If you want to live near the sea, close enough to hear the surf, then Arvida’s Ocean Shores in Mount Maunganui is the over-65s community you’re looking for. Living in an apartment or villa, you’ll be just 300 metres from one of New Zealand’s best surf beaches. Enticing family and friends to visit will be easy, because they’ll love the idea of catching up with you and enjoying a beach holiday at the same time.

Within its extensive grounds, Ocean Shores is a self-contained paradise. The community centre includes a café, gym, indoor heated swimming pool and spa, craft and hobby room, workshop, beauty salon, library, pool table, bar, dance floor, movie lounge and barbecue area. For sport there’s a choice of indoor and outdoor bowls, table tennis, croquet, pétanque and golf putting. What’s more, Mount Maunganui Golf Club is just along the road and Omanu Golf Club is even closer.

Everyday life at Ocean Shores is super-convenient. Bayfair Shopping Centre is a three-minute drive or 20-minute walk away, and you can drive to the main Mount Maunganui shopping and restaurant area in 10 minutes. Tauranga Airport is also close by, for easy connections to the rest of New Zealand.

Here’s a quick summary of how you can live at Ocean Shores:

Independent living in an apartment:
Ocean Shores has one and two-bedroom apartments, some with a carport. All have an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, plus an outdoor balcony or patio with a view.

Independent living in a villa:
Villas have two or three bedrooms. Some also have a study or conservatory. Larger floorplans include two bathrooms and internal-access garaging. All homes have private garden areas and courtyards. Read less