the heart of Beachport, the Historic Harbour Masters House is the town’s only absolute oceanfront property – now that’s main-character energy in full swing. Recently renovated to a superior standard, it combines restored historic features with modern comforts like ducted heating and cooling, Bose Bluetooth speakers, free WiFi, and Netflix. We wouldn’t be surprised if Conrad showed up… or at least did some serious yearning here.
Reasons to stay:
- Nestled between the ocean and the centre of town
- Four-bedroom beachfront property
- Quiet coastal town
- Beach access
09
Stones Throw
Stokes Bay
Best for: bay views
Sleeps: 8 people
Literally a stone’s throw from Australia’s best beach on Kangaroo Island, this Stokes Bay retreat is basically the Cousins house, if it came with kangaroos. Swim, kayak, or just unwind, while soaking in sweeping ocean views from inside or out.
Reasons to stay:
- Situated on the waterfront at Stokes Bay on the North side of Kangaroo Island
- Vehicle needed to access the property
- Well-equipped kitchen
- Spot kangaroos and local wildlife right from your deck
- Access to rockpools, snorkelling, fishing, and hiking nearby
Cousins Beach is a fictional beachside town in the United States, though author Jenny Han has told fans that Cousins is a culmination of the likes of Cape Cod, The Hamptons, The Outer Banks and Virginia Beach, feeding into that early 2000s nostalgia.
While the fictional Cousins Beach is inspired by coastal towns like Cape Cod, the actual Fisher family beach house from The Summer I Turned Pretty is a private residence on a golf course at Porters Neck Plantation in Wilmington, North Carolina. Wilmington’s nearby beaches are used for other scenes, as the home actually sits on a river rather than a beach.
Unfortunately, you cannot visit the Cousins Beach House. Neither the country club nor the Fisher family’s beach house seen onscreen are open to the public.
Stream ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ on Prime Video with a 30-day free trial.
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