For many home buyers, the great location debate comes down to lifestyle versus commute. Do you build the home you’ve always wanted in the suburbs, or do you sacrifice space to be closer to the action?
It's hard to find land to build in close proximity to a city centre, without the hassle of knocking down an existing dwelling. Image: Getty
In one city, you may not have to choose.
A new wave of master-planned communities in Adelaide is giving buyers the best of both worlds. Buying land in an estate offers keen builders the ability to access shovel-ready land, reducing the costs associated with a knock-down rebuild.
These four estates provide a streamlined way to build your ideal home while still keeping the city within easy reach – with peak-hour commutes clocking in at less than half an hour.
Here are four estates where you can build from the ground up and still make it to Adelaide’s CBD in 30 minutes.
Build your dream home and also get a dream commute? In Adelaide, it's possible.
On course: Oakden Rise, Oakden
- Drive time to city: 20–25 minutes
- Public transport: About 10 minutes to Paradise Interchange, with O-Bahn buses running to the city in around 15 minutes
Oakden Rise sits just 10km northeast of the city on the former Oakden golf course. It’s being reimagined as a master-planned community of tree-lined streets, landscaped parks, playgrounds and open spaces. The estate offers a mix of land sizes, with options to suit buyers at different life stages.
Oakden itself is already a well-established suburb with schools, shops and cafés nearby, plus Tea Tree Plaza for major retail just up the road. Its median house price is $797,700, increasing by a robust 10% in the past year, PropTrack data shows.
The O-Bahn connection is a major drawcard, bypassing traffic and getting commuters into the CBD faster than many inner suburbs.
Image: realestate.com.au
To the river: Riverscape, Paralowie
- Drive time to city: 25–28 minutes to the CBD
- Public transport: Parafield Station is a seven-minute drive away, with a 22-minute train trip into Adelaide Station
Set along the Little Para River, Riverscape makes the most of its natural surrounds with walking and cycling trails that link into nearby reserves. The estate itself is designed with community in mind, including playgrounds, parks and shared spaces.
Paralowie, in Adelaide’s north, is about 19km from the city and has seen an 11.7% surge in its median house price in the past year – taking it to $675,000.
The suburb has established schools, shops and services, and its proximity to the Northern Connector provides straightforward access to other parts of Adelaide.
For those who prefer public transport, the train from Parafield Station offers a direct 22-minute run into the CBD.
Image: realestate.com.au
By the sea: Fort Largs, Taperoo
- Drive time to the city: 25-28 minutes
- Public transport: Taperoo Station is a three-minute drive away, with a 25-minute train into Adelaide Station
Fort Largs offers a rare opportunity to live by the beach in a brand-new community. The estate is transforming a historic site into a modern coastal neighbourhood, blending heritage elements with contemporary housing.
With direct access to Taperoo Beach, residents can enjoy the sand and sea every day while still living within easy reach of the CBD.
Taperoo sits between Port Adelaide and Semaphore, giving locals the best of both worlds: a growing hub of cafés and restaurants in one direction, and a buzzing seaside strip in the other. Schools, shops and community facilities are also close by.
Its median house price is $687,745, an increase of 5% in the past year, PropTrack data shows.
For those chasing a coastal lifestyle, Fort Largs offers the chance to build a modern home from the ground up.
Image: realestate.com.au
Lake side: Novo, West Lakes
- Drive time to the city: 20-25 minutes
- Public transport: Seaton Park Station is about a five-minute drive, with a 20-minute train trip into Adelaide Station
In the heart of West Lakes, Novo is bringing new life to one of Adelaide’s most in-demand suburbs. Designed with tree-lined streets, reserves and playgrounds, it offers both lifestyle appeal and the flexibility of building your own home.
West Lakes is already highly sought-after thanks to its lakeside living, major shopping centre, nearby beaches and sporting facilities.
The suburb’s median house price has surged by 7% in the past year to $1,250,000.
Novo is adding more supply to one of the city's most popular suburbs. Image: realestate.com.au
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