Retire to Greymouth in New Zealand
Written by Robert A. Stewart
Where would you like to retire in New Zealand if you had the choice?
How about Greymouth on the South Island’s West Coast?
It is a town of some 10,000+ residents, Greymouth is the largest town on the West Coast. It has all of the facilities of similar sized towns and more.
The best part of Greymouth to go searching for a house are Karoro, South Beach, and Paroa. These areas don’t have the problem of crime as others, and are not as cold as the centre of town.
Cobden bears the brunt of the easterly wind roaring down the Grey River, Coal Creek and Kaiata suffer from flooding now and again, and Blaketown gets the faces the strong westerly winds.
As for public transport, Greymouth is well-served by taxis, which includes a service to Hokitika airport, 26 miles away.
If you are keen to travel further afield, Greymouth is the only town on the West Coast with a train station. The world famous Tranzalpine is among one of the best train journeys in the world. It has to be on your bucket list. The train leaves Greymouth at 2pm arriving in Christchurch at around 6pm. It leaves Christchurch at 8 in the morning.
There are daily bus services to Nelson and Christchurch. Check with the ladies at the train station for time tables and brochures.
So what is there to do in Greymouth?
Heaps if you are an outdoor person who enjoys fishing, hunting, tramping, cycling, and other outdoor activities.
The West Coast has lots of cycle trails and bush walks for those who feel energetic. The newest one is the Blackball to Punakaiki track, named, “The Paparoa Track.” This is by no means the only one. Ask at your local tourist information Centre for further information on these.
The climate on the West Coast is mild compared to other parts of New Zealand. In August 2019, Greymouth had snow for the first time since 1995. It was a novelty for the locals. That does not mean that other parts of the West Coast does not receive snow. Otira on the Western side of the Southern Alps receives it’s share of snow every winter. In fact, roads between Christchurch and Greymouth can be impassable for those without chains during periods of heavy snowfall.
Some of the small communities outside of Greymouth possess their own unique charm which makes them ideal for the retirees. Runanga, five miles north of Greymouth, Omoto just east of Greymouth, and Taylorville are all nice spots. Seaside places such as Rapahoe and Punakaiki further up the road are prone to erosion and will continue to cause headaches for those who own properties in these areas. Thought you should be warned.
Many of the high street retailers have a store in Greymouth; these include The Warehouse. Countdown Supermarket, Noel Leeming, Paper Plus, and others. The town has a wide range of cafes, restaurants, and fast foods outlets, while all of the major banks have a branch in the town.
WIFI is available throughout the town and there is FREE internet access at the public library.
Before making a commitment to retire to Greymouth it would pay to visit the town for a week or two to get the feel of the area. You won’t be disappointed.
There is an American magazine called “Retire,” it has articles on the best places around the world to retire. You can obtain a copy here: