- Est. Median Value
- $407K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $200/wk
- Safety Score
- 50/100
- Green Space
- 11%
- Current Weather
- 2.0°C
- Median Age
- 46 yrs
~75 crimes/1k/yr
overcast clouds
Living in Elephant Hill
Elephant Hill is a locality in the Waitaki Valley's inland country, taking its name from the hill formation above the valley floor that early observers considered sufficiently pachydermal to justify the comparison. The Waitaki Valley at this point is the limestone country that becomes the defining character of the region from Duntroon south, with the rounded limestone outcrops and the tussock-covered hill faces that the valley's geology produces.
The area around Elephant Hill is farming country in the inland Waitaki style: merino and crossbred sheep on the hill faces, with the valley floor carrying the irrigated cropping and pasture that the Waitaki irrigation scheme supports. The limestone landscape provides the visual character, with the distinctive rock formations that the valley's geology has produced over millions of years visible in the hills and creek banks.
The permanent population is the farming families on the surrounding properties, with Duntroon and Oamaru providing the services at the distances that inland Waitaki farming accepts. The broader Waitaki Valley's Māori rock art heritage is close by, with the Takiroa site near Duntroon the most accessible example of the limestone drawing tradition that makes this valley nationally significant.
Children from the Elephant Hill area attend local Waitaki district schools.
Is Elephant Hill a good place to live?
Elephant Hill is home to roughly 111 people across 223.0 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Elephant Hill scores 54 out of 100, with a safety score of 50/100 and 11% green space.
Schools: Elephant Hill has 4 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 $407K, and weekly rent typically sits around $200.
Lifestyle: The current temperature is 2.0°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Elephant 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
- Safety50
- Amenities38
- Schools81
- Housing Affordability92
- Green space36
- Community44
- Transport19
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $407K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $200/wk
- Median HH Income
- $72K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +0.6%
- 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 Elephant Hill?
- Elephant Hill is in the Waitaki Valley's inland farming country, between Oamaru and Duntroon, in the limestone hill country that characterises the mid-Waitaki Valley.
- What is Elephant Hill like?
- Elephant Hill is a pastoral farming locality in the limestone hill country of the mid-Waitaki, with sheep farming on the tussock faces and the distinctive rounded limestone formations that give the hill its name.
- What is the rock art heritage near Elephant Hill?
- The Waitaki Valley around Elephant Hill is part of the region holding significant Māori rock art drawn on limestone surfaces; the Takiroa rock art site near Duntroon is the main publicly accessible example nearby.
- What schools serve Elephant Hill?
- Children from Elephant Hill attend local Waitaki district primary schools, with secondary students travelling to Oamaru.
- How do I get from Oamaru to Elephant Hill?
- By car inland via the Waitaki Valley road toward Duntroon, around 30 to 40 minutes from Oamaru.
- Which schools are in zone for Elephant Hill?
- Children living in Elephant Hill are in zone for Waihao Downs School, Craighead Diocesan School, Roncalli College. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.
- How do I check my school zone in Elephant Hill?
- 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 Elephant Hill
Schools in zone for Elephant Hill
Children living in Elephant Hill have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Waihao Downs School
Full Primary · roll 73 · decile 9
Craighead Diocesan School
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 412 · decile 9
Roncalli College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 516 · decile 7
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Elephant 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 Elephant Hill that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
Duntroon School
Full Primary · roll 103 · decile 9 · 2.6 km away
Stay in Elephant Hill
Places to stay(1)
Duntroon Domain Camping
Elephant Hill Weather
Current conditions: 2.0°C, overcast clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 22.15 | 11.7 | 1.93 | 10.66 |
| ☀️ Feb | 21.35 | 11 | 2.87 | 9.55 |
| 🍂 Mar | 19.61 | 9.61 | 1.87 | 9.06 |
| 🍂 Apr | 17.1 | 7.31 | 1.82 | 8.15 |
| 🍂 May | 13.73 | 4.86 | 1.12 | 6.92 |
| ❄️ Jun | 10.45 | 2.44 | 1.63 | 5.67 |
| ❄️ Jul | 9.53 | 1.8 | 3.66 | 6.18 |
| ❄️ Aug | 11.55 | 2.16 | 1.72 | 7.81 |
| 🌸 Sep | 14.61 | 4.3 | 2.68 | 8.9 |
| 🌸 Oct | 16.23 | 5.62 | 3.57 | 10.31 |
| 🌸 Nov | 18.14 | 8.41 | 3.34 | 10.5 |
| ☀️ Dec | 20.39 | 10.8 | 3.2 | 9.76 |
Elephant Hill Community
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