Canterbury

Why choose a retirement village in Canterbury?

Canterbury offers one of the largest choices of retirement living anywhere in New Zealand. Even the city of Christchurch has so many options: the leafy suburbs of Merivale and Fendalton, the bustle of Riccarton and Papanui, or the relaxed feel of beachside Sumner. Close by there’s the new and growing satellite town of Rolleston in the Selwyn district, with its roots in the country but a distinctly modern urban feeling as well. Slightly further afield you’ll find Akaroa, with its French aura, quaint architecture, and beautiful beachside atmosphere, or Kaiapoi, famous for its historic woollen mills. And just to add to your difficulty choosing, there’s the long-established provincial Canterbury towns of Amberley, Ashburton and Rangiora.

This region has it all. Christchurch offers all the city amenities: a phoenix still rising from the ashes of its earthquakes, you’ll find contemporary architecture and sustainable design alongside traditional design, and a sense of resilience and purpose winding through the city like the River Avon. You’ll find everything you could want: shopping and dining precincts, a state-of-the-art city library, theatre and concerts, and sporting fixtures. Many of these are also thriving in the vibrant suburbs as well, seeded there after the earthquakes.

The provincial towns also have plenty to offer. Hot, dry summers and cool, crisp winters characterise Canterbury, as do the flat expanses of the Canterbury Plains and the ever-present silhouette of the Southern Alps on the horizon. Across the region, you can choose from villas and townhouses or apartments, lifestyle villages or those with care facilities as well.