- Est. Median Value
- $600K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $344/wk
- Safety Score
- 82/100
- Green Space
- 18%
- Current Weather
- 8.5°C
- Median Age
- 48 yrs
~43 crimes/1k/yr
overcast clouds
Living in Seacliff
Seacliff is the coastal locality north of Dunedin where the cliffs drop to the Pacific and a village of baches, holiday homes and permanent residents occupies the narrow coastal flat between the farmland and the sea. Around 200 people live here permanently, managing the specific lifestyle of coastal Otago's smaller beach settlements: dramatic scenery, persistent swell, variable weather and the quiet that results from being far enough from Dunedin to discourage the uncommitted.
The name does the promotional work the location doesn't need: the cliffs above the beach are the geological feature that defines the village's position, and the beach below them has the character of an Otago coast beach - substantial surf, occasional seal visitor, driftwood and the kind of cold-water clarity that makes the brave look the same as the foolish from the shore. The cliff walks above provide the views that justify the description.
Seacliff has a historical footnote that the village carries quietly: the former Seacliff Lunatic Asylum, later the Seacliff Hospital, operated for a century on the hill above the village, and Janet Frame spent time there in the 1940s, an episode she described in her autobiography. The institution closed in 1973 and the buildings have largely gone.
Waikouaiti's services are the nearest full option, 10 minutes south. Dunedin is 35 minutes.
Is Seacliff a good place to live?
Seacliff is home to roughly 1,638 people across 20.0 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Seacliff scores 53 out of 100, with a safety score of 82/100 and 18% green space.
Schools: Seacliff has 9 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 $600K, and weekly rent typically sits around $344.
Lifestyle: Seacliff has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 8.5°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Seacliff 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
- Safety82
- Amenities10
- Schools87
- Housing Affordability62
- Green space61
- Community33
- Transport19
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $600K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $344/wk
- Median HH Income
- $85K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +10.5%
- 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 Seacliff?
- Seacliff is on the Otago coast, around 35 km north of Dunedin, between Waikouaiti and Warrington, where coastal cliffs drop to a Pacific beach.
- What is the beach like at Seacliff?
- Seacliff's beach is a typical coastal Otago surf beach below the cliffs, with cold, clear water, regular swell, driftwood and the occasional fur seal, better for walking and watching than casual swimming.
- What is Seacliff's connection to Janet Frame?
- Janet Frame was admitted to the former Seacliff Hospital above the village in the 1940s, an experience she wrote about in her autobiography An Angel at My Table, which was later adapted as a film by Jane Campion.
- Is there accommodation at Seacliff?
- Seacliff has holiday accommodation including baches and campground options, primarily catering to the summer and weekend visitor population.
- How do I get from Dunedin to Seacliff?
- By car, around 35 minutes north on State Highway 1 to Waikouaiti, then the coastal road north. The village is signed from the highway.
- Which schools are in zone for Seacliff?
- Children living in Seacliff are in zone for Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School, Logan Park High School, St Hildas Collegiate, Columba College, Warrington School, John McGlashan College, Liberton Christian School, Trinity Catholic College. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.
- How do I check my school zone in Seacliff?
- 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 Seacliff
Schools in zone for Seacliff
Children living in Seacliff have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School
Full Primary · roll 77 · decile 9
Logan Park High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 839 · decile 7
St Hildas Collegiate
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 463 · decile 10
Columba College
Composite · roll 609
Warrington School
Full Primary · roll 35 · decile 8
John McGlashan College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 527
Liberton Christian School
Full Primary · roll 133 · decile 7
Trinity Catholic College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 872
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Seacliff. 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 Seacliff that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
Karitane School
Contributing · roll 27 · decile 6 · 4.4 km away
Explore Seacliff
Things to do(1)
Truby King Reserve
Parks & green spaces(1)
Truby King Reserve
Healthcare
Pharmacies and clinics for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Seacliff Weather
Current conditions: 8.5°C, overcast clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 17.53 | 10.76 | 2.03 | 10.23 |
| ☀️ Feb | 17.68 | 10.28 | 2.16 | 10.17 |
| 🍂 Mar | 15.25 | 8.43 | 3.5 | 8.99 |
| 🍂 Apr | 13.83 | 6.9 | 2.13 | 7.35 |
| 🍂 May | 11.45 | 4.84 | 1.64 | 6.11 |
| ❄️ Jun | 9.45 | 3.94 | 2.1 | 5.22 |
| ❄️ Jul | 9.04 | 3.87 | 3.01 | 5.87 |
| ❄️ Aug | 10.1 | 2.46 | 1.34 | 7.62 |
| 🌸 Sep | 12.28 | 4.28 | 3.08 | 8.47 |
| 🌸 Oct | 13.17 | 5.06 | 4.18 | 9.6 |
| 🌸 Nov | 13.72 | 6.54 | 3.13 | 10.09 |
| ☀️ Dec | 15.78 | 9.47 | 4.57 | 9.17 |
Seacliff Community
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