Hawke's Bay

What does Hawke’s Bay have to offer?

Hawke’s Bay is a magnet for visitors, drawn by its many iconic events: Art Deco, music, wine, and food festivals for a start. Napier’s world famous for having the largest collection of original art deco buildings in the world; they sprang up after the disastrous 1931 earthquake and have defined Napier ever since. Neighbouring Hastings is best known for its fruit growing and boutique food production, and the weekly Farmers’ Market, one of the best in the country. Here you can buy oh-so-fresh fruit and vegetables and delicious foodie treats, while munching a bacon butty and sipping a flat white. Hastings is also a winemaking centre, with historic and newer vineyards, which extend out to Havelock North.

With the three centres clustered together in the Bay, you’ll never be short of things to do. All three have their own bustling shopping centres. You’ll find theatres, libraries and other civic amenities, as well as clubs to join. The Bay’s known for its foodie culture, so there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to try out and vineyards to visit. If you’re an active retiree, there are cycle trails, golf courses, beach walks, and of course the gannet colony to visit.

Our website is all you need to get you started on finding your retirement lifestyle, whether you’re retiring locally, moving in from the country, or thinking of moving to the Bay after enjoying holiday visits over the years. We can help you explore options, so click through and get started now on finding your new home.

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.