Beachfront Bliss, Mackerel Beach, last true sandy beachfront, all tide access.

Lose the car. Catch the ferry. Find Bliss.

Sundowners are essential at Bliss—on the main deck or down at the boatshed on the sand—with sweeping views across Pittwater to Broken Bay. The north-east aspect brings cooling summer breezes and welcome winter sun, while Great Mackerel Beach feels like an extension of the garden.

Bliss is one of the rare holiday homes at Mackerel with direct, easy all-tide beach access. From the wharf it is a short wheelbarrow run along the sand: no clambering over rocks, no steep or winding path, just a straightforward arrival at the beach house.

Built by the Anderson family in 1961, Bliss was Great Mackerel Beach’s original purpose-built beach house. Lovingly restored with a nod to its quirky ’60s character, it occupies a wonderful beachfront position, backs onto Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and has one of only two boatsheds on the beach.

The house runs on solar power and rainwater collected in on-site tanks—an appropriately low-impact way to enjoy this special off-grid-feeling corner of Sydney. Please use water and power thoughtfully, particularly during dry weather.

The black boatshed is much more than storage. It is your beach base, with kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, inflatables, deckchairs and a small home-gym setup, plus the all-important fridge for beach picnics and sunset cocktails. It is also a remarkable work-from-Bliss space: connect a screen, look across Pittwater, and take a quick swim between Zoom meetings.

After a day on the water, retreat to the garden, the main deck or the private deck off the near self-contained parents’ retreat. Bliss is made for long lunches, family gatherings, saltwater swims, relaxed working weeks and the simple pleasure of being properly away.