From beachside havens to country escapes, a new global ranking has attempted to crown Australia’s best places to retire. The list is sparking debate over what really makes a great retirement destination.
Where should Australians spend their retirement years?
It’s a question that fires up never-ending conversations around dinner tables, campsites and downsizing plans across the country. Now, WorldAtlas has stepped into the debate with a new ranking of what it believes are Australia’s 11 best retirement towns.
The list spans every mainland state and Tasmania, blending coastal communities, regional centres, country towns and outer-metro suburbs. But while some selections feel instantly familiar, others may leave Australians scratching their heads.
Among the places making the cut were the Mornington Peninsula, Beechworth, Coolum Beach, St Helens and Casula.
WorldAtlas said its rankings considered factors such as healthcare access, affordability, lifestyle offerings, community activities and outdoor recreation.
Some choices make immediate sense.
In Victoria, the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria continues to attract retirees seeking a blend of beaches, wineries, golf courses and proximity to Melbourne’s healthcare network. Beechworth offers the increasingly popular “country town with culture” formula of historic streetscapes, food, festivals and a slower pace without complete isolation.
Tasmania’s St Helens also reflects a growing trend among retirees chasing affordability and lifestyle over major-city convenience, particularly as parts of regional Tassie continue to attract interstate migration.
But other inclusions may divide opinion.
The listing of Casula — a busy suburb in Sydney’s south-west — surprised many, especially when iconic retirement favourites such as Hervey Bay, Port Macquarie, Mandurah and Echuca missed out entirely.
Other retirement-focused rankings published in recent years have leaned more heavily toward affordability and healthcare access, often favouring regional centres with strong hospital infrastructure and lower housing costs.
That highlights the bigger issue: retirement is deeply personal.
For some Australians, the dream is a beachside apartment with cafés and walking trails nearby. Others want acreage, golf courses, fishing spots or proximity to grandchildren. Increasingly, retirees are also prioritising access to quality healthcare, community connection and public transport over postcard scenery alone.
Affordability is another major factor.
Many once-affordable retirement hotspots are now experiencing housing pressures of their own. WorldAtlas noted median house prices above $1 million in some locations it ranked highly, including parts of Queensland and Victoria.
That raises another question: are some traditional retirement towns slowly becoming priced out of reach for average Australians?
There’s also the reality that retirement itself is changing.
Today’s retirees are often more active, digitally connected and socially engaged than previous generations. Many continue part-time work, volunteer extensively, travel frequently or even launch small businesses well into their 60s and 70s.
In that sense, the “best” retirement town may no longer be the quietest one.
Instead, it may be the place that offers flexibility, connection, healthcare security and enough lifestyle appeal to feel energising rather than isolating.
WorldAtlas has certainly started the conversation.
Whether Australians agree with the rankings is another matter entirely.
Check out our article ‘I’m lapping up the rich history of Australia’s retirement towns’.
Keep an eye out for Starts At 60’s upcoming series on Australia’s best retirement towns (by Brian Crisp) in the coming weeks — a detailed deep-dive built around strict lifestyle, affordability, healthcare and liveability criteria.