Retirement Villages Pivot From Pastime To Active Lifestyle

Across New Zealand and Australia, the shift is being driven by people retiring later, staying healthier for longer, and expecting their housing to support an active routine rather than replace one. In practical terms, the “activities programme” is no longer a nice-to-have for brochure copy. It is part of the product, shaping resident satisfaction, staffing models, and the design brief for new developments.

Senior Trust Retirement Village Income Generator (STIG) Executive Director Scott Lester frames it as a demand-side reset. “We are seeing boomers use their housing equity to create the retirement lifestyle they want. For many, it’s about freeing themselves from maintenance, enjoying purpose-built spaces, and staying socially connected,” he says.

From passive pastimes to active routines

Retirement hobbies have always been diverse, but the centre of gravity has moved. What is growing is not a single sport or class, but a cluster of activities that combine fitness, connection, and a sense of progress.

A clear pattern is that the most common forms of activity are accessible and repeatable. In New Zealand, Sport NZ reporting shows walking as a leading activity, alongside swimming, cycling and jogging or running. Australia’s participation data tells a similar story, with walking as the top activity and gym or weight training also ranking high among adults.

Recent AusPlay reporting likewise lists walking, fitness or gym, bush walking, running or jogging and swimming among the most popular activities for Australians.

This matters for retirement living because these activities translate into demand for practical infrastructure: safe walking routes, nearby parks and beaches, pools, small gyms, and spaces that can host classes. It also supports the case for programming that is light-touch but consistent, such as guided walking groups, aqua classes, mobility and strength sessions, and balance-focused formats.

At the lifestyle end of the market, newer hobby lists also lean towards “active, social, and learnable” activities. One recent senior living example includes tai chi, golf, kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, and yoga. The direction aligns with what is appearing in New Zealand marketing and amenity sets, including gyms, pools and wellness spaces.

Why preferences are changing

Several forces sit behind the change.

Health has become an organising principle. Retirees are not only seeking fun. Many are trying to protect mobility, manage chronic conditions, and maintain independence. That pushes demand towards low-impact strength work, balance training, flexibility, and activities that build routine.

Community is now designed, not assumed. People still want connection, but fewer rely on long-standing neighbourhood networks. Retirement living increasingly has to provide the social structure that work once supplied, through classes, clubs, shared meals, and informal spaces that make repeat encounters likely.

Technology has changed how older adults stay connected. It is now easier to maintain friendships and family ties across regions, which supports travel and “lock and go” living. It also means residents can be active consumers of events and groups beyond the village, and expect good digital connectivity as standard.

Purpose is a bigger part of retirement identity. Volunteering remains a key outlet. In New Zealand, people aged 65+ still show high volunteering participation, reported at 54.1% in a summary referencing Stats NZ wellbeing statistics. For villages, this creates opportunities to partner with local charities, schools, hospitals, and environmental groups, and to provide transport and coordination rather than trying to “run” purpose in-house.

“Lock and go” is becoming a baseline expectation

The new activity mix is linked to a housing preference: less maintenance, more freedom. That is where “lock and go” moves from a slogan to a design requirement.

The Grove Orewa, for example, explicitly markets apartments as “a great lock and leave giving you the freedom to travel,” alongside secure access and monitored reception.

Its amenities list also includes gym equipment designed for 55+, personal programmes with a trainer visiting fortnightly, and shared spaces that support casual social time, plus a village van for trips. This is the model in miniature: residents keep autonomy, but the village reduces friction in daily life and makes participation easier.

What we are seeing more of in village design and operations

Across the sector, trend reporting points to “better facilities” aligned to higher lifestyle expectations, with villages more likely to include cafes, pools, gyms, wellness centres, cinemas, hair and beauty, and emerging sport formats such as golf simulators.

As Lester puts it, “Today’s retirees want access to green spaces, cultural activities, and integrated health services, not just accommodation.”

The retirement village stereotype has not vanished, but it is no longer the centre of the story. The newer story is about how people want to live, who they want to do it with, and how housing can remove friction so they can keep moving.

Senior Trust Retirement Village Income Generator Limited is the issuer of the products. The Product Disclosure Statement for the offer is available and can be obtained on our website at www.seniortrust.co.nz