THE FACTS ABOUT BLUE POOLS COTTAGE

Australia

Spooky Beach is one of a string of great surfing locations on the north coast of New South Wales, near the busy port of Yamba and surrounded by Yuraygir National Park. Blue Pools, just a couple of minutes' walk away, is possibly the most upmarket 'surf-shack' you could imagine: a low-rise, three-bedroom beach house on a quiet, residential roadside close to other apartments and houses. Redolent of classic laid-back Australian living, it has a salty, seaside ambience, with walls painted soft greens and blues, polished timber floors, an open-plan kitchen and living area, wide decked terraces, distressed-wood furniture, ceiling fans and whitewashed panelling. Traipse in with sandy feet and a dripping boogie-board and relax under a canvas awning that shades the terrace. Temperatures can be uncomfortably hot and humid from mid-December to the end of February. The best time to go is April to June and from September to mid-December. SLEEPS Six COST £560-£930 per week CONTACT Australian Beach House Company (00 61 2 6651 1344; www.australianbeachhouse.com)