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Central Otago

There are 9 retirement villages in Central Otago. You’ll find surprising variety in the region – from the laid-back, country towns of Clyde, Cromwell and Alexandra, to the lakes and alpine lifestyle of Queenstown and Wānaka. So too will you find a diverse array of retirement villages options, including some new and up-and-coming developments.

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Villages in Central Otago

Showing 6 of 9 results.

Primary photo of Golden View Lifestyle Village
Visitors as usual (but not if you’re unwell or recently returned from overseas)

Retirement Village
  • 14 Kanuka Drive
  • Cromwell
  • Cromwell
Vacancy: -
Primary photo of Aurum on Clutha

Retirement Village
  • 74 Mutton Town Road
  • Clyde
  • Clyde
Vacancy: Yes
Primary photo of Arrowtown Lifestyle Village

Retirement Village
  • 224 McDonnell Road
  • Arrowtown
  • Queenstown
Vacancy: Yes
Primary photo of Ripponburn Home and Hospital
Visitors as usual (but not if you’re unwell or recently returned from overseas)

Retirement Village
  • 94 Kawarau Gorge Road
  • RD2
  • Cromwell
Vacancy: -
Primary photo of Wanaka Retirement Village (a Presbyterian Support Otago Enliven village)
Visitors as usual (but not if you’re unwell or recently returned from overseas)

Retirement Village
  • 7 Meadowstone Drive
  • Wanaka
  • Wanaka
Vacancy: -
Primary photo of Aspiring Village

Retirement Village
  • 14 Golf Course Road
  • Wanaka
  • Wanaka
Vacancy: Yes

Why choose a retirement village in Central Otago?

While the 1860s lured many hopeful gold miners to the region, Central Otago is just as attractive these days if you’re looking for a diverse region to spend your retirement years.

For those seeking outdoor adventure, Queenstown and Wānaka offer just that. From Queenstown’s four world-class ski fields to the numerous mountain bike trails of Sticky Forest in Wānaka, this region is definitely for those who don’t want retirement to slow them down!

Heading inland to Central Otago, you’ll find lifestyle villages, some with care options as well, in Arrowtown, Wanaka and Cromwell. You can enjoy closeness to nature and a bit of history too with walks through early goldmining areas or cycles along the Central Otago rail trail.

Whether golf, skiing, cycling or tramping is your passion, this is the place for it. Or enjoy the beautiful scenery from indoors, curled up by a crackling fire with a good book!

No matter your choice, this region offers a variety of options – from the long established to brand new, modern facilities – where you can experience the community spirit and ‘lock and leave’ lifestyle of village life.

What Retirement Villages have to offer

Thumbs up for Retirement Villages

A retirement village is a community specially built to cater for the needs and lifestyle of older people. Choosing to live in a retirement village can be a great option for those wanting to maintain their independence while living among a like-minded community of people.

Research shows most people enjoy a high level of satisfaction when living in a lifestyle or retirement village. For residents, the benefits can be numerous; these may include giving you peace of mind, new and varied activities and interests, new friendships, and time to be able to spend on the things you most enjoy.

Villages vary greatly – you’ll notice different-sized villages, from very few units to some with hundreds; different types of units within the same complex; newer villages and older villages. You will discover the community offering a wide range such as swimming pool, bowling green and café. Eligibility age differs across villages too – some villages may allow residents to enter at 55 while others commonly have an entry age between 65 and 75.

As well as providing a range of different accommodation options, many villages now offer alternatives, such as care suites, which combine village offerings and residential care components. Make sure you visit a village more than once before you make a decision, and if possible visit more than one village to get a feel for how each has its own culture.

When you are ready to visit some retirement villages, our checklist may help you with your assessment.

All about Retirement Villages

A retirement village is a community specially built to cater towards the needs and lifestyles of older people. Many retirement villages offer units, villas, suites, or serviced suites. This gives you the option to choose to live independently within the village environment or to get extra help with cleaning or meal delivery.

Retirement villages
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What is the Retirement Villages Code of Practice?

This Retirement Villages Code of Practice establishes minimum requirements that retirement village operators must comply with to meet their legal obligations in New Zealand. These include some occupation right agreement terms and different types of policies an operator must have. Areas covered under this code include: Staffing of retirement villages...

Retirement villages
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What is a Disclosure Statement?

A Disclosure Statement is one of the documents you will receive if you intend to ‘purchase’ into a village (alongside an Occupation Right Agreement or ORA). A Disclosure Statement is an important document to read and understand, as it explains the key information about moving to a village, including the...

Retirement villages
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Looking for a retirement village property? Consider this

Retirement villages in New Zealand offer a wide range of accommodation options, including villas, townhouses, apartments, and studios. Remember – this is your home, so whichever you choice it has to suit your lifestyle. Here are some questions to ask any potential retirement: Your dwelling Does the size/layout of the...

Retirement villages
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Mythbusting - Retirement Villages are a rip off

You might have heard that people lose a lot of money when they move into a Retirement Village, or that entering a village is a ‘rip off’. We have found that people that make those kinds of statements usually do not understand how the unique financial agreements work when entering...

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