Interactive: Where is the best place to retire to in NZ?

Most of us have thought about it - cashing in on property prices by selling up and retiring to the country or a smaller centre.

But where would you go, and what are the chances that the reality will match up with your expectations?

• Personalise your preferences and see where you should retire with our interactive toolhere.

Analysis by the Herald set out to find which are the best places in the country to retire to, taking into account property prices, rates, sunshine hours, burglary rates, access to healthcare and the size of the over-65 population.

And the winner? Marlborough - the country's best retirement destination, followed by the Waimakariri District near Christchurch.

Anyone who isn't keen on leaving the North Island should consider Napier, Whangarei and New Plymouth, which also rated highly.

But if property prices are the most pressing issue, the smaller provincial towns and regions could be the answer to freeing up capital, or becoming debt-free.

The interactive graphic allows you to personalise your search and scale up and down the important factors for you; whether it is high sunshine hours, low rates or access to healthcare.