- Est. Median Value
- $900K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $200/wk
- Safety Score
- 91/100
- Green Space
- 20%
- Current Weather
- 1.2°C
- Median Age
- 46 yrs
~34 crimes/1k/yr
overcast clouds
Living in Poolburn
Poolburn is a locality in the high schist country above the Maniototo, where the Poolburn Gorge cuts through the ranges and the Poolburn Reservoir supplies irrigation water to the Alexandra basin below. The reservoir, constructed in the early 20th century, sits at around 800 metres in the tussock-covered schist country that Central Otago does at its most elemental, and the gorge that feeds it is one of the region's more dramatic and less-visited pieces of landscape.
The Poolburn Gorge's stone buildings from the dam construction era and the high-country farming remnants above the reservoir give the locality its heritage character, while the tussock basins and the schist architecture of the surrounding ranges provide the visual setting that Central Otago's interior delivers without effort. The reservoir catchment is managed for both water supply and conservation, with the native tussock grassland around the dam holding important ecological communities.
The locality has no permanent residential population in the town-building sense: this is high-country conservation and farming land, with the nearest services in Ranfurly and the upper Maniototo communities. The road into Poolburn from the Maniototo side runs through country that rewards the detour without advertising itself.
The drive up to the reservoir from the plain below provides one of Central Otago's quieter and more rewarding landscape experiences.
Is Poolburn a good place to live?
Poolburn is home to roughly 57 people across 116.5 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Poolburn scores 52 out of 100, with a safety score of 91/100 and 20% green space.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $900K, and weekly rent typically sits around $200.
Lifestyle: The current temperature is 1.2°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Poolburn 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
- Amenities22
- Schools0
- Housing Affordability42
- Green space67
- 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 Poolburn?
- Poolburn is in the high schist country above the Maniototo in Central Otago, where the Poolburn Gorge and Reservoir sit at around 800 metres between the Maniototo plain and the Alexandra basin.
- What is the Poolburn Reservoir?
- The Poolburn Reservoir was built in the early 20th century to supply irrigation water to the Alexandra basin, sitting in a tussock-covered schist gorge at altitude with important native grassland around the catchment.
- Is Poolburn worth visiting?
- The Poolburn Gorge and reservoir area is one of Central Otago's quieter landscape destinations, with schist gorge scenery, heritage dam structures and native tussock grassland, reached by the road from the Maniototo.
- Is Poolburn populated?
- Poolburn has no permanent residential population; it is high-country conservation and farming land, with the nearest services in Ranfurly and the upper Maniototo.
- How do I get from Ranfurly to Poolburn?
- By car via the road heading south from the Maniototo toward the Poolburn Gorge, around 40 minutes from Ranfurly on the unsealed access road.
- What is the postcode for Poolburn?
- The postcode for Poolburn is 9387.
- How much do houses cost in Poolburn?
- The estimated median property value in Poolburn is $900K. Median weekly rent is $200/week.
Stay in Poolburn
Places to stay(1)
Poolburn Adventure Hub
Poolburn Weather
Current conditions: 1.2°C, overcast clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 22.76 | 10.03 | 2.72 | 11.95 |
| ☀️ Feb | 21.83 | 9.42 | 2.18 | 11.75 |
| 🍂 Mar | 17.65 | 6.35 | 2.75 | 9.86 |
| 🍂 Apr | 15.24 | 4.73 | 2.44 | 8.03 |
| 🍂 May | 10.25 | 1.64 | 2.21 | 6.23 |
| ❄️ Jun | 6.63 | -0.78 | 1.33 | 5.45 |
| ❄️ Jul | 5.97 | -1.89 | 1.98 | 6.04 |
| ❄️ Aug | 8.73 | -1.36 | 1.73 | 7.89 |
| 🌸 Sep | 12.08 | 0.97 | 4.53 | 9.1 |
| 🌸 Oct | 14.45 | 2.99 | 3.72 | 10.41 |
| 🌸 Nov | 17.07 | 5.61 | 1.87 | 11.85 |
| ☀️ Dec | 21.19 | 9.58 | 3.33 | 11.99 |
Poolburn Community
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