Lakes

Why choose a retirement village in the Lakes district?

It’s easy to think this region is all for the adventure tourists and families on holiday. But look more closely and you’ll find plenty of happy retirement village residents living life to the fullest and enjoying all the activities and amenities on offer here.

If you’re a keen angler or boatie, Taupō or Tūrangi will already be your El Dorado, and you probably have plenty of happy holiday snaps to prove that. Perhaps you also have nostalgic memories of school holiday visits to Rotorua and the hot pools. Here’s the thing: those hot pools are pretty attractive for soaking in during the region’s crisp winters, or after a competitive game of golf or bowls. This is a region with plenty to do for the active retiree: it has an extensive network of walking and cycle trails, plus the usual golf courses and bowling clubs. And there’s always activities for the grandchildren – they’ll be keen to come for the school holidays and enjoy the luge or zorbing, or bike riding in the mighty Whakarewarewa Forest.

There’s plenty of clubs and interest groups on offer across this region, so you’ll find something new to take up or an old favourite pastime happening either in the community or in the retirement village you choose.

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.