Where is North Dunedin?

North Dunedin is the suburb immediately north of central Dunedin, around 2 km north of the Octagon. It contains the University of Otago campus, Dunedin Hospital and the wider student precinct.

Is the University of Otago in North Dunedin?

Yes. The University of Otago campus on Cumberland Street is in North Dunedin. Founded in 1869, it's the country's oldest university, with around 20,000 students and a campus that spans most of central North Dunedin.

Where is Dunedin Hospital?

Dunedin Hospital is on the southern edge of North Dunedin, on Great King Street. The hospital is undergoing major redevelopment, with the new Dunedin Hospital being constructed through the 2020s.

What is Castle Street?

Castle Street is the main spine of North Dunedin's student precinct, lined with the long-running Castle Street flats. The street has been the centre of Otago student life for generations, with its own folklore.

How do I get from central Dunedin to North Dunedin?

By car, around 3 to 5 minutes via George Street or Castle Street. Most students walk from the central city, taking around 15 minutes. Bus services run frequently from the central Bus Hub.

Which schools are in zone for North Dunedin?

Children living in North Dunedin are in zone for Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School, Dunedin North Intermediate, George Street Normal School, Logan Park High School, St Hildas Collegiate, Columba College, John McGlashan College, Liberton Christian School, Trinity Catholic College. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.

How do I check my school zone in North Dunedin?

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.

North Dunedin, Otago | Schools, Lifestyle & Local Guide

Living in North Dunedin

North Dunedin is the suburb that contains the University of Otago, Dunedin Hospital and the wider student precinct, around 2 km north of the Octagon. It's the densest, youngest, and noisiest suburb in Dunedin, with the kind of energy that only exists where 20,000-plus students live within walking distance of each other.

Castle Street is the spine of North Dunedin, with the long-running Castle Street flats (the famously decrepit student houses where every Otago student has at some point lived, partied or visited) lining the eastern side. The University of Otago campus on Cumberland Street is the country's oldest university, founded in 1869, and its sprawling collection of heritage buildings, modern blocks and the Information Services Building (the white concrete block in the middle of campus) sets the visual tone.

The Dunedin Hospital complex is on the suburb's southern edge, with the new Dunedin Hospital under construction through the 2020s as a major regional project. The North Dunedin Medical Centre and a row of student-focused medical services serve the resident population.

The Octagon is a 15-minute walk south. The Botanic Gardens are 5 minutes north. The suburb empties out for three weeks each Christmas and refills in February. Otago's gravitational centre runs through here.

Is North Dunedin a good place to live?

North Dunedin is home to roughly 10,287 people. On Suburb's overall livability scale, North Dunedin scores 69 out of 100, with a safety score of 74/100 and 48% green space.

Schools: North Dunedin has 44 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 $725K, and weekly rent typically sits around $600.

Lifestyle: North Dunedin has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 7.1°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.

Whether North Dunedin 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

Safety74
Amenities100
Schools87
Housing Affordability52
Green space100
Community11
Transport19

Property & Economics

Est. Median Value: $725K
Median Weekly Rent: $600/wk
Median HH Income: $37K/yr
Pop. Growth (5yr): +4.5%
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

Browse all suburbs in Dunedin City →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is North Dunedin?: North Dunedin is the suburb immediately north of central Dunedin, around 2 km north of the Octagon. It contains the University of Otago campus, Dunedin Hospital and the wider student precinct.
Is the University of Otago in North Dunedin?: Yes. The University of Otago campus on Cumberland Street is in North Dunedin. Founded in 1869, it's the country's oldest university, with around 20,000 students and a campus that spans most of central North Dunedin.
Where is Dunedin Hospital?: Dunedin Hospital is on the southern edge of North Dunedin, on Great King Street. The hospital is undergoing major redevelopment, with the new Dunedin Hospital being constructed through the 2020s.
What is Castle Street?: Castle Street is the main spine of North Dunedin's student precinct, lined with the long-running Castle Street flats. The street has been the centre of Otago student life for generations, with its own folklore.
How do I get from central Dunedin to North Dunedin?: By car, around 3 to 5 minutes via George Street or Castle Street. Most students walk from the central city, taking around 15 minutes. Bus services run frequently from the central Bus Hub.

Schools & Enrolment Zones in North Dunedin

Schools in zone for North Dunedin

Children living in North Dunedin have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.

Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School
Full Primary · roll 77 · decile 9
Dunedin North Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 277 · decile 8
George Street Normal School
Contributing · roll 375
Logan Park High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 839 · decile 7
St Hildas Collegiate
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 463 · decile 10
Columba College
Composite · roll 609
John McGlashan College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 527
Liberton Christian School
Full Primary · roll 133 · decile 7
Trinity Catholic College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 872

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Enter your address to check your school zone in North Dunedin. 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 North Dunedin that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).

Sacred Heart School (Dunedin)
Contributing · roll 57 · decile 8 · 1.1 km away
Māori Hill School
Contributing · roll 227 · decile 10 · 1.3 km away
Ōpoho School
Contributing · roll 118 · decile 10 · 1.6 km away
Otago Boys' High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 870 · decile 9 · 1.8 km away
Pine Hill School (Dunedin)
Contributing · roll 48 · decile 7 · 1.8 km away
London House Learning Centre
Activity Centre · decile 9 · 1.8 km away
Otago Girls' High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 725 · decile 8 · 1.9 km away
North East Valley Normal School
Contributing · roll 182 · decile 7 · 1.9 km away
Arthur Street School
Full Primary · roll 193 · decile 7 · 2.0 km away
Balmacewen Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 473 · decile 8 · 2.0 km away
Kaikorai School
Contributing · roll 304 · decile 9 · 2.0 km away
St Joseph's Cathedral School
Contributing · roll 145 · decile 8 · 2.1 km away
Grants Braes School
Contributing · roll 198 · decile 10 · 2.8 km away
St Mary's School (Dunedin)
Contributing · roll 59 · decile 6 · 2.8 km away
Wakari School
Contributing · roll 290 · decile 7 · 2.9 km away
Ravensbourne School
Contributing · roll 14 · decile 6 · 3.1 km away
Bayfield High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 533 · decile 7 · 3.8 km away
Mornington School
Contributing · roll 234 · decile 7 · 3.8 km away
Andersons Bay School
Contributing · roll 299 · decile 8 · 3.9 km away
Halfway Bush School
Contributing · roll 35 · decile 3 · 3.9 km away
Bradford School
Contributing · roll 93 · decile 5 · 4.1 km away
St Brigids School (Tainui)
Contributing · roll 71 · decile 10 · 4.1 km away
St Francis Xavier School (Mornington)
Contributing · roll 95 · decile 9 · 4.3 km away
Kaikorai Valley College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 434 · 4.4 km away
Carisbrook School
Full Primary · roll 324 · decile 3 · 4.4 km away
Brockville School
Full Primary · roll 133 · decile 2 · 4.4 km away
Bathgate Park School
Full Primary · roll 118 · decile 3 · 4.6 km away
Musselburgh School
Contributing · roll 127 · decile 5 · 4.6 km away
Tahuna Normal Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 496 · decile 8 · 4.6 km away
Tainui School
Contributing · roll 256 · decile 7 · 4.6 km away
Kings High School (Dunedin)
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 891 · decile 7 · 4.8 km away
Balaclava School
Contributing · roll 241 · decile 8 · 4.8 km away
Te Whirika Sara Cohen Specialist School
Specialist School · roll 76 · decile 5 · 4.8 km away
St Bernadette's School (Forbury)
Contributing · roll 179 · decile 6 · 4.8 km away
Queen's High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 599 · decile 5 · 5.0 km away

Explore North Dunedin

Things to do(30)

Azalea Garden

Rhododendron Dell

Southern African Garden

Geographic Collection

Water Garden

Native Collection

Geology Museum

Sakura Garden

Alexander McMillan Hockey Centre- Otago Hockey

Hill City-University Athletic Club

Cherry Walk

Volleyball Otago

Logan Park

Southern Football

Opoho Bowling Club

Dunedin Botanic Garden Aviary

Athletics Otago

Otago University Rugby Football Club

Opoho Park

Otago Kendo Club

Alhambra Investments

Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health - Otago Polytechnic

Otago Campus Badminton Club (OCBC)

Otago University Basketball Club

Cosy Dell Tennis Club

Roberts Park

Modern Jive Dunedin

Otago University Goju Ryu Karate

Smithells Gymnasium

North East Valley Cricket Club

Parks & green spaces(5)

Cherry Walk

Logan Park

Opoho Park

Alhambra Investments

Roberts Park

Healthcare(8)

Unichem

Albany St Pharmacy

Albany House

Community Support Medical Centre

Dunedin North Medical Centre

University of Otago Student Health

Dunedin North Medical Centre

Month	High (°C)	Low (°C)	Rainfall (mm/day)	Sunshine (hrs/day)
☀️ Jan	19.03	11.29	1.98	10.55
☀️ Feb	18.54	10.72	3.2	9.75
🍂 Mar	17.01	9.62	2.6	8.75
🍂 Apr	15.3	7.76	2.16	7.83
🍂 May	12.95	6.02	2.11	6.43
❄️ Jun	10.43	4.24	2.15	5.71
❄️ Jul	9.45	4.23	4.5	5.5
❄️ Aug	11.32	3.26	1.51	7.33
🌸 Sep	12.78	4.93	2.43	8.35
🌸 Oct	14.16	5.6	4.11	9.67
🌸 Nov	15.38	7.56	2.69	10.4
☀️ Dec	17.17	10.17	3.17	9.44

Living in North Dunedin

Is North Dunedin a good place to live?

Map

Livability Breakdown

Property & Economics

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools & Enrolment Zones in North Dunedin

Schools in zone for North Dunedin

Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School

Dunedin North Intermediate

George Street Normal School

Logan Park High School

St Hildas Collegiate

Columba College

John McGlashan College

Liberton Christian School

Trinity Catholic College

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Other nearby schools

Sacred Heart School (Dunedin)

Māori Hill School

Ōpoho School

Otago Boys' High School

Pine Hill School (Dunedin)

London House Learning Centre

Otago Girls' High School

North East Valley Normal School

Arthur Street School

Balmacewen Intermediate

Kaikorai School

St Joseph's Cathedral School

Grants Braes School

St Mary's School (Dunedin)

Wakari School

Ravensbourne School

Bayfield High School

Mornington School

Andersons Bay School

Halfway Bush School

Bradford School

St Brigids School (Tainui)

St Francis Xavier School (Mornington)

Kaikorai Valley College

Carisbrook School

Brockville School

Bathgate Park School

Musselburgh School

Tahuna Normal Intermediate

Tainui School

Kings High School (Dunedin)

Balaclava School

Te Whirika Sara Cohen Specialist School

St Bernadette's School (Forbury)

Queen's High School

Explore North Dunedin

🎯Things to do(30)

Azalea Garden

Rhododendron Dell

Southern African Garden

Geographic Collection

Water Garden

Native Collection

Geology Museum

Sakura Garden

Alexander McMillan Hockey Centre- Otago Hockey

Hill City-University Athletic Club

Cherry Walk

Volleyball Otago

Logan Park

Southern Football

Opoho Bowling Club

Dunedin Botanic Garden Aviary

Athletics Otago

Otago University Rugby Football Club

Opoho Park

Otago Kendo Club

Alhambra Investments

Things to do(30)

Parks & green spaces(5)

Healthcare(8)

Places to eat & drink(89)