Matamata's newest lifestyle village opened its five show homes to the public in March, with marketing and policy manager Paul Slatin saying they have already begun to attract visitors from urban areas.
Once completed, Matamata Longlands Lifestyle Village, located on Burwood Rd, will boast 222 houses, a central social hub and extensive motorhome parking.
The grand opening for the show homes took place from March 7-10, with more than 800 people attending.
"On Saturday morning, both car parks were filled to overflowing by 11.20am, and cars lined the entrance avenue all the way to the front gates.
"Approximately 60 per cent [of visitors] were local and 40 per cent were from outside Matamata, with very favourable commentary on the preserved grand avenue of trees, and perceptions of the show home village and staged show homes," Slatin said.
Visitors attended from as far as Northland and Wanganui, and Stage One of the development, with houses being delivered later in the year, is near-sold out as a result of the opening, he said.
"The village concept, including over-50s lifestyle for independent living; a function centre and restaurant; the historic homestead and picturesque gardens being refurbished and conserved; and plans for large scale motorhome facility, has appealed to retirees and pre-retirees.
"Many visitors from outside the region have also asked about Matamata's surrounding facilities, including swimming and fitness, recreation and retail, to prepare for a shift from larger urban areas."
Freedom Lifestyle Villages also own Papamoa Sands and Cambridge Oaks - the latter of which opened in 2017.
The five houses completed for public viewing included a Liberty 3-bedroom double garage free-standing villa, and one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes built as duplexes.
Matamata Longlands will also feature single-storey terrace apartments, set in European-style landscaped courtyards, with construction commencing in late 2019.
Apartments identical in form and design can be viewed at Cambridge Oaks.
In October 2018, Freedom managing director Jacob Van Het Wout said the village provided an "enormous amount of security" under the Retirement Villages Act.
"People need to be aware that's the difference than buying a unit title or development house.
"It's a very important feature of what we do," he said.
The show homes can be viewed any day, 10am to 4pm on weekdays, and 11am to 3pm Saturday and Sunday. Entrance is from 80 Burwood Rd.
Stage One of construction is under way and the first residents will move in before the end of 2019.