- Est. Median Value
- $831K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $200/wk
- Safety Score
- 88/100
- Green Space
- 2%
- Current Weather
- 0.6°C
- Median Age
- 46 yrs
~37 crimes/1k/yr
broken clouds
Living in Ophir
Ophir is a gold rush town that kept enough of its original fabric to operate as a living heritage village while remaining a place where actual people live, and the balance it strikes between the two is more successful than the formula usually produces. Around 60 permanent residents share the streets with the stone and mudbrick buildings of the 1860s Dunstan goldfields, including New Zealand's oldest surviving post office, which continues to provide this service to the valley with the quiet obstinacy of a building that has outlasted three different centuries of expectations.
The Daniel O'Connell Bridge over the Manuherikia River is Ophir's civic centrepiece, a suspension bridge that connects the village to the farmland across the river and provides the postcard that every visitor to the Maniototo eventually takes. The Central Otago Rail Trail crosses the broader valley here, and Ophir has the good sense to be on the route used by the cyclists who chose the interesting way between Ranfurly and Alexandra.
The Ophir Cold Spot temperature station holds Central Otago's unofficial record collection for cold nights, a distinction the village owns with the same equanimity it brings to everything else. Minus 21.6 degrees Celsius was recorded here in 1995, which the locals describe without particular drama as a cold night.
Omakau School serves the local primary years, a short walk across the bridge.
Is Ophir a good place to live?
Ophir is home to roughly 93 people across 45.3 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Ophir scores 46 out of 100, with a safety score of 88/100 and 2% green space.
Schools: Ophir 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 $831K, and weekly rent typically sits around $200.
Lifestyle: Ophir has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 0.6°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Ophir 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
- Safety88
- Amenities18
- Schools70
- Housing Affordability45
- Green space10
- Community44
- Transport19
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $831K
- 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 Ophir?
- Ophir is in Central Otago in the Manuherikia Valley, around 5 km from Omakau and 35 km north of Alexandra, on the Central Otago Rail Trail.
- What is historic in Ophir?
- Ophir's 1860s goldfields buildings include New Zealand's oldest continuously operating post office, the 1880 Daniel O'Connell suspension bridge, and stone and mudbrick buildings forming one of Central Otago's best-preserved heritage streetscapes.
- What is the Daniel O'Connell Bridge?
- The Daniel O'Connell Bridge is an 1880 suspension footbridge over the Manuherikia River at Ophir, one of the most photographed historic structures in Central Otago, connecting the village to the farmland opposite.
- Why is Ophir famous for cold temperatures?
- Ophir holds Central Otago records for cold nights, with a temperature of minus 21.6 degrees recorded in 1995, among New Zealand's lowest recorded temperatures, in a frost hollow that concentrates cold air on still clear nights.
- How do I get from Omakau to Ophir?
- On foot across the Daniel O'Connell Bridge, around 5 minutes. By car, around 5 minutes via the valley road. Ophir is a stop on the Central Otago Rail Trail between Ranfurly and Alexandra.
- Which schools are in zone for Ophir?
- Ophir is not covered by a school enrolment zone. Nearby schools may accept enrolments under open enrolment or by application.
- How do I check my school zone in Ophir?
- 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 Ophir
Schools in zone for Ophir
No enrolment-zoned schools cover Ophir. The schools below are the nearest options — many operate open enrolment.
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Ophir. 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 Ophir that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
Omakau School
Full Primary · roll 84 · decile 9 · 1.7 km away
Explore Ophir
Things to do(3)
Ophir Post Office
Stone cottage
Omakau Recreation Reserve
Parks & green spaces(1)
Omakau Recreation Reserve
Healthcare
Pharmacies and clinics for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Eat & Drink in Ophir
Places to eat & drink(3)
Muddy Creek Cafe
Pitches Store
Blacks Hotel
Professional Services in Ophir
Professional services(2)
Grasshopper Chartered Accountants Ltd
Ophir Thyme Accommodation
Stay in Ophir
Places to stay(2)
Blacks Hotel
The Bakery Cottages
Ophir Weather
Current conditions: 0.6°C, broken clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 23.49 | 10.74 | 2.72 | 11.95 |
| ☀️ Feb | 22.54 | 10.14 | 2.18 | 11.75 |
| 🍂 Mar | 18.38 | 7.07 | 2.75 | 9.86 |
| 🍂 Apr | 15.96 | 5.47 | 2.44 | 8.03 |
| 🍂 May | 10.97 | 2.36 | 2.21 | 6.23 |
| ❄️ Jun | 7.36 | -0.05 | 1.33 | 5.45 |
| ❄️ Jul | 6.7 | -1.17 | 1.98 | 6.04 |
| ❄️ Aug | 9.46 | -0.63 | 1.73 | 7.89 |
| 🌸 Sep | 12.81 | 1.7 | 4.53 | 9.1 |
| 🌸 Oct | 15.18 | 3.72 | 3.72 | 10.41 |
| 🌸 Nov | 17.78 | 6.34 | 1.87 | 11.85 |
| ☀️ Dec | 21.92 | 10.3 | 3.33 | 11.99 |
Ophir Community
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