What Surprises People Most When They Visit Longridge
- Longridge Country Estate
- 13 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 minutes ago
We hear the same thing from almost everyone who comes to see Longridge for the first time:
“This is not what we expected.”
A lot of people tell us they aren’t sure what they’ll find when they drive into Paeroa. The drive in doesn’t give much away, so plenty of visitors arrive feeling a bit unsure about what the village will actually be like. But once they reach Longridge, the whole feeling shifts. The views open up, the space appears, and people usually say it feels completely different to what they expected.
So, what is it that surprises people most?
Here are the things we hear again and again.
1. How much space there actually is
Longridge sits across 90 acres, and it’s one of the first things people notice.
There’s room to breathe, room to walk, room to live the way you want.
Our Villas aren’t squeezed together. Streets are wide. The Coromandel Ranges sit right there in the background. It feels open and spacious, and for many visitors, that’s completely unexpected.
One couple, Neale and Sue, spent a full year touring 27 retirement villages across the country before choosing Longridge. They told us they’d never seen anything with this much space. Their words, not ours. You can read their testimonial here.
2. The village layout just ‘makes sense’
People often comment on how easy the village is to get around.
No confusing turns. No tight little walkways. No steep surprises.
It feels more like a residential subdivision than a typical retirement village setup.
You can take a quiet walk through the orchards or bike around the village, there’s lots of space wherever you go.
The villas feel more modern and spacious than expected
A lot of visitors walk into a villa and say, “Oh, this is lovely.”
People often tell us the villas feel more modern and more spacious than they expected. The natural light, warmth, wide hallways, and practical layouts make a big difference. Even our smallest villa, the 112m² Hauraki duplex, has two bedrooms, a study nook, a guest toilet, and vaulted ceilings that give it a real sense of space.
4. The community is welcoming without being in your pocket
People expect one extreme or the other, either it’s too quiet or too busy.
But Longridge tends to land right in the sweet spot. Residents wave, chat, and look out for each other, but everyone values their privacy and downtime.
Visitors often tell us it’s the first village where they’ve actually felt the atmosphere, rather than being shown a list of amenities on paper.
5. The “Yes Village” approach makes a real difference
Almost every visit includes the same question:
“Can I bring my…?”
Pet? Campervan? Tools? Garden?
Pergola? Friends? Family for the weekend?
At most villages, the answer is usually complicated. At Longridge, the answer is usually yes.
People love hearing this. It’s often the moment you see their shoulders drop.
6. The value, especially compared to city living
Plenty of Aucklanders, Tauranga locals, and Hamilton families visit us.
The most common comment is:
“You’d never get this size home, on this much land, for this price anywhere near the city.”
Even Neale and Sue who toured 27 retirement villages said Longridge felt like “the best balance of space, quality, and cost” they’d seen.
7. The feeling people get once they arrive
The biggest surprise, and the one we hear the most, is the feeling.
People say Longridge just feels good to be in.
Open, peaceful, and friendly in that down to earth way you get in communities like ours.
Many visitors say they didn’t expect to feel that straight away.
See it for yourself
Every visitor sees something different, but most walk away saying the same thing.
“We weren’t expecting this.”
If you’d like to come and have a look around, we’re always happy to show you our village.
You don’t need to wait for an Open Day. Just book a time that suits. Or call us on 0800 928 928.
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