- Est. Median Value
- $900K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $200/wk
- Safety Score
- 91/100
- Green Space
- 7%
- Current Weather
- 5.8°C
- Median Age
- 46 yrs
~34 crimes/1k/yr
scattered clouds
Living in Ida Valley
The Ida Valley is the broad tussock basin between the Raggedy Range and the Rock and Pillar in Central Otago, and it earns its separate locality listing from the Idaburn by virtue of the valley's overall extent and the farming communities distributed along it. The valley floor runs at around 600 to 700 metres, with the surrounding ranges rising to 1,200 metres or more, creating the frost hollow conditions that produce the natural ice events and the clear Central Otago winters that the valley is known for.
The farming in the Ida Valley is the Central Otago high-country model: merino sheep on the tussock faces, beef cattle on the valley floor, and the hay production and cropping that the irrigated creek flats support in the short growing season. The Oturehua area at the valley's centre holds the community's main services, including the Gilchrist's store and post office which has operated for over a century as the valley's commercial anchor.
The Old Dunstan Road - the original overland route from Dunedin to the goldfields - passes through the Ida Valley, and the landscape along this route has changed less since the 1860s than almost anywhere else in Otago. The Rail Trail passes nearby, and the valley's heritage significance makes it a destination for those interested in Central Otago's deep history.
Ida Valley School and the Oturehua community infrastructure serve the valley.
Is Ida Valley a good place to live?
Ida Valley is home to roughly 1,278 people across 113.1 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Ida Valley scores 45 out of 100, with a safety score of 91/100 and 7% green space.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $900K, and weekly rent typically sits around $200.
Lifestyle: Ida Valley has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 5.8°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Ida Valley 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
- Safety91
- Amenities10
- Schools0
- Housing Affordability42
- Green space23
- Community78
- Transport19
Some dimensions are still pending data: schoolQuality.
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $900K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $200/wk
- Median HH Income
- $81K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +14.2%
- 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 the Ida Valley?
- The Ida Valley is a broad tussock basin in Central Otago between the Raggedy Range (south) and the Rock and Pillar Range (east), containing the Idaburn Creek and the Oturehua community.
- What is the Ida Valley known for?
- The Ida Valley is known for its natural ice skating rink at the Idaburn Dam, the historic Old Dunstan Road, the Gilchrist's store at Oturehua, and the classic Central Otago tussock basin landscape.
- What is Gilchrist's store at Oturehua?
- Gilchrist's Store and Post Office at Oturehua in the Ida Valley has operated for over a century as the valley's commercial anchor, a heritage building still serving the local farming community.
- What is the Old Dunstan Road?
- The Old Dunstan Road is the original 1860s overland route from Dunedin to the Dunstan goldfields, passing through the Ida Valley. Sections of the route survive as heritage tracks through the tussock.
- How do I get from Ranfurly to the Ida Valley?
- By car, around 20 to 30 minutes west via the Ida Valley Road or the Patearoa Road connecting the Maniototo to the Ida Valley.
- What is the postcode for Ida Valley?
- The postcode for Ida Valley is 9387.
- What is the population of Ida Valley?
- Ida Valley has 1,278 residents, based on the 2023 Census.
Explore Ida Valley
Things to do(1)
Old gold workings
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.
Ida Valley Weather
Current conditions: 5.8°C, scattered clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 22.47 | 9.69 | 2.5 | 11.91 |
| ☀️ Feb | 21.47 | 9.08 | 2.12 | 11.8 |
| 🍂 Mar | 17.12 | 6.01 | 2.96 | 9.84 |
| 🍂 Apr | 14.74 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 8.11 |
| 🍂 May | 9.81 | 1.08 | 1.95 | 6.46 |
| ❄️ Jun | 6.08 | -1.3 | 1.27 | 5.6 |
| ❄️ Jul | 5.77 | -2.4 | 1.75 | 6.26 |
| ❄️ Aug | 8.45 | -1.73 | 1.32 | 8.04 |
| 🌸 Sep | 11.45 | 0.58 | 4.38 | 9.27 |
| 🌸 Oct | 13.81 | 2.66 | 3.76 | 10.54 |
| 🌸 Nov | 16.61 | 5.06 | 1.98 | 11.89 |
| ☀️ Dec | 20.82 | 9.23 | 3.45 | 11.89 |
Ida Valley Community
Reviews of Ida Valley
No reviews yet. Be the first to share what living in Ida Valley is really like.
Local tips
No tips yet. Be the first to share what makes Ida Valley special.