- Est. Median Value
- $522K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $485/wk
- Safety Score
- 97/100
- Green Space
- 98%
- Current Weather
- -3.9°C
- Median Age
- 48 yrs
~28 crimes/1k/yr
broken clouds
Living in Macetown
Macetown is a ghost town and makes no effort to pretend otherwise. The settlement at the head of the Arrow River gorge, 15 km north of Arrowtown, was a working goldfield town of 2,000 people in the 1870s, complete with hotels, a courthouse and the civic infrastructure that gold at scale demands, and it emptied as efficiently as it filled when the easy gold was gone and the floods made the rebuilding arithmetic unattractive. The Arrow River flooded Macetown so many times and with such conviction that the town eventually conceded the point.
What remains is the most rewarding ruined townsite in the South Island: stone building foundations stepping up the valley floor, a working water race, the ruins of the miner's hotel, and the remains of the crushing batteries, all in a beech-and-schist gorge setting that the 1870s photographs confirm has changed less than you'd expect. The Arrow River must be crossed upwards of 20 times on the track in, which the historical experience of getting to Macetown suggests is also accurate.
The walk in from Arrowtown takes 3-4 hours each way and requires river crossings; mountain bikes extend the range but not the water problem. The permanent population is zero and has been since the 1930s. Arrowtown's school and services serve the trampers at the end of the day.
Is Macetown a good place to live?
Macetown is home to roughly 513 people across 106.3 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Macetown scores 67 out of 100, with a safety score of 97/100 and 98% green space.
Schools: Macetown has 1 school 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 $522K, and weekly rent typically sits around $485.
Lifestyle: Macetown has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is -3.9°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Macetown 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
- Safety97
- Amenities10
- Schools77
- Housing Affordability72
- Green space100
- Community100
- Transport19
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $522K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $485/wk
- Median HH Income
- $129K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +3.0%
- 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.
Nearby Suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Macetown?
- Macetown is a ghost town at the head of the Arrow River gorge, around 15 km north of Arrowtown in the Queenstown Lakes district, accessible via the Arrow River valley track.
- What happened to Macetown?
- Macetown was a goldfield town of around 2,000 people in the 1870s that was repeatedly flooded by the Arrow River and ultimately abandoned by the early 20th century when both the gold and the residents' patience ran out.
- What can you see at Macetown?
- Stone building foundations, hotel ruins, a preserved water race and the remains of crushing batteries, all in a beech gorge setting. The Arrow River Bridges Track interprets the site en route.
- How hard is the walk to Macetown?
- The Arrow River track to Macetown involves up to 20 river crossings, takes 3-4 hours each way, and requires suitable footwear for wet crossings. Mountain bikes are popular but face the same crossings.
- How do I get to Macetown from Arrowtown?
- The Arrow River Bridges Track begins at the end of Berkshire Street in Arrowtown, following the river north through the gorge to the Macetown site, approximately 15 km one way.
- Which schools are in zone for Macetown?
- Children living in Macetown are in zone for Queenstown Primary School. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.
- How do I check my school zone in Macetown?
- 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 Macetown
Schools in zone for Macetown
Children living in Macetown have a guaranteed right to enrol at these school, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Queenstown Primary School
Full Primary · roll 506 · decile 10
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Macetown. 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.
Explore Macetown
Things to do(2)
Derelict huts
Historic reserve
Parks & green spaces(1)
Historic reserve
Healthcare
Pharmacies and clinics for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Stay in Macetown
Places to stay(1)
Macetown Campsite
Macetown Weather
Current conditions: -3.9°C, broken clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 19.58 | 9.12 | 3.3 | 11.55 |
| ☀️ Feb | 17.77 | 7.84 | 3.36 | 11.03 |
| 🍂 Mar | 14.41 | 4.47 | 4.2 | 9.52 |
| 🍂 Apr | 12.83 | 3.65 | 4.3 | 8.27 |
| 🍂 May | 8.55 | 1.32 | 3.41 | 5.88 |
| ❄️ Jun | 4.91 | -1.5 | 2.28 | 5.65 |
| ❄️ Jul | 3.86 | -3.09 | 2.82 | 5.71 |
| ❄️ Aug | 4.63 | -2.92 | 3.13 | 7.22 |
| 🌸 Sep | 7.93 | -0.72 | 10.28 | 7.77 |
| 🌸 Oct | 10.53 | 0.78 | 6.66 | 9.49 |
| 🌸 Nov | 14.27 | 4.01 | 2.98 | 11.15 |
| ☀️ Dec | 17.88 | 8.25 | 4.67 | 11.66 |
Macetown Community
Reviews of Macetown
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Local tips
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