- Est. Median Value
- $771K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $460/wk
- Safety Score
- 51/100
- Green Space
- 29%
- Current Weather
- 10.9°C
- Median Age
- 46 yrs
~74 crimes/1k/yr
scattered clouds
Living in Ruakākā
Ruakaka is a small coastal town around 30 km south of Whangarei on the Bream Bay coast, between Waipu and the Marsden Point industrial precinct. Population around 2,500 and growing. It's one of those Northland coastal settlements that has spent the past 20 years transitioning from a holiday-cottage community into a year-round residential town.
Ruakaka Beach is the main feature: a long sandy Pacific beach with consistent surf, popular through summer with holiday-makers and year-round with surfers from across Northland. The Ruakaka Beach Holiday Park (running since the 1960s, formerly the Ruakaka Motor Camp) is one of Northland's better-known campgrounds.
The Ruakaka township is centred on the corner of SH1 and Pyle Road, with the Fresh Choice Ruakaka, the local takeaways and standard small-town retail. The Ruakaka Racecourse on Princes Road hosts regular thoroughbred meetings, including the Northland Cup each January.
Marsden Point, the country's only oil refinery until its 2022 closure, sits 5 km north of Ruakaka, now being converted into an import terminal. Bream Bay College is the local secondary school. Most homes are coastal cottages or newer subdivisions on the inland side of SH1.
Is Ruakākā a good place to live?
Ruakākā is home to roughly 2,817 people. On Suburb's overall livability scale, Ruakākā scores 59 out of 100, with a safety score of 51/100 and 29% green space.
Schools: Ruakākā has 2 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 $771K, and weekly rent typically sits around $460.
Lifestyle: Ruakākā has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 10.9°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Ruakākā 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
- Safety51
- Amenities100
- Schools58
- Housing Affordability49
- Green space98
- Community11
- Transport13
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $771K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $460/wk
- Median HH Income
- $65K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +8.9%
- 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 Ruakaka?
- Ruakaka is a small coastal town in Northland on State Highway 1, around 30 km south of Whangarei. It sits on the Bream Bay coast between Waipu (south) and Marsden Point (north).
- Is Ruakaka Beach good for swimming?
- Ruakaka Beach is a long sandy Pacific beach with consistent surf, popular for swimming and surfing through summer. Surf Life Saving NZ patrols operate over peak summer at the patrolled section near the surf club.
- What is the Ruakaka Beach Holiday Park?
- The Ruakaka Beach Holiday Park on Beach Road is a long-running campground operating since the 1960s (formerly the Ruakaka Motor Camp). Cabins, powered and unpowered campsites, family pool and amenities.
- What is Marsden Point?
- Marsden Point, 5 km north of Ruakaka, was the country's only oil refinery from 1964 to 2022. The site is being converted into a fuel import terminal. The deepwater port at Marsden Point handles much of Northland's freight.
- How do I get from Whangarei to Ruakaka?
- By car, around 25 to 35 minutes via SH1 south. Bus services run regularly from Whangarei to Ruakaka via SH1, with several daily departures. The closest train service is in Auckland.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Ruakākā
Schools in zone for Ruakākā
Children living in Ruakākā have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Ruakākā School
Contributing · roll 303 · decile 6
Bream Bay College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 624 · decile 5
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Ruakākā. 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.
Explore Ruakākā
Things to do(9)
Ruakaka Recreation Centre
Ruakaka Memorial Hall
Ruakaka Surf Lifesaving Patrol
Ruakaka Racing
DCPA Northland
Bream Bay Ballet
Ruakaka River Side Reserve
One Tree Point Pony Club
Marsden Fit
Parks & green spaces(1)
Ruakaka River Side Reserve
Healthcare(1)
Bream Bay Medical Centre
Eat & Drink in Ruakākā
Places to eat & drink(18)
Italian Cafe
Bach Cafe
Two Birds Restaurant
Spice Route Indian Restaurant
Ainga
Frenchy's Kitchen
Kebab & Pizza Factory
Ginger Garlic Indian
Porthouse Bar and Eatery
Two Birds cafe Ruakaka
Sugarcrafts
La nonna Italian Bakery
Ruakaka Tavern
The Vet Centre Ruakaka
The Grind
One Tree Point Brewery
Bream Bay Takeaway
The Bach Cafe
Tradies & Services in Ruakākā
Tradies & services(23)
Auto Tech
Bream Bay Coatings
Busy Bees Ruakaka
Daltons Landscape Supplies, Ruakaka
Devlin Property
Echo Homes
Educare Bream Bay
Full Noise Auto Restorations Ltd
Laser Electrical Bream Bay
Laser Plumbing Ruakaka
Marsden Childcare Centre
Marsden Hydraulics
Marsden Motors
Marsden Panel and Paint
Marsden Truck Wash
Marsden Tyres and Suspension
New Life Upholstery
Progress Vehicle Certifications
Razor Lawn and Property Maintenance
Terra Landscapes
The Bro Jos Automotive
Thunder Plumbing
Wortelboer Motors Ltd
Shops in Ruakākā
Shops(13)
Big Tomato
Bream Bay Greenworld
Bream Bay Merchants
Christina Maassen Art
Four Square
FreshChoice Ruakaka
HomePlus Louvre Roofs
Lake View Garden
Motu Native Plant Nursery
Nikki Clarke - Founder of Cadenshae
Point Timber
Ruakaka Supervalue
Topline Air Conditioning and Appliances
Beauty & Fitness in Ruakākā
Beauty & fitness(17)
Bay View Beauty
Beauty by Gail
Beauty on the Move
Bream Bay Ballet
DCPA Northland
Heads Up Hair Design
Hedkandi Collab
Jimmy's Barber Shop
Marsden Fit
One Tree Point Pony Club
Poly Barbers
Pure Essence
Ruakaka Memorial Hall
Ruakaka Racing
Ruakaka Recreation Centre
Ruakaka Surf Lifesaving Patrol
The Beauty Shop
Professional Services in Ruakākā
Professional services(5)
Bream Bay Tax
Intertek Asbestos Services
MarsdenWaste
Moko Hiwi Escape BnB NZ
Monster Distribution
Stay in Ruakākā
Places to stay(10)
Ruakaka Beach Front Motel
The Digs
Ruakākā Beach Reserve
Ridge Haven - Accommodation Ruakaka
Valencia Ruakaka
Dune Lakes
Paradise Shores Ruakaka Surf Beach
Cozy Cottage Ruakaka
Ruakaka Beachfront Motel
Ruakaka Beach Holiday Park
Ruakākā Weather
Current conditions: 10.9°C, scattered clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 22.79 | 17.37 | 5.97 | 10.15 |
| ☀️ Feb | 23.06 | 16.44 | 5.38 | 10.32 |
| 🍂 Mar | 21.66 | 14.05 | 0.94 | 10.24 |
| 🍂 Apr | 20.07 | 14.4 | 4.03 | 8.13 |
| 🍂 May | 17.32 | 12.01 | 3.44 | 8.02 |
| ❄️ Jun | 15.87 | 10.55 | 3.83 | 6.83 |
| ❄️ Jul | 15.06 | 9.24 | 3.99 | 7.54 |
| ❄️ Aug | 15.12 | 7.98 | 2.47 | 8.14 |
| 🌸 Sep | 17.01 | 10.29 | 2.93 | 9.29 |
| 🌸 Oct | 18 | 11.43 | 4 | 10.19 |
| 🌸 Nov | 19.98 | 12.21 | 2.8 | 11.18 |
| ☀️ Dec | 23.15 | 15.41 | 3.47 | 11.17 |
Ruakākā Community
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