Attached to a Japanese-style home, this coastal garden in Lennox Head features predominantly native plantings. “The climate up here is perfect for that – everything you put in the ground grows really well, including all of the banksia and flowering blueberry ash trees that we planted,” says the homeowner.

Surrounded by tropical plantings and eucalyptus timber fencing, this outdoor shower enjoys a sense of leafy privacy from the rest of the garden. Crazy paving and a hardwood deck add to the coastal aesthetic of the space.

Ornamental grass, blue flax lily and licorice plant feature in this award-winning beachfront garden in Sydney. “We wanted a garden that reflected the home’s Cape Cod style, but with modern elements and structure, coastal and native in feel, with places to pause,” says one of the owners.

Blurring the borders between sea, sky and earth, this cliffside garden delivers intimate, meditative spaces to enjoy the ocean views. Plunging 12 metres from street level to the bottom boundary, the garden is planted with an array of succulents and natives that are equipped to handle the wind.

Clipped plantings of Elaeagnus pungens, Gardenia augusta ‘Florida’ and Alternanthera dentata line a curving sandstone pathway in this gracious, shady garden. On the cliff side, however, a tougher side emerges with coastal plantings that can weather the harsh coastal conditions.

At the southern tip of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula sits a cacti-studded contemporary garden. Mixing hardy Australian natives with South American, South African and Mediterranean species, it’s a wonderful, vibrant botanical fusion perfectly suited to dry, harsh climates.

In this garden in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, a day bed fronted in spotted gum and a variety of tropical plantings, including birds of paradise and kentia palms, create a resort-style feel and plenty of shade.

Simple materials and thoughtful plant choices create a relaxed feel in this beachside garden in Sydney. Contained within concrete garden beds are Parthenocissus tricuspidata, Heliotropium arborescens, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’ and Helichrysum petiolare ‘Limelight’.

This garden on New Zealand’s Banks Peninsula seamlessly blends in with the surrounding landscape. Planting is kept to a minimum, with Astelia ‘Silver Spears’ and colourful, low-growing shrubs maintaining the all-embracing ocean views.

Sandstone steps lead down to the boat shed and firepit of this Sydney home built on a sloping site. The garden, which was designed by William Dangar and installed by Redefine Landscape Design, features a selection of robust, low-maintenance plants to suit the coastal location.

Idyllically situated above the water, this modern garden brought to life by Michael Cooke of Michael Cooke Garden Design blends soft yet hardy plantings with a tough mix of materials that embrace the salty sea air.

Underplanted with jasmine, these mature subtropical aloe trees create a sculptural statement in this William Dangar-designed garden.

The Aussie bush meets the beach in this Sydney garden full of native plantings. “We introduced a mix of native and exotic species to tie in with both the local area and with the existing trees, while keeping it all low maintenance,” says Matt Leacy of Landart Landscapes. A succulent bowl adds an element of drama to the flourishing garden beds.

This Sydney garden designed by Lyndall Keating of Garden Society has been elevated in more ways than one, with a mix of circular lawn, modern coastal planting and a wonderful palette of silver and green spilling over each level.

Coastal rosemary, blue chalk sticks and kidney weed flank a path of recycled railway sleepers weaving their way down to the back fence of this Mornington Peninsula garden.