- Est. Median Value
- $340K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $258/wk
- Safety Score
- 43/100
- Green Space
- 24%
- Current Weather
- 0.2°C
- Median Age
- 45 yrs
~82 crimes/1k/yr
clear sky
Living in Taumarunui
Taumarunui sits deep in the King Country where the Ōngarue River joins the Whanganui, around 4,500 people in the town that the railway made famous and a song made immortal. Taumarunui on the Main Trunk Line, the refreshment-stop lament that every New Zealander of a certain generation can hum, fixed the town forever at the heart of the railway story, and the line still runs through, the Northern Explorer pausing where the pie carts once ruled.
The rivers run deeper still. Taumarunui is the traditional starting point for the Whanganui Journey, the canoe trip down the great river that counts as one of the official Great Walks despite requiring a paddle, and the town outfits, launches and debriefs the river traffic in season with practiced ease.
The third act is gloriously eccentric: the Forgotten World rail carts run from nearby Okahukura down the mothballed Stratford line, self-driving golf carts on rails through tunnels and valleys that progress forgot, one of provincial tourism's strangest and best ideas.
Taumarunui High School anchors the schools, Mt Ruapehu's skifields sit an hour east, and the King Country's hills hold the town in green isolation. Rail, river and rail carts. Taumarunui's connections were always the point. They still are.
Is Taumarunui a good place to live?
Taumarunui is home to roughly 3,198 people across 129.3 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Taumarunui scores 65 out of 100, with a safety score of 43/100 and 24% green space.
Schools: Taumarunui has 7 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 $340K, and weekly rent typically sits around $258.
Lifestyle: Taumarunui has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. Public transport stops are within easy reach. The current temperature is 0.2°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Taumarunui 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
- Safety43
- Amenities100
- Schools37
- Housing Affordability100
- Green space80
- Community22
- Transport10
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $340K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $258/wk
- Median HH Income
- $48K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +3.8%
- 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 Taumarunui?
- Taumarunui is in the King Country at the junction of the Whanganui and Ōngarue rivers, around 80 minutes south of Te Kūiti and an hour west of the Mt Ruapehu skifields, on the Main Trunk railway line.
- What is the Whanganui Journey?
- The Whanganui Journey is the multi-day canoe trip down the Whanganui River, one of New Zealand's Great Walks, traditionally launched from Taumarunui or nearby Cherry Grove, with local operators providing canoes and transport.
- What are the Forgotten World rail carts?
- Forgotten World Adventures runs self-drive rail carts from near Taumarunui along the mothballed Stratford-Okahukura railway line, through tunnels and remote valleys toward Whangamōmona, a unique heritage rail experience.
- Why is Taumarunui famous in New Zealand music?
- The song Taumarunui (on the Main Trunk Line), a 1950s classic lamenting a railway refreshment-stop romance, made the town a permanent fixture in New Zealand popular culture.
- How do I get from Hamilton to Taumarunui?
- By car, around 2 hours south via State Highways 3 and 4 through Te Kūiti and the King Country hills. The Northern Explorer train between Auckland and Wellington stops at Taumarunui.
- Which schools are in zone for Taumarunui?
- Taumarunui is not covered by a school enrolment zone. Nearby schools may accept enrolments under open enrolment or by application.
- How do I check my school zone in Taumarunui?
- 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 Taumarunui
Schools in zone for Taumarunui
No enrolment-zoned schools cover Taumarunui. The schools below are the nearest options — many operate open enrolment.
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Taumarunui. 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 Taumarunui that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
Taumarunui Primary School
Full Primary · roll 134 · decile 1 · 0.5 km away
Turaki School
Full Primary · roll 173 · decile 3 · 0.7 km away
St Patrick's Catholic School (Taumarunui)
Full Primary · roll 63 · decile 4 · 0.8 km away
Tarrangower School
Full Primary · roll 59 · decile 2 · 2.0 km away
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Taumarunui
Composite · roll 93 · decile 1 · 2.4 km away
Taumarunui High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 309 · decile 2 · 2.6 km away
Manunui School
Full Primary · roll 135 · decile 2 · 4.8 km away
Explore Taumarunui
Things to do(10)
Train Bench
Taumarunui Athletic Sports Centre
Main Trunk Fitness
Hall of Martial Arts Taumarunui
Rosehill Arena & Lessons
Breakthrough Community Trust
Taumarunui Domain
Taumarunui Squash Racquets Club
The Cell Gym
Mas Oyama Karate
Parks & green spaces(1)
Taumarunui Domain
Healthcare(1)
Taumarunui Hospital
Eat & Drink in Taumarunui
Places to eat & drink(21)
JDZ Carriage Cafe
Jasmines Cafe
RSA
Cafe And Restaurant 75
Taumarunui Bakery
Taumarunui Cosmopolitan Club
Zarz Cafe and Takeaway
McDonald's
Taumarunui Thepubwithnobeer
The Bakehouse Coffee
Salt & Pepper
Golden Kiwi Takeaways Taumarunui
Hong Kong Fast Food
Monsoon Indian Cuisine
Pizza K More
Jayzeez
Jasmines Cafe and Thai Restaurant
Trunk Coffeehouse
Rusty Nail Tavern
Kai Nui
Kainui Coffee and Catering
Tradies & Services in Taumarunui
Tradies & services(22)
Advantage
Advantage Tyre & Battery Shop
Advantage Tyre & Battery Shop Taumarunui (Formerly Beaurepaires)
Beaurepaires
Beaurepaires Tyre & Battery Shop Taumarunui
Central North Island Sheds
Garry Kidd Engineering Co
GILLARD MOTORS
Homersham Mechanical LTD
Jilesen Group
King Country Motors LTD
King Country Wheel Alignment
LPS Cabinetry Ltd
MJO Plumbing
Mr Plumber
NOVUS Glass Taumarunui - King Country Glass
Ruapehu Auto electrical
Ruapehu Cleaning Solutions
Ruapehu Engineering
Taumarunui Auto Centre LTD
Wakelin Engineering
Wheels & Tyres Taumarunui
Shops in Taumarunui
Shops(17)
Beds R Us NZ
BedsRus Taumarunui
Country Carpet & Furniture
Discount Mart-Taumarunui
Four Square Taumarunui
Gorjis
Hillcrest Dairy Golf Rd
Liquorland Taumarunui
Mitre 10 Taumarunui
New World Taumarunui
Postie Taumarunui
Super Liquor Taumarunui
Taumarunui Concrete Products
Taumarunui Mitre 10
Taumarunui Timber and Treatment
The Toolshed
WEST END Convenience STORE
Beauty & Fitness in Taumarunui
Beauty & fitness(18)
Breakthrough Community Trust
Golden Combz Training Salon Academy
Hall of Martial Arts Taumarunui
KAYZ Beauty LTD
LK Barbershop
Main Trunk Fitness
Mas Oyama Karate
Nails By Cayley
One to One Beauty
Partnerz n Hair
Rapunzel Hair Salon
Ritual Nails and Beauty
Rosehill Arena & Lessons
Sharon's Hair Design
Taumarunui Athletic Sports Centre
Taumarunui Squash Racquets Club
The Beauty box
The Cell Gym
Professional Services in Taumarunui
Professional services(5)
BuildBusiness Internet Marketing
Echolands Valley Lodge
Mackintosh Shearing
Peak Chartered Accountants
Taumarunui RSA
Stay in Taumarunui
Places to stay(8)
Alexander Spa Motel
Kelly's Motel
Taumarunui Hotel
Twin Rivers Motel
Central Park Motor Inn and Conference Centre
Alexander Motel
Kelly's Riverside Motel
Te Awa Glamping
Taumarunui Weather
Current conditions: 0.2°C, clear sky
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 21.96 | 13.74 | 4.97 | 9.7 |
| ☀️ Feb | 20.95 | 12.58 | 4.85 | 9.98 |
| 🍂 Mar | 18.34 | 9.21 | 4.3 | 9.07 |
| 🍂 Apr | 17.48 | 9.49 | 3.52 | 7.65 |
| 🍂 May | 14.35 | 6.71 | 5.19 | 6.62 |
| ❄️ Jun | 13.07 | 5.53 | 2.85 | 6.65 |
| ❄️ Jul | 11.59 | 3.61 | 3.9 | 6.43 |
| ❄️ Aug | 11.77 | 3.48 | 4.41 | 7.38 |
| 🌸 Sep | 14.29 | 5.75 | 6.07 | 8.43 |
| 🌸 Oct | 15.94 | 7.17 | 5.92 | 9.08 |
| 🌸 Nov | 17.59 | 9.36 | 3.87 | 9.21 |
| ☀️ Dec | 20.69 | 12.16 | 5.28 | 9.54 |
Taumarunui Community
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