There are lots of beautiful places to retire in New Zealand, but one destination in particular stands out from the rest. Tauranga’s main attractions are its stunning beaches and sunny weather. Throw in its relaxed lifestyle and access to some fantastic amenities, and it’s easy to see why this city is New Zealand’s most popular retirement hotspot.
Tauranga has the highest percentage of residents aged over 65 years, with 18% of the population retired.
If you would like to join the ranks, our guide can help you find a retirement village that you’ll love.
From the laid-back inner-city to the sun-drenched beaches of Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa, retiring in Tauranga means that you don’t really have to compromise on well ... anything!
Tauranga boasts a warm community and a more relaxed pace of life. Its active retired population means that it’s a designated Age-Friendly City. Retiring here can make it easier to find new friends and stay engaged as you age.
Even in a country of many beautiful beaches, the Bay of Plenty really does stand out. Golden sandy beaches, warm seas and a temperate climate make this an easy place to live at all times of year.
With a growing senior population, the city's retirement infrastructure is rapidly expanding to match its service requirements. Tauranga has a range of great public and private hospitals, specialised aged care facilities, and local medical centres.
Tauranga and the suburbs like Papamoa have all the amenities that you need, including excellent shops, cafés, and restaurants, local theatres, galleries and community hubs. Retiring in Tauranga means you don’t have to give up some of the big city elements that you may love.
Before choosing a retirement village in Tauranga, it’s important to think about what matters to you. The levels of care, facilities and activities on offer at the place you choose can have a big impact on your day-to-day life.
Here are some practical terms you should understand before you choose a village:
Image source: Carmel Country Estate Retirement Village Facebook page
Carmel Country Estate Retirement Village is situated in the tranquil Ohauiti suburb of Tauranga, just ten minutes from downtown Tauranga.
It’s highly regarded for its independent living setup. As a finalist in the Best Retirement/Lifestyle Village (Medium/Large) awards for five consecutive years (2019-2023), its residents think so too.
This estate is ideally suited if you're an active over-55-year-old who values an independent, spacious, and low-density lifestyle within a secure community. It’s a perfect choice if you value privacy and space, with easy access to the outdoors and amenities in downtown Tauranga.
What’s more, residents can personalise their new home with choices in kitchen design, cabinetry, flooring, and even custom additions like sunrooms or extra parking.
Carmel Country Estate is an independent lifestyle village designed with residents’ comfort and safety in mind.
While a full continuum of care is not explicitly mentioned on-site, the village focuses on providing safety and security features, as well as a supportive environment for residents to live independently.
Kempton Park is a lifestyle village located in Bethlehem, Tauranga, and is only a 20-minute drive from Mount Maunganui Beach. With a total of 54 private, resident-owned villas, it operates a unique model that allows residents to retain the capital gains on their homes.
The village has been a finalist in the Best Small Retirement/Lifestyle Village in the North Island for 2023 and 2024.
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This village is uniquely suited if you’re an active over-60-year-old who wants a long-term investment in their retirement. It's also ideal if you value a friendly, smaller community with easy access to the beach, everyday amenities, health providers, and public transport.
Kempton Park operates an independent living model with on-site management for additional support. The village is effectively owned by its residents through a non-profit trust. Residents serve as trustees and manage daily operations, with additional support from the Karaka Pines team.
As the village does not offer hospital, rest home, or dedicated serviced apartment care on-site, it’s best suited for those seeking a purely independent lifestyle.
Ocean Shores Village is part of the Arvida Group's 'Living Well Communities’. It offers residents an established, resort-style living experience in the highly sought-after suburb of Mount Maunganui.
Ocean Shores is ideal if you’re seeking a coastal, beachside lifestyle offering active seniors fitness and outdoor activities. The village features resort-style amenities within their retirement community. You'll also have access to a continuum of care if their needs change.
With a fixed weekly fee and a clearly defined exit model in place, residents have full security of their finances.
Ocean Shores focuses on independent living, but is built on Arvida's framework of future-proofing residents' needs. That means that both villas and apartments are designed for a low-maintenance, secure lifestyle.
Residents have priority access to Arvida care suites. This includes a rest home, hospital or dementia care, either within the village or at a nearby Arvida facility.
Run by Oceania Healthcare, The Bayview Retirement Village is situated on a 15-acre elevated park-like site in Judea. The village is known for its stunning views of the harbour and Mount Maunganui, and is highly rated by residents for its caring staff and strong sense of community.
It offers a blend of independent living villas, cottages, and apartments, alongside high-level care services on site.
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The Bayview is an excellent option if you want an established, resort-style lifestyle surrounded by large park-like grounds and fantastic views. It’s also a great option for those who want to future-proof their residency. With a full continuum of care on site, residents can move into their rest home or hospital if needed.
The Bayview provides a true continuum of care. Residents can age in place within the familiar environment of the village.
All villas and apartments are low-maintenance, secure, and covered by the village's general upkeep, while care services are provided in modern, comfortable care suites.
Bethlehem Shores is an Arvida Living Well Community sitting on 61 acres in Bethlehem. The village is an attractive option for its stunning harbour views, high-quality, sustainable construction and its commitment to living well.
Bethlehem Shores complements 273 existing villas with a major new development of 53 luxury apartments, and a 60-bed care and specialist dementia unit.
It’s a large retirement village, but perfectly suited to people who desire a luxury, coastal lifestyle with water views and on-site continuity of care.
Arvida provides a complete continuum of care facilities. They make transferring between independent units, serviced apartments, or care suites easy within or between Arvida communities.
The village is being completed with a new care centre, which will include rest home care, hospital-level care, as well as specialist dementia care (in a secure unit).
There are also unique financial security measures in place for its residents.
A Metlifecare-operated facility, Bay Sands Village is a premier retirement community located in the highly sought-after coastal suburb of Mount Maunganui.
The village offers a full continuum of care, encompassing independent living apartments through to hospital-level care. It is currently undergoing refurbishment and rebuilding to transform it into a modern, resort-style village. The village offers the security of a full continuum of care available on-site.
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Bay Sands is an excellent option if you’re looking for a high-quality, resort-style apartment lifestyle. It’s also ideal if you value living in a prime location. Close to Mount Maunganui’s beach and retail amenities, it has everything you need nearby.
The village is designed to promote an active, social, and healthy lifestyle, with many facilities being recently refurbished or rebuilt.
Metlifecare provides a full spectrum of care, ensuring residents can live independently with the peace of mind that support is readily available if their needs change. This includes high-quality serviced apartments designed for residents needing extra daily assistance.
The village also operates a care centre offering a transition to Rest Home Care and hospital-level care.
Image source: Althorp Lifestyle Village Facebook page
Althorp Village is an independently owned community set on 10 hectares in Pyes Pa, Tauranga. Owned by the Church and Munro families, the directors maintain a hands-on approach for residents and a full spectrum of living options.
With a range of dwellings, from villas and townhouses to apartments, residents can choose from fully independent homes to assisted living. There's a rest home on-site and access to the Radius Althorp Private Hospital nearby when a high level of care is needed.
Althorp Village is perfectly suited for retirees seeking an independently-owned and operated residence. It’s also a great fit if you’re seeking a large, active community. With a range of accommodation options, residents can choose from small townhouses to large three-bedroom villas and luxury apartments.
Althorp Village provides a framework of care and security services for all residents, including security features (all independent units feature St John emergency call buttons, securely lockable doors and windows, and benefit from Security patrols).
They also offer assisted living and on-site services, including meal deliveries and a Village van for transportation.
Copper Crest is an established, high-quality retirement village in the Bay of Plenty operated under the Arvida Living Well Community banner.
It’s known for its strong community spirit, beautiful grounds, and extensive premium facilities, offering a full continuum of care from independent living through to specialised dementia care, all on one site. Not to mention, residents enjoy stunning views over the surrounding area.
Copper Crest is an excellent option for retirees requiring easy access to Tauranga city services, with the added vantage of panoramic views and beautiful surroundings. Its premium range of resort-style facilities makes it a good fit for retirees who want to stay active and value ‘living well’.
Copper Crest offers comprehensive care services, providing residents with security and the ability to age in place. Their accommodation options include serviced apartments for those needing extra daily assistance.
The full care model means residents transition into rest home care, hospital care, and special dementia care when needed.
The Vines at Bethlehem offers refined living for those who value comfort, connection, and a superb location. It is set on the site of the former Mills Reef Winery, with the iconic building serving as the village Clubhouse.
Operated by Classic Life (part of the Classic Group), the village provides a secure and gated community with newly built villas and resort-style facilities. The atmosphere is designed to feel both welcoming and sophisticated, with beautifully landscaped grounds and a strong community that continues to grow.
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The Vines is ideally suited for retirees who desire the peace of a low-density environment but value luxury living in a secure gated community. Designed for independent living, the Vines is the perfect environment if you want to slow down on property maintenance, free up some time and enjoy a strong social community.
The village is structured as a lifestyle community, focusing on enabling residents to maintain independence for as long as possible. At the heart of the vines is the spectacular clubhouse, designed for social gatherings.
Around the village, the homes are designed for easy mobility, maintenance and gardening, supporting residents’ independent living.
While there is no on-site continuum of care, managers can work with residents to make modifications to their villa if needed.
Pacific Lakes Village is the first sustainable development by Generus Living. Created to redefine retirement living as a luxurious lakeside resort, it is perfectly located on the cusp of Mount Maunganui and Papamoa.
The village is built around a system of tranquil lakes and boardwalks, fostering a deep connection with nature and prioritising resident wellbeing. The architecturally designed, eco-friendly homes feature internal-access garages, designer kitchens, heat pumps, double glazing, underfloor heating, and are pre-wired for solar.
The village is built for independent living, but residents have the future security of preferred access to a full continuum of care at the nearby sister village, Pacific Coast.
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Pacific Lakes is an ideal choice for active retirees who value sustainability and eco-conscious living, with a preference for solar power, communal gardens, and reducing their environmental footprint.
The lakeside, resort-style environment is also a great choice for those who love staying active or want access to nature, walking trails, and low-impact outdoor activities.
Pacific Lakes is designed primarily for independent living, but connects residents with comprehensive care through its sister village.
At the village, homes feature an advanced 24-hour emergency call system with multiple call points. Services like physiotherapy and health monitoring are available by appointment at the wellness centre.
They also offer serviced apartments for assisted living.
Retiring in Tauranga has a wealth of upsides. From maintaining an active lifestyle to enjoying the social aspect of living in New Zealand’s largest retirement hotspot, Tauranga offers plenty of premium retirement villages to choose from.
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