While tourists flock at this time of year to the nearby Logan’s Beach whale-watching platform, Reverie provides private dress-circle views from every room. And if that’s not enough nature for one house, there is also access to a private cave, sandy beach and rock pools.

The home was bought five years ago by businessman Sergio Masini and his wife Kerri, who were then living and working in the UAE. The couple had long dreamed of buying a home in Warrnambool, their love affair with the historic Great Ocean Road city stretching back 40 years with family ties to the area. In 2011, they swung into action when their daughter Ebonnie announced she was engaged and wanted to get married in the city. “Two days later Kerri saw a house online that was going to auction in six weeks,” Sergio says. “Kerri and Ebonnie went to see the house and loved it.”

The Masinis were drawn to the home’s enviable position on a secluded 4.8ha block and those 180-degree views over the ocean, thanks to the gently curved 34m-wide glass frontage, framed by silvered timber. Inside, the finish is seamless, with heated, polished concrete floors and neutral walls.

There are four bedrooms, three living spaces, slow combustion wood heating, air-conditioning and a surround-sound speaker system. The spacious kitchen, overlooking the open-plan dining and living room, has imported stainless steel European cabinetry, black shelving and integrated appliances.

“The house is unique,” Sergio says. “Every room in the house, including the bathroom and ensuite, overlooks the ocean. You’re virtually having a shower over the water. That element of seclusion is so beautiful. It’s been a privilege to live here.”

Family and friends think they’re mad to sell, but Sergio says the property no longer suits the couple’s lifestyle. “We’ve had five great years and have really enjoyed it, but we have grandchildren on the way, opportunities with work and so we’re going back to Melbourne to allow all of that to happen.”

Warrnambool is a regional hub and former port city at the western end of the Great Ocean Road, 265km south-west of Melbourne. The median house price in Warrnambool was $330,000 in April 2016, according to CoreLogic RP Data. The median in Victoria’s Western District was $267,000.

Address: Victoria: Hopkins Point Road, Warrnambool, $1.9 m+.

Agent: Penny Adamson, Charles Stewart Real Estate, 0407 600 767

Victoria: 14 Linlithgow Street, Toorak, $12 million plus. In one of Melbourne’s most prestigious suburbs, this Nic Bochsler-designed home is surrounded by 1576sq m of exquisitely designed gardens and pool.

Victoria: 14 Linlithgow Street, Toorak, $12 million plus. There are four bedrooms. The main has a walk-in robe and a private terrace.

Victoria: 14 Linlithgow Street, Toorak, $12 million plus. No expense has been spared inside or out, with multiple formal and casual living areas, a granite kitchen, customised joinery, in-ground trampoline, wine cellar and a cold storeroom.

Victoria: 14 Linlithgow Street, Toorak, $12 million plus. A double-height family room is adjacent to the kitchen. Marshall White, 0418 537 973. EOI closing August 17.

Far North Queensland: 54 Ocean Drive, Palm Cove, $1.09m. This tropical home centres on a solar-heated swimming pool and award-winning alfresco area that was built for entertaining. Janice and Graham Metcalfe moved from Sydney to Cairns four years ago and were one of the first buyers in the Oceans Edge development.

Far North Queensland: 54 Ocean Drive, Palm Cove, $1.09m. Janice, a chef, has hosted many a party in her striking entertaining space.

Far North Queensland: 54 Ocean Drive, Palm Cove, $1.09m. The three-bedroom home overlooks a lake and has direct boardwalk access to the beach. Agent: Nicholas Slatyer, Belle Property, Cairns

Western Australia: 35 Glenroyd Street, Mount Lawley, $2.35 million. The only thing missing from Burbanks House, on a 986sq m block just north of Perth’s CBD, are family and friends to make use of the pool and entertainment areas.

Western Australia: 35 Glenroyd Street, Mount Lawley, $2.35 million. The renovated kitchen conforms to the historic style of the house.

Western Australia: 35 Glenroyd Street, Mount Lawley, $2.35 million. Red brickwork gives the pool area a suitably traditional look.

Western Australia: 35 Glenroyd Street, Mount Lawley, $2.35 million. Formal and informal living areas are lavishly finished with French doors, ornate ceilings, stained glass windows, Hamptons-style shutters and timber floorboards. Altitude Real Estate, 0417 903 990.

Tasmania: 10 Alexander Street, Bothwell, more than $350,000. Bothwell’s Old Post Office, built in the 1800s, has also served this small central Tasmanian town as a bank, a pharmacy and a general store.

Tasmania: 10 Alexander Street, Bothwell, more than $350,000. Original features include wide hallways, hardwood floors, four-panel doors and a hitching rail outside. There are nine main rooms and 251sqm of floor space along with established gardens on the 0.1ha block. Fall Real Estate, 0427 466 677.

Victoria: Milford, 894 Glenferrie Road, Kew, Melbourne, $6 million plus. This grand Italianate villa, built in the 1890s, is crowned by a tower from which the original merchant owner watched his ships in Port Phillip Bay. Time and intervening developments have changed that view, but you can still see the bay from the turret.

Victoria: Milford, 894 Glenferrie Road, Kew, Melbourne, $6 million plus. The pool in the back yard is gas-heated, set in John Patrick-designed gardens.

Victoria: Milford, 894 Glenferrie Road, Kew, Melbourne, $6 million plus. The vendor is Tony Muston, former owner of RetireInvest.

Victoria: Milford, 894 Glenferrie Road, Kew, Melbourne, $6 million plus. There are five bedrooms and a variety of entertaining and living spaces. Agent: Andrew Smith, Kay & Burton, South Yarra

New South Wales: Manor Rise, Bowral, $5.9 million. Surrounded by 2ha of lush countryside and formal gardens, Manderley is one of Bowral’s most beautiful estates. The five-bedroom Southern Highlands home by master builder Alvaro Bros stretches over three levels and overlooks an ornamental lake and island.

New South Wales: Manor Rise, Bowral, $5.9 million. A ground-floor foyer leads to rooms with vaulted ceilings, custom joinery and sandstone-framed fireplaces.

New South Wales: Manor Rise, Bowral, $5.9 million. Traditional touches in the kitchen. Di Jones Real Estate, 0411 411 244.

The 7.5m-long platform seems to hover effortlessly above the water, belying the work it took to build it. "We core drilled down into bedrock on dry land to tie in 1.5m piers to support the massive steel beams. It was a difficult build, especially as it bucketed rain during construction. The reason it was a dam became very evident," he laughs.

The boardwalk is reached by a new bridge and path from the cabana, which used to be the end point. The journey continues up a series of timber platform steps and culminates in a deck with seating nook and dining table, commanding a fine view. Use of the same sustainable Australian hardwood ties the design elements together.

The plantings are mainly native ornamental grasses complemented by some sculptural succulents and exotics. "There is a big wallaby population, so we put out 'tasting plates' of different plants each night to test what they ate," laughs Leacy.

"They ate just about everything young so we got around the problem by planting mature plants and placing plastic barricades around young plants to protect them until they grew."

Grasses such as Lomandra 'Tanika' and foxtail (Pennisetum 'Nafray') look good against the timber and provide movement in the breeze. The silver-blue foliage of Mexican lily (Beschorneria yuccoides) and clipped balls of native coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa) contribute colour contrast and sculptural strength. "We wanted a mix of natives and exotics to blur the lines between the existing, exotic garden and the surrounding bush," explains Leacy.

The addition of garden lighting, including bespoke timber light bollards, has greatly extended the hours the garden is used and appreciated. "I've seen the space used by every age group and in so many ways, from rock bands to kids' parties," says Leacy. "It works really nicely."

In the colder months, what’s the best tactic to keep plants warm? - Kevin Nathaniel, Sydney

Move pots closer to the house and under cover. Water in the mornings to avoid wet, cold soil overnight. On frosty nights, cover tender plants with an old sheet or some hessian. DroughtShield sprayed on foliage adds a polymer coating for frost protection. Seasol also makes plants more frost tolerant. Rake mulch away to allow the sun to warm soil during the day. Shield plants from cold winds with a temporary barrier of shadecloth or straw bales.

My two small children love playing outside. Are there any plants that discourage bees? - Sacha Pech, Adelaide

Kids will have contact with bees in places other than your own yard, so teach your children to love and respect these essential pollinators. Bees only sting if directly attacked or trodden on, or if you block their path next to the hive. No plants will discourage bees, but use of many pesticides will kill those in your garden. Avoid bee-attracting plants like lavenders, flowering herbs, daisies, catmint, salvias, and clover in lawns.

My 10-year-old mango tree is just under 2m tall. It has quite a few little fruit each year but only three or four grow to decent mangoes. We have never fed it. Should it be pruned and fed? - Helen Schulz, East Maitland, NSW

All fruit trees should be fed if you want them to be their productive best. Use a fruit tree fertiliser in spring and summer. Apply gypsum to supply calcium in winter. Yours is short for its age, due perhaps to your colder climate and growing conditions. Prune it after fruiting to contain tree size as desired. Cool temperatures when flowering will hamper fruit setting.

Send questions to: helenyoungtwig@gmail.com or Helen Young, PO Box 3098, Willoughby North, NSW 2068; helenyoung.com.au. August’s best question wins a Bokashi One starter pack for hygienic kitchen composting ($170; bokashi.com.au). July’s winner: Mark Clancy, Sydney, for his question about propagating natives.