Today’s snowbirds are more adventurous than their predecessors, and a desire to branch out and discover new destinations to spend the winter has some snowbirds looking much further afield. 

At the same time, these destinations still need to be affordable – particularly given the higher cost of airfares for longer flights.

To help snowbirds find affordable destinations, Snowbird Advisor is creating a series on affordable destination options for snowbirds by region, and in this segment, we're covering Southeast Asia and the South Pacific.

We have already featured the Caribbean, Central America and Southern Europe, and future articles in the series will cover Mexico and other affordable regions.

Australia, New Zealand and Thailand offer affordable options for snowbirds

For Canadian snowbirds looking to escape the winter, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand are quite different propositions from destinations that are closer to Canada. 

The biggest issue with Australia and New Zealand is that they are very far from Canada, which means long and more expensive flights, but on the plus side, it’s summer in Australia and New Zealand when it is winter here in Canada, so the weather is great. 

Thailand is a bit closer to Canada and offers a more traditional warm-weather, lower-cost winter lifestyle, where many Europeans have been wintering for decades. 

And keep in mind that in all of these countries, they drive on the opposite (left-hand) side of the road to Canada, so if you plan on renting a car, you’ll need to be comfortable with driving on the opposite side of the road.

Australia has been attracting snowbirds for years 

Australia is a vast country, but snowbirds will gravitate mostly to the east coast from Sydney up to Brisbane in Queensland, although some go further south to Melbourne. Because it's summer, weather really isn’t an issue in any part of Australia.

This region has been a popular tourist destination for a long time – including a surprising snowbird community - and offers excellent beaches, golf, restaurants, shopping and cultural activities. 

Australia is a very easy destination for Canadians in that it is English-speaking, has familiar legal and social systems and excellent infrastructure. There is outstanding healthcare and generally high standards of accommodation and services. Australia offers a similar lifestyle and quality of living to Canada – making it an easy adjustment.

There are some hurdles for Canadian snowbirds to visit Australia - it is an extremely long journey, generally involving a connection. Australia can also be expensive, particularly Sydney and Melbourne, where accommodation for several months can be costly, although more affordable options are available.

If you are based outside the major cities, you may want a rental car. 

Staying for a full Canadian winter requires paying attention to visa conditions. Australia's Visitor visa framework includes tourist stays of 3, 6 or 12 months depending on the visa granted. 

Best Australian snowbird destinations

The majority of Canadians headed to Australia in the Canadian winter months will go to the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and parts of northern New South Wales.

Adelaide

Adelaide is an attractive choice for snowbirds if you are looking for affordability, good infrastructure, restaurants, healthcare and a pleasant warm and dry climate. It is considerably cheaper than Sydney and generally cheaper than Melbourne and Brisbane. 

There are excellent beaches around Glenelg and Brighton, as well as lots of restaurants, wineries and cultural activities, and it can be easy to live without a car in some areas. 

Adelaide is among Australia's most affordable capital cities. 

Check out the areas of Glenelg, Brighton, Henley Beach, Norwood or the Adelaide Hills.

Cairns 

If your main objective is to escape the Canadian winter and find reliably hot weather, Cairns is very appealing. However, you will find humidity from December to March and a wetter climate.

Cairns has tropical temperatures through the Canadian winter and great access to the Great Barrier Reef. 

Lovely Palm Cove offers a more relaxed resort-style environment, and accommodations can be surprisingly reasonable compared with Australia's major cities. 

Current estimates put furnished accommodation in Cairns below Adelaide, although prices vary considerably by neighbourhood and season. 

Townsville

Townsville may be particularly interesting if affordability is important. With a warm tropical climate, Townsville is a much smaller and less expensive city than Brisbane or Sydney. 

The Strand is a terrific waterfront area. It is less touristy than Cairns, and Magnetic Island is right offshore.

Current estimates put Townsville among Australia's more affordable cities, but there’s less sophisticated dining, entertainment and cultural activity than Adelaide or Brisbane.

Brisbane

For snowbirds seeking a real city experience rather than a resort, Brisbane would be ideal.

Although more expensive than Adelaide or Townsville, Brisbane offers a lot more. There’s a warm subtropical climate, excellent restaurants, shopping and cultural activities. 

The city has excellent healthcare facilities and good public transportation with 50-cent fares currently extended. 

Brisbane is also perfectly located for easy access to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. 

Perth

Perth, located on Australia’s west coast, is an interesting alternative location because it has a Mediterranean climate and spectacular beaches.

Perth is very sunny and dry, with beautiful beaches and excellent restaurants, with fabulous wine country nearby. It’s more affordable than Sydney yet large enough to offer plenty of activities. 

The major drawback for Canadians is distance. Getting to Perth from Toronto involves an even longer journey, whereas Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne are more straightforward Australian destinations.

New Zealand is growing in popularity with snowbirds

Like Australia, New Zealand is also counter-seasonal to Canada, so December to March is summer and a great time to be there.   

New Zealand is comprised of two main islands, offers dramatic and spectacular scenery and is an outdoorsman’s dream. You’ll find no shortage of walking, hiking, golf, fishing and boating opportunities.

Snowbirds also appreciate that New Zealand is a very safe and politically stable country that, like Australia, is English-speaking, has excellent infrastructure and healthcare and is culturally similar to Canada, although it is not as hot as most of Australia or Thailand.

New Zealand is a great choice for snowbirds who want to escape the Canadian winter and enjoy exploring the diverse landscapes and geography of New Zealand, rather than just relaxing at the beach or the pool.

For Canadian passport holders, Canada is on New Zealand's visa-waiver list. Canadians generally need to apply for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), and the visa-waiver visitor permission allows up to three months per visit. 

Of course, the downside is that New Zealand, like Australia, is extremely far from Canada, and that makes for an expensive and long flight.

Accommodations and restaurants aren't particularly cheap in New Zealand, and most of the country is mild and not overly hot during their summer.

Most people who visit New Zealand want to explore the country, so a rental car may be necessary at least part of the time.

Best places to stay on the North Island

Snowbirds will likely want to head for the North Island and northern/eastern South Island of New Zealand, where the climate is milder, and accommodations can be considerably less expensive than the larger cities of Auckland or Queenstown.

Here are some of the more affordable destinations:

Whanganui 

If affordability is a main concern, you will want to give Whanganui serious consideration.

It has a pleasant, temperate climate, about 14.5°C average winter highs, relatively low rainfall and around 2,055 hours of sunshine annually. 

More importantly, Manawatū-Whanganui has one of New Zealand's lower regional rental levels.

You’ll find very good value, an attractive riverfront, nearby beaches and lots of restaurants, cafés and cultural activities.

There’s an easygoing, smaller-city lifestyle here and it’s a good place to base yourself for exploring the lower North Island.

One downside - there is no major international airport.

Napier/Hastings

This is one of the best combinations of climate, lifestyle and reasonable cost of living.

Hawke's Bay is one of New Zealand's drier and sunnier areas, and during the Canadian winter you'll be enjoying much warmer spring and summer weather. 

Napier features excellent restaurants and wineries, Art Deco architecture and has flat terrain, making it relatively easy to get around whether you are walking or cycling. 

There are beaches, plenty of sunshine, good healthcare and shopping, and it is less expensive than Auckland or Tauranga.

Hastings is generally the better choice if you’re looking to keep accommodation rental costs down in the area.

Whakatāne

If you’re seeking warmth and beaches more than having access to a large city, you should consider Whakatāne.

The Bay of Plenty is one of New Zealand's warmer regions, and Whakatāne is among the country's sunniest areas. 

The downside is cost: The broader Bay of Plenty rental market is relatively expensive compared to some other regions. However, long-stay furnished accommodation negotiated directly with owners can often be much cheaper than short-term rentals. 

Nelson 

Nelson is a great option if you’re looking for scenery, restaurants, outdoor activities and a sophisticated, small-city feel. It’s also one of New Zealand's sunniest regions. 

Rental prices are relatively reasonable if you stay away from the popular coastal areas. Look for accommodation in Nelson itself, Richmond and surrounding communities, rather than only considering waterfront accommodation.

Tauranga 

Tauranga is probably one of the best places in New Zealand for a Canadian snowbird to spend the winter, but it isn't one of the cheapest.

There’s a well-established retirement community, attracted by Tauranga’s mild climate, beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants and great shopping.

There’s also golf and excellent healthcare facilities, and Tauranga provides easy access to Mount Maunganui.

New Plymouth

New Plymouth is an interesting option that many Canadian snowbirds might overlook. 

New Plymouth offers oceanfront walking, restaurants and cafés, plenty of arts and culture and beautiful Mount Taranaki scenery. 

It offers a relatively mild climate, and accommodation costs are lower here than in the popular tourist destinations. 

What about the South Island?

The South Island of New Zealand has slightly cooler temperatures, so it may not appeal as much to snowbirds looking for hot weather, although you may want to visit while you are there, as there is much to see and spectacular scenery.

If you do want to establish a base on the South Island, Christchurch is worth considering. It's much more affordable than Queenstown and has excellent amenities, restaurants, healthcare and day trips. 

Thailand is a surprising new hotspot for snowbirds

Thailand has been a winter destination for British and European snowbirds for decades. From an affordability standpoint, it is by far the best value of the three countries covered in this article. You’ll find a wonderful warm-weather winter lifestyle that is much less expensive than many other established snowbird destinations. 

There are world-class resorts and very good-quality condominiums and apartments at prices generally well below those in Australia and New Zealand. 

Excellent restaurants and inexpensive dining can also be found everywhere, and it’s a great wellness destination where massages and other treatments are very inexpensive. Thailand also has beautiful beaches and excellent golf that is relatively inexpensive, and offers a much more distinctly foreign/cultural experience than Australia or New Zealand.

There are large expatriate communities in several locations where English is widely spoken.

However, Thailand may not be for everyone. The heat and humidity can be intense, and air quality can be an issue, particularly in northern Thailand during the burning season. Traffic can also be challenging. 

Healthcare can be good in major private hospitals, but isn't as uniformly reassuring as Australia or New Zealand. 

In general, language and cultural differences will require more adjustment for Canadians, as Thailand will definitely feel more exotic and foreign.

Long-term visa arrangements require more planning. Visa rules keep changing so be sure to check what visa requirements are and how long you can stay before booking a long-term stay or flights.

Best places in Thailand for Snowbirds

For Canadian snowbirds looking to spend 2 – 6 months in Thailand, the top choices are Hua Hin, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya/Jomtien and Koh Samui. 

These destinations offer the best combination of climate, accommodation, healthcare, restaurants, activities, English-speaking services and established foreign communities. 

Hua Hin

Hua Hin is near the top of the list for Canadian snowbirds planning a 2 - 4 month stay. It offers a relaxed, retirement-oriented atmosphere 

You’ll find wonderful restaurants and cafés, great beaches and waterfront walking and excellent golf.

There are lots of condos and furnished apartments for monthly and long-stay rentals.

Hua Hin has a large international/expat community, is much quieter than Pattaya and offers easy access to Bangkok.

Ideal for snowbirds seeking a comfortable retirement lifestyle rather than a tourist resort experience. Current expat comparisons consistently identify Hua Hin as one of Thailand's strongest choices for retirees and people wanting a slower coastal lifestyle. 

Phuket 

The island of Phuket is a world-class resort area and is ideal for snowbirds who want a more sophisticated resort environment.

Phuket offers magnificent beaches, excellent restaurants, a major international airport and many private hospitals. 

Snowbirds will find lots of furnished condos and villas for rent and a large international community.

Of course, there’s lots of shopping and entertainment as well.

However, Phuket in general is considerably more expensive than Chiang Mai or Hua Hin, particularly in the most desirable beach areas. 

Chiang Mai

For snowbirds looking to keep costs down, Chiang Mai is extremely attractive.

You will find many of the features of other destinations but at more affordable prices.

There are excellent restaurants, wonderful markets and cafés, beautiful Temples and cultural attractions.

Located in the mountains, there are also great day trips you can take.

Chiang Mai has a large expat community and offers low accommodation costs with accessible private healthcare.

However, there is one caveat: You will want to avoid Chiang Mai from February to April due to the “burning season” when farmers burn leftover crops to ready the fields for planting, as air quality can get quite bad during those months. Some snowbirds spend November–February in Chiang Mai, then move south.

Jomtien 

Jomtien is a coastal town on the Gulf of Thailand located about two hours southeast of Bangkok that has a significant retiree population.

You’ll find a long stretch of beach, condos at reasonable prices, restaurants everywhere, and excellent shopping.

The large expat community offers access to good hospitals and easy transportation. 

Koh Samui 

Koh Samui is a major resort island located in the Gulf of Thailand off the southeast coast that is beautiful and more relaxed than Phuket.

It’s known for palm-fringed beaches, luxury resorts and a well-developed tourism infrastructure.

Koh Samui offers condos and villas for rent and a resort atmosphere. However, you will find that the cost of living is higher here than in many other parts of Thailand, as well as the challenges of living on an island. Healthcare is also less comprehensive than in Bangkok or Phuket.

Perfect for snowbirds seeking a tropical paradise atmosphere.

The Bottom Line

These three countries represent exotic, far-away choices for adventurous Canadian snowbirds.

Australia is probably the best choice for its combination of English-speaking, climate, infrastructure, healthcare, activities, beaches and golf.

New Zealand is a fabulous destination for those looking to explore nature, go walking and hiking or cycling, discover amazing scenery and English speaking. However, New Zealand is not a traditional warm-weather snowbird destination.

Thailand represents the best value with a tropical climate, affordable options for accommodations, resort lifestyle options, beaches, golf, and exotic sights and experiences, but it can be a little too exotic and culturally different for some snowbirds.

All three countries are very far from Canada and involve lengthy, expensive flights, but the rewards are many, as these countries have so much to offer Canadian snowbirds.