Retiring Near Hamilton: Why Waikato Retirees Look Beyond the City

Most people looking at retirement villages start with what's in Hamilton. That makes sense. It's familiar, you already know your way around. Fewer people look an hour further out, mainly because nobody's told them what changes if they do.

At Longridge, in Paeroa, what changes is space. Our villas sit on 60 acres, with paddocks and open sky around them instead of a fence six feet from the neighbour's. Some villas are standalone, some are duplexes, but even the duplexes have real distance between them and the next home.

What your money buys

Villas at Longridge start from $755,000 for a two bedroom with a study, up to $1,199,000 for our largest three bedroom. Every villa is single level, and every one looks out towards the Coromandel Ranges rather than a neighbour's fence.

No two villas look quite the same. We vary the outside finishes, the sizes, the elevation, from villa to villa, and the site itself does some of the work too, one home looks out over cows in the paddock next door, another has a wide garden, another catches the best of the afternoon light. Residents can add their own touches too, a gazebo, pots on the patio, a garden shaped the way they want it.

An hour from Hamilton

Paeroa is about an hour from Hamilton, via State Highway 26 through Morrinsville and Te Aroha. Close enough for someone to come for lunch on a Sunday and be home by the afternoon. Close enough to get to a hospital appointment, or watch a grandchild play sport, without losing the whole day to it.

"Paeroa is central to a lot of different communities, an hour from Bombay, Hamilton and Tirau, half an hour to Thames, Waihi and Te Aroha. I love it here." Dianne, Longridge resident

For residents who'd rather not drive themselves, the village has its own van for outings and trips into town.

Life in Paeroa

Paeroa has its own supermarket, so the basics are close by. The main street has real character too, antique shops, record stores, designer homewares, and cafes with a genuine reputation for good food. For a bigger shop, Thames is half an hour away with plenty of larger stores.

Paeroa has GP services locally, and Thames Hospital is just half an hour away.

Longridge runs a weekly barista and a Thursday happy hour, both complimentary, along with regular outings in the village van. Neighbours who actually know your name replace the anonymity of a city street fairly quickly.

Visit Longridge

Longridge is at 44 Waimarei Avenue, Paeroa. We're open weekdays 10am to 3pm, and weekends by appointment. Call 0800 928 928 or book a visit, or read more on our page for those considering a retirement village near Hamilton.