- Est. Median Value
- $647K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $460/wk
- Safety Score
- 17/100
- Green Space
- 23%
- Current Weather
- 9.5°C
- Median Age
- 33 yrs
~108 crimes/1k/yr
few clouds
Living in Ōwhata
Ōwhata sits on the eastern side of Rotorua near the lake's southeastern shore, around 7 km from the city centre, and it owns the setting of the greatest love story ever told in this country. It was from Ōwhata that Hinemoa, defying her people, swam across Lake Rotorua by night to Tutānekai on Mokoia Island, guided by the sound of his flute, a pūrākau every New Zealand child learns and this suburb's shoreline actually witnessed. Few places anywhere live beside their own legend so casually.
Around 6,000 people make up modern Ōwhata, a young, strongly Māori community on flat streets between Te Ngae Road and the lake edge, where the reserves at Hannahs Bay and Holdens Bay carry the swimming, the waka ama crews and the long lake sunsets.
The practical kit is closer than the postcard suggests: the Te Ngae retail corridor's supermarkets sit minutes away, Rotorua Airport is practically next door, and the Redwoods' trails and the city's full tourist arsenal wait within 10 minutes.
Ōwhata School anchors the local years, with Rotorua Lakes High School taking most of the east's secondary students. Ōwhata's daily view is the lake, the island and the legend's swimming line. The rent does not begin to reflect it.
Is Ōwhata a good place to live?
Ōwhata is home to roughly 7,803 people across 28.0 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Ōwhata scores 52 out of 100, with a safety score of 17/100 and 23% green space.
Schools: Ōwhata has 13 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 $647K, and weekly rent typically sits around $460.
Lifestyle: Ōwhata has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 9.5°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Ōwhata 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
- Safety17
- Amenities100
- Schools58
- Housing Affordability58
- Green space77
- Community10
- Transport30
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $647K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $460/wk
- Median HH Income
- $87K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +2.7%
- 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 Owhata?
- Ōwhata is in eastern Rotorua, around 7 km from the city centre along Te Ngae Road, near the lake's southeastern shore, with Rotorua Airport minutes away.
- What is the story of Hinemoa and Owhata?
- Hinemoa lived at Ōwhata and famously swam across Lake Rotorua by night to Mokoia Island to be with Tutānekai, guided by his flute, one of the most celebrated love stories in Māori tradition.
- Where can you swim near Owhata?
- The lake reserves at Hannahs Bay and Holdens Bay, beside Ōwhata, offer swimming spots, picnic areas and waka ama launching along Lake Rotorua's eastern shore.
- What schools are in Owhata?
- Ōwhata School is the local state primary, with Rotorua Lakes High School serving most of eastern Rotorua's secondary students nearby.
- How do I get from Rotorua city centre to Owhata?
- By car, around 10 minutes east via Te Ngae Road (SH30). City buses run the Te Ngae corridor to Ōwhata and the airport.
- Which schools are in zone for Ōwhata?
- Children living in Ōwhata are in zone for Rotorua Boys' High School, Rotorua Girls' High School, Rotorua Lakes High School, Mokoia Intermediate, Owhata School, John Paul College. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.
- How do I check my school zone in Ōwhata?
- 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 Ōwhata
Schools in zone for Ōwhata
Children living in Ōwhata have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Rotorua Boys' High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1176 · decile 3
Rotorua Girls' High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 662
Rotorua Lakes High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 640 · decile 5
Mokoia Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 337 · decile 5
Owhata School
Contributing · roll 213 · decile 2
John Paul College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 1103 · decile 7
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Ōwhata. 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 Ōwhata that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai
Composite · roll 99 · decile 2 · 0.9 km away
Rotokawa School
Contributing · roll 163 · decile 4 · 2.6 km away
Lynmore Primary School
Contributing · roll 618 · decile 9 · 2.7 km away
TKKM o Ruamata
Composite · roll 287 · decile 3 · 3.7 km away
Rotorua School
Full Primary · roll 380 · decile 3 · 4.3 km away
Whakarewarewa School
Full Primary · roll 124 · decile 2 · 4.9 km away
Rotorua S D A School
Full Primary · roll 42 · decile 4 · 5.0 km away
Explore Ōwhata
Things to do(5)
Puketawhero Park
Hannahs Bay Reserve
Bluff Sports & Recreation Club
Dezined 4 Impact Rotorua
Lakes Squash Rotorua
Parks & green spaces(2)
Puketawhero Park
Hannahs Bay Reserve
Healthcare(3)
Tiaho Medical Centre
Owhata Pharmacy
Owhata Medical Centre
Eat & Drink in Ōwhata
Places to eat & drink(18)
Kwang Chow restaurant
The Colonial Tavern
Papa's Cafe
Pizza Hut
Shark Attack Takeaways
Owhata Bakery
McDonald's
Great Spice Indian Takeaway
Four Winds Tavern Rotorua
The Baking Patch
Brew bistro and kitchen
Sidecar Brewery bar
Owhata Takeaways
Te Ngae Fish Supply
Robert Harris Coffee Roasters
Terrace Airside
The Curry Place
King Dragon Chinese Takeaway
Tradies & Services in Ōwhata
Tradies & services(8)
Bay Wired Electrical
Enterprise Builders
Essence Fire Equipment
Groundbase
Kiwi Educare Rotorua
Steve Williams Fencing
Te Whare Whitinga o te Ra
Tile Mate Rotorua
Shops in Ōwhata
Shops(12)
Eastside Foodmarket
Four Square Te Ngae
FreshChoice
FreshChoice Te Ngae
Fruit Monster Te Ngae
Mad Butcher Te Ngae
Owhata Thirsty liquor
Rehmat Fashion Boutique
Rotorua Forest Nursery
Super Liquor Colonial
Thirsty Liquor
Wendy's Supa Sundaes Rotorua
Beauty & Fitness in Ōwhata
Beauty & fitness(10)
Ayu Beauty and Tattoo Studio
Bluff Sports & Recreation Club
Boss Brows by Alyse Chloe
Cutz 4 U
Dezined 4 Impact Rotorua
Jenny's Beauty Spot Salon
Lakes Squash Rotorua
PAUA Hair Company
Selah Nails & Beauty
You Beauty
Professional Services in Ōwhata
Professional services(6)
Colour Lab
Earth Development New Zealand
Hi Technology Solutions
Mokoia Community Association
Roadmaster
Stranz Hair Design
Stay in Ōwhata
Places to stay(2)
Rotorua Canopy Tours
Lake Okareka Lodge
Ōwhata Weather
Current conditions: 9.5°C, few clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 21.77 | 14.43 | 6.91 | 9.3 |
| ☀️ Feb | 22.02 | 14.13 | 5.42 | 9.35 |
| 🍂 Mar | 19.62 | 11.03 | 2.27 | 9.75 |
| 🍂 Apr | 17.74 | 10.91 | 2.88 | 7.76 |
| 🍂 May | 14.4 | 7.93 | 6.54 | 6.82 |
| ❄️ Jun | 12.98 | 6.98 | 4.55 | 6.61 |
| ❄️ Jul | 12.04 | 5.2 | 3.05 | 6.47 |
| ❄️ Aug | 12.49 | 4.14 | 1.95 | 7.3 |
| 🌸 Sep | 14.93 | 7.04 | 4.38 | 8.44 |
| 🌸 Oct | 16.9 | 8.66 | 3.77 | 9.56 |
| 🌸 Nov | 18.89 | 10.34 | 3.1 | 10.19 |
| ☀️ Dec | 21.92 | 13.43 | 4.2 | 10.36 |
Ōwhata Community
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