Wellington

Why choose a retirement village in Wellington?

Looking for choices in retirement lifestyles? Wellington, Hutt Valley, and the seaside towns along the Kāpiti Coast offer plenty of enticing options.

The established retirement villages based in Wellington’s city suburbs are an easy train or bus ride from all our capital city has to offer: cafes and restaurants, museums and galleries, sports and theatre events, high street shopping, bush walks and cycleways. Take the cable car up to Kelburn and amble down through the botanic gardens or eat your picnic lunch in the grounds of Parliament while MP-spotting. This region also gives you easy access to the Hutt Valley and the Kāpiti Coast.

Speaking of which, good days are abound on the sunny Kāpiti coast, where you’ll find a wide choice of villages and activities. Enjoy a relaxed coastal lifestyle – there’s all the usual amenities, plus kilometres of sheltered sandy beach to explore with the grandchildren, and bush walks in the hills.

The Hutt Valley nestles between two ranges of protecting hills, with the Hutt River-Te Awa Kairangi snaking its way through the valley. The climate is kinder than Wellington’s; it’s usually two or three degrees warmer, as evidenced by the roses and leafy streets for which the area is known. Here, you’re still an easy drive or train trip away from all the city bustle of Wellington, so you can have the best of both worlds.

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.