Where’s the best place to retire in New Zealand?

Should you move to the big city, where medical care is close but you’ve got the potential for noisy neighbours? What about a rural block, with fresh air and privacy, but a huge garden to care for? Or maybe you’ve always dreamed of sitting and watching the waves, an ever-changing landscape.

Every person is different; but where is the best place in NZ to retire to?

A Bustling, Buzzing, Big City

There’s a lot that the big smoke can offer retirees. Convenience of healthcare, shopping, and entertainment. Small apartments are low maintenance and your neighbours are close by for support and friendship. There’s no garden, maybe just a small terrace with a few potted plants and a nice space to read books and drink coffee. There’s public transport, public parks, art galleries, museums, walkways, gyms, and every convenience possible.

Larger cities also have a diversity of housing options; apartments, standalone homes, or beautiful retirement villages.

Auckland, the City of Sails

NZ’s biggest city Auckland is great for retirees– you don’t need to worry about traffic as you can travel off-peak when retired; there’s no need to travel at 8 am or 5 pm any more.

It’s a diverse city, with a third of NZ’s entire population. Lots of immigrants and students means a bustling culture, with major concerts and arts performances, and a thriving dining scene to suit all tastes and budgets. It’s NZ’s main airport, making travel internationally a lot easier. The climate is comfortable (if not erring towards wet).

Wellington, Passes the Vibe Check

If beer, coffee, art, and alternative lifestyles have been part of your adult life, then retiring to Wellington makes sense. It helps if you also enjoy a bracing breeze regularly. There’s a strong culture of art, theatre, and film here, and that leads to a lot of beautiful food too.

Walks or runs along the harbour, surfing, sailing, walks in the steep green hills, and a close international airport make this a very liveable city.

Christchurch, The Old City

Christchurch might have a lot of new infrastructure, homes, and buildings due to the earthquakes, but it still has the demeanor of a stately old city. The Avon winds its way through the central business district, through a lively central city with loads of cafés, a beautiful library that you could easily spend an entire day in, and Hagley Park.

It’s a cycling city, easy for a retiree to stay fit in, with plenty of places like Hamner Springs and Akaroa within a few hour’s drive. The climate is great, with sub-zero frosts in winter, and wild hot nor-wester days in summer.

Dunedin, Gothic Charm and Students

With a cooler climate but a warmer heart, Dunedin is ideal for those wanting the convenience of a city but wanting to live in a more remote location. With plenty of parallels to Edinburgh, Dunedin is reminiscent of Scotland, including the morose weather.

Close to the wine area of Central Otago, the wilderness of the Catlins, and plenty to do in the town itself, it’s out of the box for those who don’t mind a chilly winter.

Coastal Living for the Relaxed Lifestyle

If beach walks, surfing, fishing, and boating are part of your retirement plan, then a coastal home is where you need to be. Find a cosy bach you can comfortably live in, with easy access to healthcare, and you’re living the dream.

The Subtropical Far North – Whangarei

Warm weather year-round and affordable housing make the Far North a popular retirement destination. Enjoy leisurely lunches in the town beside the marina, and take full advantage of the beautiful surroundings for walks, fishing, and other recreation. It’s also a gardener’s paradise, with a temperate climate that makes growing plants easy.

The Retirement Capital of NZ – Tauranga

With beautiful beaches and in a central location with great weather, Tauranga has become a village for retirees. While the property is expensive, it’s cheaper than Auckland, and you’ll be sure to find like-minded friends.

Hawke’s Bay for Fruit, Wine, and Art Deco

There’s so much to do in this warm, sunny region. Art Deco is what the town is known for, and a thriving arts community. There are easy cycle networks, lots of bars and cafes, and a lovely laid-back culture.

Nelson for the Creatives

Sunshine, wine, an idyllic lifestyle, and wineries and breweries galore make this a holiday destination—but also ideal for retirement. Take up tramping and walk the Heaphy and Abel Tasman every year to stay fit.

The Country Life for Peace, Freedom, and a Massive Garden

If you’ve always wanted to retire with a goat, an alpaca, a highland coo, and 15 chickens, then this will be living the dream. Live off the grid with a mixed garden, an on-site orchard, and solar panels. It’s far from medical care and support systems, but if you’re fit and healthy, this is a great option.

Lush Kerikeri in the Lush Far North

The climate here, plus fertile soil, makes growing produce a breeze. You’re close to forests, the sea, and only half a second from that lawn chair with a wine.

Cambridge, Like an English Country Garden

A quaint town with tree-lined streets, this is smack-dab in the middle of Diary Farming Central. In a bustling farming town, you’ll be able to find someone to have a yarn with about the weather.

Central Otago for Views, Lifestyle, and Peace

Far from the bustle of the city, you’ll find the desolate landscape of Central Otago. Don’t let that fool you though; it’s hospitable and can grow an impressive garden. The winters are cold and the summers are hot, but the wine is refreshing and you can feel the serenity everywhere.