- Est. Median Value
- $550K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $200/wk
- Safety Score
- 85/100
- Green Space
- 62%
- Current Weather
- -0.7°C
- Median Age
- 49 yrs
~40 crimes/1k/yr
broken clouds
Living in Quailburn
Quailburn is a high-country locality on the Ida Valley's northern edge, in the tussock basin between the Raggedy Range and the Rock and Pillar, and the name is a small masterpiece of 19th-century descriptive topography: the burn runs through the valley floor, and the quail were once plentiful enough to earn it. Both the burn and the descendants of some quail are still present; the locality itself runs on the pastoral economy that the Otago high country has always provided.
The Ida Valley here is broad, flat-floored and surrounded by the rounded schist and tussock ranges that give Central Otago its particular character of emptiness-with-structure. The valley's skating rink on the Idaburn Dam, one of New Zealand's best-known natural ice skating venues in cold winters, draws the seasonal population from surrounding towns when the ice is sufficiently thick, which is an event-based economy the area has run for over a century.
The permanent population is farming families on the high-country stations, supplemented by the occasional writer or artist who has discovered that the Ida Valley's silence is a working condition. The nearest full services are in Ranfurly, the Maniototo's main town, and the secondary schooling run to Ranfurly College is an Otago high-country character-building exercise.
Idaburn School holds the local years for the valley's children.
Is Quailburn a good place to live?
Quailburn is home to roughly 909 people across 284.4 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Quailburn scores 59 out of 100, with a safety score of 85/100 and 62% green space.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $550K, and weekly rent typically sits around $200.
Lifestyle: The current temperature is -0.7°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Quailburn 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.
Livability Breakdown
- Safety85
- Amenities22
- Schools0
- Housing Affordability68
- Green space100
- Community67
- Transport19
Some dimensions are still pending data: schoolQuality.
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $550K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $200/wk
- Median HH Income
- $78K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +18.8%
- 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 Quailburn?
- Quailburn is in the Ida Valley in Central Otago, on the northern Maniototo fringe, between the Raggedy Range and the Rock and Pillar, north of Ranfurly on the Maniototo plains.
- What is the Idaburn Dam skating rink?
- The Idaburn Dam creates a natural ice skating rink in cold Central Otago winters, one of New Zealand's most famous outdoor skating venues, drawing visitors when conditions are right, which occurs most years.
- What is the landscape like at Quailburn?
- Quailburn sits in the broad tussock basin of the Ida Valley, surrounded by rounded schist ranges, with the open, silent landscape typical of Central Otago's interior high country.
- What schools serve Quailburn?
- Idaburn School is the local primary serving the valley. Secondary students attend Ranfurly College, the Maniototo's main secondary school.
- How do I get from Ranfurly to Quailburn?
- By car, around 20 minutes northwest via the Patearoa Road or the Ida Valley Road through the Maniototo, following the valley floor toward the Raggedy Range.
- What is the postcode for Quailburn?
- The postcode for Quailburn is 7901.
- What is the population of Quailburn?
- Quailburn has 909 residents, based on the 2023 Census.
Quailburn Weather
Current conditions: -0.7°C, broken clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 17.4 | 5.95 | 85.67 | 12.18 |
| ☀️ Feb | 15.46 | 5.08 | 108.1 | 10.59 |
| 🍂 Mar | 13.2 | 3.02 | 90.43 | 9.71 |
| 🍂 Apr | 10.92 | 0.58 | 97.87 | 8.37 |
| 🍂 May | 6.8 | -1.86 | 78.17 | 6.68 |
| ❄️ Jun | 1.51 | -5.16 | 77.23 | 5.13 |
| ❄️ Jul | 0.93 | -5.35 | 101.97 | 5.48 |
| ❄️ Aug | 2.85 | -5.39 | 118.2 | 6.94 |
| 🌸 Sep | 6.51 | -3.26 | 178.7 | 8.84 |
| 🌸 Oct | 8.88 | -1.56 | 155.33 | 10.38 |
| 🌸 Nov | 12.33 | 2.19 | 123.73 | 11.35 |
| ☀️ Dec | 14.97 | 5.07 | 107.27 | 11.89 |
Quailburn Community
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