Deborah Cheetham Retirement Village

Ryman Retirement Villages: Communities, Care and Locations Across Victoria

Ryman offers independent living with care close by, backed by more than 40 years' experience and 48 communities across Victoria and New Zealand. Find a Ryman community near you below, or read on for costs, care details and what sets Ryman apart. If you are weighing up a move out of the family home, the sections that follow are meant to help you decide what to ask, what to compare and what to check before you visit.

Quick facts

About Ryman

Ryman began in Christchurch and has grown into a retirement village operator across two countries. Its first Australian site came in 2011, and Victorian communities are now concentrated in Melbourne, Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula. That gives you a choice of city and coastal locations, which matters if you want to stay near family, friends and the places you already know. Living and care options vary between communities, and some combine independent living with serviced apartments and on-site care. It is worth checking the details for each community you are considering, because what is offered at one address may not be offered at another.

Ryman offers both villas and apartments. The village team manages the day-to-day running of each community, including gardens, exterior maintenance and the upkeep of buildings and shared spaces. You spend less time on maintenance and more on the things you enjoy. For many people downsizing, handing over the upkeep of a large home and garden is a major reason to move. Amenities and activities vary by community, so ask what is on offer at the village you like rather than assuming.

Ryman Healthcare owns and operates its retirement villages itself. The company is listed on both the NZX and the ASX. More than 14,000 residents already call Ryman home.

Costs & fees

Prices vary by village. For a current price, call Ryman directly on 1800 314 425 or enquire through the listing for the community you're interested in. When you do, ask for the figures in writing for the specific home you are considering, and compare them against your budget and what you expect to receive from selling your current property.

Care & lifestyle services

Ryman helps you stay independent in your own villa or apartment for longer, which is the aim for most people who choose retirement living in the first place. Ryman is a registered in-home support provider and delivers services directly to you at home, and an aged care assessment sets the level of care you need. Understanding how that assessment works, and who arranges it, is a useful question to raise early, because your needs may change over time.

Serviced apartments with housekeeping, morning and afternoon tea and a daily main meal, along with residential aged care, specialist dementia care and respite care, are available at some communities. It is worth asking each village exactly which of these it has on site. Where a community has an on-site care home, residents get priority access over non-residents.

Shared facilities can include a swimming pool, a café, a cinema and a bowling green. Some communities also have a gym, a library and a hair and beauty salon. The mix varies from community to community.

What makes Ryman different

Ryman brings independent living, assisted living and aged care together within a single community at some locations. That lets you plan around one address as your needs change. If you move from independent living into a serviced apartment, there is no additional entry payment, so a step up in support does not bring a second upfront cost.

In Canstar Blue's 2024 retirement village ratings by New Zealand consumers, Ryman received five stars for overall satisfaction, accommodation, atmosphere, facilities, location and value for money. More than 40 years of experience sit behind that result. Treat it as one input among several, and note that the ratings come from consumers in New Zealand, so they are worth balancing against what you see and hear at the village you are considering.

Last updated: October 2026.