- Est. Median Value
- $400K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $260/wk
- Safety Score
- 73/100
- Green Space
- 74%
- Current Weather
- 8.4°C
- Median Age
- 50 yrs
~52 crimes/1k/yr
overcast clouds
Living in Bluff
Bluff is the bottom of New Zealand, or close enough that the sign on the main street announcing the distance to Cape Reinga has become the most photographed piece of infrastructure in Southland. Around 1,800 people live at the peninsula's end where the Foveaux Strait begins its cold, churning passage to Stewart Island, and the town has developed the self-possessed character of a place that knows exactly where it sits on the map and has decided this is fine.
The port is the town's economy and identity: bulk cargo, fishing fleet, the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter's shipping, and the Foveaux Strait ferry to Halfmoon Bay all operate from the same port infrastructure that has been handling southern New Zealand's maritime business since the 1800s. The oysters are the other industry - Bluff oysters, harvested from the Foveaux Strait's cold, clean waters, are the South Island's most seasonally anticipated food event, and the Bluff Oyster and Food Festival in May takes the whole town's capacity and then some.
Bluff Hill's summit lookout delivers the full Foveaux panorama: Stewart Island to the south, the Southland plains behind, and the shipping lanes doing their business below. The historic precinct around the port holds the Maritime Museum and the character buildings of a working port town that never aspired to be a resort.
Bluff School and Aurora College serve the local years. The oysters are worth the drive.
Is Bluff a good place to live?
Bluff is home to roughly 1,797 people across 8.9 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Bluff scores 69 out of 100, with a safety score of 73/100 and 74% green space.
Schools: Bluff has 5 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $400K, and weekly rent typically sits around $260.
Lifestyle: Bluff has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 8.4°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Bluff is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.
Map
Livability Breakdown
- Safety73
- Amenities60
- Schools67
- Housing Affordability94
- Green space100
- Community44
- Transport14
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $400K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $260/wk
- Median HH Income
- $66K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- 0.0%
- Data Year
- 2023
Key Financial Indicators (NZD)
† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Bluff?
- Bluff is at the southern tip of the South Island, around 27 km south of Invercargill on the Foveaux Strait, the southernmost town in New Zealand and the main port for Stewart Island ferries.
- What are Bluff oysters?
- Bluff oysters are dredge oysters harvested from the cold, clean waters of the Foveaux Strait, considered among New Zealand's finest seafood. The season typically runs from March to August, with the Bluff Oyster and Food Festival each May.
- Can you get to Stewart Island from Bluff?
- Yes. The Foveaux Express ferry runs between Bluff and Halfmoon Bay on Stewart Island, taking around 60 minutes. Scenic Flights also operate from the area.
- What is the Bluff signpost?
- The signpost at Stirling Point in Bluff shows the distances to international destinations and to Cape Reinga at the North Island's tip, the traditional marker of New Zealand's length.
- How do I get from Invercargill to Bluff?
- By car, around 27 minutes south on State Highway 1. Buses connect Bluff to Invercargill with ferry timetable connections.
- Which schools are in zone for Bluff?
- Children living in Bluff are in zone for Verdon College, Southland Adventist Christian School, St John's Girls' School (Invercargill). Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.
- How do I check my school zone in Bluff?
- Use the School Zone Checker on this page. Enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Bluff
Schools in zone for Bluff
Children living in Bluff have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Verdon College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 716 · decile 6
Southland Adventist Christian School
Full Primary · roll 123 · decile 4
St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)
Full Primary · roll 124 · decile 9
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Bluff. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.
Other nearby schools
Schools close to Bluff that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
St Teresa's School (Bluff)
Full Primary · roll 6 · decile 3 · 1.8 km away
Bluff School
Full Primary · roll 108 · decile 3 · 2.6 km away
Explore Bluff
Things to do(5)
Bluff Sign
Bluff Skatepark
Awarua Boating Club
McKenzie Marine & Mackcraft
Foveaux charters limited
Parks & green spaces(1)
Bluff Skatepark
Healthcare
Pharmacies and clinics for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Eat & Drink in Bluff
Places to eat & drink(15)
Anchorage Cafe & Wine Bar
Galley Takeaways
Oysters
The Lighthouse Gallery
Stella's Cafe & Chinese Takeaway
The Galley takeaway
Sanford Bluff
Hayz
Oysterman's Daughter Bluff
Drunken Sailor Cafe Bar
Anchorage Cafe And Bar bluff
The Golden Age Tavern
Stella's Café
Bluff Cafe Kawhe
Oyster Cove
Tradies & Services in Bluff
Tradies & services(3)
Bluff Engineering & Welding Co
Bluff Free Kindergarten
Osborn Engineering
Shops in Bluff
Shops(3)
Bottle-O Bluff
Four Square Bluff
Liquor Mart
Beauty & Fitness in Bluff
Beauty & fitness(3)
Awarua Boating Club
Foveaux charters limited
McKenzie Marine & Mackcraft
Professional Services in Bluff
Professional services(3)
Bluff Sand Supply & Cartage LTD
The Tari
Whats on at the Bluff RSA
Stay in Bluff
Places to stay(2)
Lands End Boutique Hotel
Foveaux Hotel
Bluff Weather
Current conditions: 8.4°C, overcast clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 18.53 | 11.9 | 3.81 | 10.81 |
| ☀️ Feb | 17.68 | 11.69 | 4.54 | 10.38 |
| 🍂 Mar | 16.03 | 10.05 | 4.83 | 8.52 |
| 🍂 Apr | 14.94 | 9.41 | 3.35 | 6.92 |
| 🍂 May | 12.24 | 7.37 | 3.5 | 5 |
| ❄️ Jun | 10.29 | 4.36 | 3.71 | 5.48 |
| ❄️ Jul | 9.89 | 4.94 | 3.16 | 5.49 |
| ❄️ Aug | 10.64 | 4.97 | 2.87 | 7.03 |
| 🌸 Sep | 12.26 | 6.54 | 5.72 | 7.66 |
| 🌸 Oct | 12.91 | 7.07 | 4.39 | 8.36 |
| 🌸 Nov | 14.35 | 8.31 | 3.33 | 10.46 |
| ☀️ Dec | 16.72 | 10.86 | 4.93 | 9.85 |
Bluff Community
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