- Est. Median Value
- $555K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $278/wk
- Safety Score
- 82/100
- Green Space
- 5%
- Current Weather
- 9.9°C
- Median Age
- 53 yrs
~43 crimes/1k/yr
overcast clouds
Living in Waikouaiti
Waikouaiti is the coastal Otago town between Dunedin and Palmerston, around 45 km north of the city, with the river meeting the sea at its southern edge and the whale-watching history written into its name: the original Māori settlement of Ōtākou established a strong presence here long before the European whalers arrived in the 1830s to set up one of the first permanent European settlements in Otago. Around 1,500 people live in the modern town, in a coastal community that runs fishing, farming and the tourism that the highway proximity makes unavoidable.
The beach at Waikouaiti is the town's summer economy and its winter reward: a long, gently curving bay with the Otago coastline's characteristic combination of sand, kelp, surf and the particular quality of light that makes Otago beach days look overexposed in photographs. The Waikouaiti River mouth's wetlands are among the coastal Otago birdlife highlights.
The town runs a complete local service centre for the surrounding rural and coastal communities, with the school, the shops, the clubs and the community infrastructure of a town that has been here long enough to know what it needs. Karitane's quieter beach is 10 minutes south; Dunedin's full urban range is 45 minutes either way.
Waikouaiti School serves the local years; the secondary run goes to Palmerston or Dunedin.
Is Waikouaiti a good place to live?
Waikouaiti is home to roughly 1,260 people across 46.1 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Waikouaiti scores 60 out of 100, with a safety score of 82/100 and 5% green space.
Schools: Waikouaiti 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 $555K, and weekly rent typically sits around $278.
Lifestyle: Waikouaiti has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 9.9°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Waikouaiti 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
- Amenities40
- Schools88
- Housing Affordability68
- Green space15
- Community78
- Transport19
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $555K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $278/wk
- Median HH Income
- $57K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +5.5%
- 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 Waikouaiti?
- Waikouaiti is on the Otago coast, around 45 km north of Dunedin on State Highway 1, where the Waikouaiti River meets the sea in a coastal settlement between Palmerston and the Otago Peninsula.
- What is Waikouaiti's history?
- Waikouaiti was among the earliest permanent European settlements in Otago, established as a whaling station in the 1830s near existing Māori settlements, predating the official Dunedin settlement by a decade.
- What is the beach like at Waikouaiti?
- Waikouaiti's bay has a long curving beach with good surf, popular for swimming in summer, with the Waikouaiti River mouth's wetlands providing birdlife interest at the southern end.
- What schools are in Waikouaiti?
- Waikouaiti School serves the local primary years, with secondary students travelling to Palmerston or Dunedin for high school.
- How do I get from Dunedin to Waikouaiti?
- By car, around 40 to 45 minutes north on State Highway 1. InterCity buses stop at Waikouaiti on the Dunedin to Oamaru route.
- Which schools are in zone for Waikouaiti?
- Children living in Waikouaiti are in zone for Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School, St Hildas Collegiate, Columba College, 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 Waikouaiti?
- 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 Waikouaiti
Schools in zone for Waikouaiti
Children living in Waikouaiti 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
St Hildas Collegiate
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 463 · decile 10
Columba College
Composite · roll 609
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 Waikouaiti. 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 Waikouaiti that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
Waikouaiti School
Contributing · roll 91 · decile 6 · 2.0 km away
Explore Waikouaiti
Things to do(6)
Gun club
Matanaka Historical Farm
Strength Club 24/7
Waikouaiti Racing Club
Vetlife Waikouaiti
KM Fitness and Nutrition
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.
Eat & Drink in Waikouaiti
Places to eat & drink(7)
The Outpost Café
Detal Studios
The Outpost
Fish Inn
Golden Fleece Hotel & Southern Smokehouse Restaurant
Beano's Bakery
Indigo House
Tradies & Services in Waikouaiti
Tradies & services(1)
Waikouaiti Auto & Engineering
Shops in Waikouaiti
Shops(3)
Blueskin Outdoor Power Equipment
Eastern Hammer Hardware
Waikouaiti Food Centre
Beauty & Fitness in Waikouaiti
Beauty & fitness(6)
Gun club
KM Fitness and Nutrition
SkevAli Hair Studio
Strength Club 24/7
Vetlife Waikouaiti
Waikouaiti Racing Club
Professional Services in Waikouaiti
Professional services(1)
Southern Waterblasting
Waikouaiti Weather
Current conditions: 9.9°C, overcast clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 18.88 | 11.69 | 1.96 | 10.19 |
| ☀️ Feb | 18.9 | 11.26 | 2.09 | 10.15 |
| 🍂 Mar | 16.63 | 9.49 | 3.8 | 9.05 |
| 🍂 Apr | 15.16 | 8.07 | 2.04 | 7.34 |
| 🍂 May | 12.62 | 5.81 | 1.63 | 6.08 |
| ❄️ Jun | 10.59 | 4.81 | 2.07 | 5.21 |
| ❄️ Jul | 10.1 | 4.65 | 2.92 | 5.96 |
| ❄️ Aug | 11.32 | 3.44 | 1.35 | 7.69 |
| 🌸 Sep | 13.56 | 5.43 | 3.18 | 8.44 |
| 🌸 Oct | 14.44 | 6.21 | 4.39 | 9.55 |
| 🌸 Nov | 15.05 | 7.6 | 3.07 | 10.18 |
| ☀️ Dec | 17.31 | 10.45 | 4.55 | 9.2 |
Waikouaiti Community
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