Regional Queensland has emerged as one of Australia's strongest property markets, with many buyers seeking a lifestyle that combines affordability, coastal living and a slower pace.
According to realestate.com.au data, median home prices in regional Queensland have increased by 118% since 2020, making it one of the strongest markets in the country since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While south-east Queensland has long been one of the state’s hotspots, downsizers are taking notice of locations further up the coast for their next home.
“More Australians over 50 are looking beyond south-east Queensland in search of a lifestyle that feels more relaxed and financially freeing,” says Tameeka Manson, Sales Manager at GemLife Lighthouse Bay, a new over-50s community at Burnett Heads, close to the major regional city of Bundaberg.
Bundaberg is making a name for itself as a coastal community on the rise, with realestate.com.au data showing that its median house price has increased by 157% since 2015.
“What also makes the region stand out is value,” says Ms Manson.
“Buyers are discovering they can enjoy a high-quality coastal lifestyle in an area that still feels accessible and less crowded than many larger coastal destinations across Queensland.”
Burnett Heads near Bundaberg is a seaside location that's becoming more appealing to over-50s buyers.
Inside Burnett Heads: The relaxed Coral Coast hub flying under the radar
Within the Bundaberg region, one locality that’s attracting attention is Burnett Heads.
With a population of just 2,908 according to the most recent census, Burnett Heads sits directly on the Coral Coast, the gateway to the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef.
“It has a genuine seaside atmosphere, with boating, fishing and waterfront living central to daily life, while still offering convenient access to Bundaberg's services and amenities," says Ms Manson.
The Burnett River, one of Central Queensland's most popular recreational fishing locations, meets the ocean at Burnett Heads, while the nearby Bundaberg Port Marina is the heart of local boating culture.
The area is also a hotspot for turtle tourism, with the nearby Mon Repos Conservation Park well-known as a location where locals and visitors alike can watch sea turtles nesting and hatching in the November to March turtle season.
With a median house price that has grown 17.8% in the twelve months to May 2026 according to realestate.com.au data, Burnett Heads’s combination of lifestyle, convenience and connection to the wider Bundaberg region are part of its appeal.
“Nearby, Bargara is known for its cafes, restaurants and beautiful foreshore, while Mon Repos Turtle Centre and the surrounding coastline showcase the area’s incredible natural beauty,” says Ms Manson.
“Residents can enjoy year-round outdoor living, whether that’s walking along the waterfront, cycling, fishing or simply spending more time outside in the warmer climate.”
When complete, the GemLife Lighthouse Bay Country Club precinct will feature a wide range of sporting, wellness and lifestyle amenities.
What life really looks like at a new over‑50s lifestyle resort in regional Queensland
Interest in Bundaberg is growing, especially for downsizers looking for over-50s communities, with the region seeing a 36% increase in searches for properties in this category on realestate.com.au in the twelve months to April 2026.
Launched earlier this year, GemLife Lighthouse Bay in Burnett Heads offers modern downsizers the opportunity to secure a home in a new gated community.
“What makes it especially exciting is that it reflects how today’s over-50s are choosing to live,” says Ms Manson.
“Many homeowners are still working, travelling regularly or simply looking for greater flexibility and freedom in how they spend their time. This is a lifestyle-focused community designed around that mindset.”
At the heart of the community will be the resort-style Country Club precinct.
The two-storey facility will feature a gym and outdoor pool, as well as a lawn bowls green, cinema, and creative arts studio. It will be accompanied by a Summer House that will include another pool, tennis and pickleball courts, community gardens and a secure RV compound.
“There are opportunities to stay active, try new hobbies, meet neighbours and enjoy everyday social interaction in a very relaxed environment,” says Ms Manson.
“Whether it’s fitness, wellness, dining or shared recreational spaces, everything has been designed to make community feel effortless.”
Combining 437 architecturally designed homes and $20 million in premium facilities, Ms Manson says that GemLife Lighthouse Bay offers something that feels “modern, social and future-focused”.
GemLife Lighthouse Bay is a resort-style community recently launched in Burnett Heads.
How land lease communities are changing the downsizing equation
GemLife Lighthouse Bay’s Stage One release launched earlier this year and more than half of the initial release has already been sold.
While the homes and the location are part of what has made the release so appealing, Ms Manson notes that the financial freedom GemLife offers has been just as big a drawcard.
“Many are also attracted to the financial flexibility that comes with the land lease model and the opportunity to free up equity while maintaining a premium standard of living,” she says.
The land lease model means that buyers own their own home, while leasing the land beneath it through a weekly site fee that goes towards maintaining the community and its facilities.
Homeowners keep any capital gains when they sell and can avoid deferred management fees and stamp duty costs.
Ms Manson explains that this model is appealing as it gives over-50s downsizers greater financial clarity and flexibility at a stage of life where it matters most.
“For many buyers, that creates opportunities to free up equity from the family home and redirect it towards travel, lifestyle, family or future planning, while still enjoying a modern low-maintenance home and a friendly community environment,” she says.
"The needs of modern downsizers have changed too, with activity, independence and community at the forefront more than ever."
Resort-style communities like GemLife Lighthouse Bay and the land lease model they operate under meet these needs and that, Ms Manson says, is what it’s all about.
“The focus is on low-maintenance living, connection and having the freedom to enjoy life on your own terms,” she says.
This article was originally published on 10 Jul 2026 at 11:21am but has been regularly updated to keep the information current.
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