- Est. Median Value
- $877K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $200/wk
- Safety Score
- 91/100
- Green Space
- 36%
- Current Weather
- 1.1°C
- Median Age
- 46 yrs
~34 crimes/1k/yr
scattered clouds
Living in Saint Bathans
St Bathans is a gold rush town with fewer than 20 permanent residents and a hotel that punches considerably above its demographic weight. The Vulcan Hotel has been operating in the Dunstan goldfields since 1882 and manages the considerable trick of being genuinely haunted - the resident ghost Rose has her own entry in the TripAdvisor listing and has been reported by guests with enough consistency to make the sceptics work slightly harder - while also being the best pub in a 60-kilometre radius and the social heart of a community that has been declining in population for 120 years and declining enjoyably.
The Blue Lake above the town is the goldfields' most photogenic legacy: a pool of extraordinary turquoise left behind when the dredges finished and the Manuherikia reclaimed the pit, its colour so improbable that visitors routinely suspect editing. The historic precinct around the hotel holds several original stone and mudbrick buildings from the 1860s and 80s, preserved well enough to illustrate the scale of a town that once housed several thousand and now houses fewer than the original hotel could sleep.
The Central Otago Rail Trail passes through the district, and the goldfields circuit walks connect St Bathans to the surrounding heritage landscape. Ranfurly's services are 35 minutes east, and Alexandra's are an hour south.
Is Saint Bathans a good place to live?
Saint Bathans is home to roughly 1,278 people across 629.0 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Saint Bathans scores 52 out of 100, with a safety score of 91/100 and 36% green space.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $877K, and weekly rent typically sits around $200.
Lifestyle: Saint Bathans has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 1.1°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Saint Bathans 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
- Amenities10
- Schools0
- Housing Affordability43
- Green space100
- Community56
- Transport19
Some dimensions are still pending data: schoolQuality.
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $877K
- 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 St Bathans?
- St Bathans is in Central Otago, around 35 km northwest of Ranfurly and 60 km north of Alexandra, in the Dunstan goldfields between the Hawkdun and Dunstan ranges.
- What is the Vulcan Hotel?
- The Vulcan Hotel in St Bathans has operated since 1882 and is famous for its preserved historic character, excellent food and drink, and its resident ghost Rose, reported by enough visitors to be taken semi-seriously by the management.
- What is the Blue Lake at St Bathans?
- The Blue Lake is a vivid turquoise pool left by gold dredging operations in the Manuherikia River, now a scenic reserve with a remarkable colour produced by its mineral content and depth.
- Is there accommodation in St Bathans?
- The Vulcan Hotel offers accommodation in the historic building, the only commercial accommodation in the village and one of the more atmospheric options in Central Otago.
- How do I get from Ranfurly to St Bathans?
- By car, around 35 minutes northwest via the Becks and St Bathans roads through the Maniototo, on unsealed roads through the goldfields landscape.
- What is the postcode for Saint Bathans?
- The postcode for Saint Bathans is 9386.
- What is the population of Saint Bathans?
- Saint Bathans has 1,278 residents, based on the 2023 Census.
Explore Saint Bathans
Things to do(2)
Old gold workings
Water intake
Parks & green spaces
Parks and reserves for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Healthcare
Pharmacies and clinics for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Professional Services in Saint Bathans
Professional services(1)
The Old Orchard Cottage
Stay in Saint Bathans
Places to stay(4)
Homestead Campsite
Saint Bathans Campsite
Vulcan Hotel
St Bathans Vulcan Hotel
Saint Bathans Weather
Current conditions: 1.1°C, scattered clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 20.94 | 9.55 | 69.47 | 11.94 |
| ☀️ Feb | 19.31 | 8.71 | 93.23 | 11.08 |
| 🍂 Mar | 16.9 | 6.75 | 77.67 | 10.02 |
| 🍂 Apr | 14.29 | 4.65 | 76.83 | 8.73 |
| 🍂 May | 10.07 | 2.02 | 59.47 | 6.93 |
| ❄️ Jun | 6.57 | -0.62 | 47.9 | 5.83 |
| ❄️ Jul | 4.73 | -1.91 | 83.63 | 6.01 |
| ❄️ Aug | 7.44 | -1.28 | 74.8 | 7.91 |
| 🌸 Sep | 10.31 | 0.7 | 124.53 | 9.28 |
| 🌸 Oct | 12.65 | 2.22 | 104.17 | 10.57 |
| 🌸 Nov | 15.61 | 5.38 | 81.1 | 11.49 |
| ☀️ Dec | 18.9 | 8.71 | 91.53 | 11.89 |
Saint Bathans Community
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