Can I retire before 60?
When can I access my super?

The three ages that matter

1. Whenever you stop work — nothing stops you retiring at 55 or 58. The question is what you live on.
2. 60 — the preservation age. Super unlocks tax-free once you're retired (or via a transition-to-retirement pension if still working). Born after 30 June 1964? It's a flat 60 for you.
3. 67 — Age Pension age. However wealthy your early years, nothing pension-related arrives before 67.

The gap nobody warns you about

Retire at 58 and you have two bridges to cross:

• 58 → 60: super is still locked. You live on savings, a partner's income, investments — anything outside super.
• 60 → 67: super flows tax-free — but no pension yet. Every year you draw costs the plan.
• 67 onwards: the pension can kick in on top, which is when plans often turn comfortable again.

That early-retirement dip is why the same super balance can fund 60 or fail at 58 — timing is everything.

Tricks people use for the gap

• Non-super savings bridge — hold enough outside super to cover the locked years.
• Glide into it — part-time work to 60 leaves super untouched longer.
• A partner's timing — if one of you is older, their super and pension can carry the household while the younger one's super stays untouchable (and off the pension test until 67).
• Check before you commit — model it first; the gap years are exactly where plans break.

Slide your retirement age — free

This is literally what RetirePath is for: move the retirement-age slider and watch "money lasts to" jump — 60 vs 62 vs 65 in seconds, with both bridges shown year by year. No sign-up to try.