- Est. Median Value
- $850K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $440/wk
- Safety Score
- 55/100
- Green Space
- 17%
- Current Weather
- 10.7°C
- Median Age
- 49 yrs
~70 crimes/1k/yr
overcast clouds
Living in Bluff Hill
Bluff Hill is the prominent headland directly north of central Napier, rising around 100 metres above the city and the Pacific Ocean. The suburb wraps around the hill itself, with steep narrow streets, heritage homes and one of the country's best urban views: the Bluff Hill Lookout at the summit gives a panoramic view across Napier, the Pacific Ocean, the Hawke Bay and the wider Heretaunga Plains.
The suburb's heritage is significant. Many of Napier's grandest pre-1931 homes were built on Bluff Hill (and survived the 1931 earthquake because of the underlying rock), giving the hill streetscape a different character to the art deco central city below. The houses range from Edwardian villas to mid-century modernist on the steeper sections.
Bluff Hill Domain provides walking tracks and the lookout itself, with the National War Memorial on the western face. The Port of Napier sits at the base of the hill on the eastern side, which means container traffic is a regular feature of the local soundscape.
Bluff Hill is mostly residential with no commercial centre of its own. Most residents walk or drive down to central Napier (5 minutes by car) for shopping, schools and services. Quiet, settled, and reliably the best views in the city.
Is Bluff Hill a good place to live?
Bluff Hill is home to roughly 2,631 people. On Suburb's overall livability scale, Bluff Hill scores 48 out of 100, with a safety score of 55/100 and 17% green space.
Schools: Bluff Hill has 28 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 $850K, and weekly rent typically sits around $440.
Lifestyle: Bluff Hill has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 10.7°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Bluff Hill 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
- Safety55
- Amenities10
- Schools75
- Housing Affordability44
- Green space56
- Community100
- Transport10
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $850K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $440/wk
- Median HH Income
- $100K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +0.8%
- 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.
Nearby Suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Bluff Hill?
- Bluff Hill is the prominent headland directly north of central Napier, rising around 100 metres above the city. The suburb wraps around the hill itself, bordered by central Napier and the Pacific Ocean.
- Where is the Bluff Hill Lookout?
- The Bluff Hill Lookout is at the summit of Bluff Hill, via Lighthouse Road. It gives a panoramic view across Napier, the Pacific Ocean, Hawke Bay and the Heretaunga Plains. Free public access daily.
- Did Bluff Hill survive the 1931 earthquake?
- Yes. The houses on Bluff Hill survived the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake substantially intact because of the underlying rock foundation. This is why the hill retains many pre-1931 heritage homes, in contrast to the rebuilt central city.
- Where is the National War Memorial on Bluff Hill?
- The Napier War Memorial Centre is on the western face of Bluff Hill, commemorating the local fallen of both World Wars. The memorial includes a public reserve, walking paths and views over central Napier.
- How do I get from central Napier to Bluff Hill?
- By car, around 5 minutes via Lighthouse Road or Coote Road. Walking from the central city takes around 20 minutes uphill. There is limited bus service to Bluff Hill; most visitors drive or walk.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Bluff Hill
Schools in zone for Bluff Hill
Children living in Bluff Hill have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Napier Boys' High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1320 · decile 6
Napier Girls' High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1037
St Joseph's Maori Girls' College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 185 · decile 2
Iona College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 341 · decile 10
Woodford House
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 382 · decile 9
St John's College (Hastings)
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 404 · decile 4
Lindisfarne College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 567 · decile 9
Taikura Rudolf Steiner School
Composite · roll 279 · decile 6
Napier Central School
Contributing · roll 246 · decile 8
Napier Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 365 · decile 4
Hastings Christian School
Composite · roll 329 · decile 7
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Bluff Hill. 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 Hill that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
Sacred Heart College (Napier)
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 354 · decile 5 · 0.4 km away
Nelson Park School
Contributing · roll 339 · decile 5 · 1.4 km away
Port Ahuriri School
Contributing · roll 242 · decile 7 · 1.4 km away
Marewa School
Contributing · roll 250 · decile 1 · 2.4 km away
St Patrick's School (Napier)
Full Primary · roll 228 · decile 4 · 2.6 km away
William Colenso College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 374 · decile 2 · 2.8 km away
Westshore School
Contributing · roll 67 · decile 5 · 2.8 km away
Hawke's Bay School for Teenage Parents
Teen Parent Unit · 2.8 km away
Napier Community High School
Activity Centre · decile 1 · 2.8 km away
Onekawa School
Contributing · roll 320 · decile 4 · 2.9 km away
Te Awa School
Contributing · roll 164 · decile 1 · 2.9 km away
Maraenui Bilingual School (Napier)
Full Primary · roll 123 · decile 1 · 3.2 km away
TKKM o Te Ara Hou
Composite · roll 241 · decile 1 · 3.3 km away
Richmond School (Napier)
Contributing · roll 64 · decile 4 · 3.9 km away
Henry Hill School
Contributing · roll 265 · decile 1 · 4.1 km away
Tamatea School
Contributing · roll 146 · decile 3 · 4.7 km away
Tamatea Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 370 · decile 4 · 4.8 km away
Explore Bluff Hill
Things to do(1)
Bluff Hill Bowling Club
Parks & green spaces
Parks and reserves for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Healthcare
Pharmacies and clinics for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Shops in Bluff Hill
Shops(1)
Vines and Views Tours
Beauty & Fitness in Bluff Hill
Beauty & fitness(1)
Bluff Hill Bowling Club
Professional Services in Bluff Hill
Professional services(1)
Approved Mortgages
Stay in Bluff Hill
Places to stay(1)
Breakwater Apartments
Bluff Hill Weather
Current conditions: 10.7°C, overcast clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 22.4 | 15.91 | 5.77 | 9.07 |
| ☀️ Feb | 22.76 | 15.5 | 5.32 | 9.81 |
| 🍂 Mar | 21.05 | 12.53 | 2.1 | 9.96 |
| 🍂 Apr | 19.6 | 12.02 | 1.37 | 8.21 |
| 🍂 May | 16.63 | 9.49 | 2.24 | 7.77 |
| ❄️ Jun | 14.5 | 8.37 | 5.66 | 6.25 |
| ❄️ Jul | 13.88 | 6.91 | 2.71 | 6.5 |
| ❄️ Aug | 14.35 | 5.86 | 1.41 | 8.35 |
| 🌸 Sep | 17.46 | 8.32 | 2.71 | 9.06 |
| 🌸 Oct | 19.01 | 9.83 | 1.57 | 10.43 |
| 🌸 Nov | 20.15 | 12.05 | 3.06 | 9.51 |
| ☀️ Dec | 23.47 | 15.45 | 3.38 | 10.02 |
Bluff Hill Community
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