- Est. Median Value
- $508K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $460/wk
- Safety Score
- 13/100
- Green Space
- 50%
- Current Weather
- 4.7°C
- Median Age
- 28 yrs
~112 crimes/1k/yr
few clouds
Living in Western Heights
Western Heights is a western Rotorua suburb around 4 km from the central city, on the rising land between Mangakakahi and Pukehangi. It's a settled residential suburb with around 4,500 residents and the kind of quiet, family-oriented character that defines many of Rotorua's outer suburbs.
The Western Heights shops on Pukuatua Street have the local mix: the Western Heights Superette, takeaways, the local pharmacy and a small mix of suburban retail. Compact and built for the local catchment, with most major shopping done at central Rotorua or the Pukehangi area.
Western Heights Park provides the local green space, with sports fields, a playground and walking paths. The kind of well-maintained suburban park that gets the local primary school cross-country, the junior rugby and the weekend dog walkers all sharing the same grass.
Western Heights High School on Pukuatua Street is the local state co-ed secondary, with around 800 students drawing from the wider western Rotorua catchment. Western Heights Primary School handles the primary catchment. Most homes are 1970s and 1980s brick-and-tile on rolling sections, with mature gardens and views across to Mount Ngongotaha from the higher streets.
Is Western Heights a good place to live?
Western Heights is home to roughly 4,728 people. On Suburb's overall livability scale, Western Heights scores 46 out of 100, with a safety score of 13/100 and 50% green space.
Schools: Western Heights has 24 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 $508K, and weekly rent typically sits around $460.
Lifestyle: Western Heights has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 4.7°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Western Heights 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
- Safety13
- Amenities48
- Schools53
- Housing Affordability74
- Green space100
- Community10
- Transport30
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $508K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $460/wk
- Median HH Income
- $64K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +7.1%
- 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 Western Heights in Rotorua?
- Western Heights is a western Rotorua suburb around 4 km from the central city. It borders Mangakakahi (north), Pukehangi (south), Sunnybrook (further south) and Selwyn Heights.
- What is Western Heights High School?
- Western Heights High School on Pukuatua Street is the local state co-educational secondary school for years 9 to 13, with around 800 students drawing from the wider western Rotorua catchment.
- Where are the Western Heights shops?
- The Western Heights shops are on Pukuatua Street, central Western Heights, with the Western Heights Superette, takeaways, the local pharmacy and a small mix of suburban retail. Compact, with major shopping done at central Rotorua.
- What is Western Heights Park?
- Western Heights Park is the local green space, with sports fields, a children's playground, walking paths and a small picnic area. Well-used by local schools and junior sports clubs through the week.
- How do I get from central Rotorua to Western Heights?
- By car, around 8 to 12 minutes via Pukuatua Street or via Old Taupo Road. Bus services run regularly from the central Rotorua interchange to Western Heights.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Western Heights
Schools in zone for Western Heights
Children living in Western Heights have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Western Heights High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1229 · decile 4
Rotorua Boys' High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1176 · decile 3
Rotorua Girls' High School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 662
Western Heights Primary School (Rotorua)
Contributing · roll 419 · decile 1
John Paul College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 1103 · decile 7
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Western Heights. 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 Western Heights that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
Kaitao Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 257 · decile 2 · 0.5 km away
St Michael's Catholic School (Rotorua)
Contributing · roll 94 · decile 4 · 0.8 km away
Aorangi School (Rotorua)
Contributing · roll 86 · decile 1 · 1.0 km away
Rotorua Specialist School - Te Kura Pūkenga o Rotorua
Specialist School · roll 112 · decile 2 · 1.2 km away
Awhina School/ Activity Centre
Activity Centre · 1.3 km away
Selwyn School
Contributing · roll 320 · decile 2 · 1.4 km away
Sunset Primary School
Contributing · roll 156 · decile 1 · 1.7 km away
Te Rangihakahaka Centre for Science and Technology
Composite (Year 1-10) · roll 97 · decile 2 · 1.8 km away
TKKM o Te Koutu
Composite · roll 377 · decile 3 · 1.8 km away
TKKM o Hurungaterangi
Composite · roll 92 · decile 1 · 1.8 km away
Kawaha Point School
Contributing · roll 229 · decile 3 · 2.4 km away
Malfroy School
Contributing · roll 286 · decile 2 · 2.8 km away
Westbrook School
Contributing · roll 473 · decile 4 · 2.8 km away
Rotorua School
Full Primary · roll 380 · decile 3 · 3.1 km away
Rotorua Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 659 · decile 3 · 3.3 km away
Glenholme School
Contributing · roll 316 · decile 3 · 3.8 km away
St Mary's Catholic School (Rotorua)
Contributing · roll 455 · decile 6 · 3.8 km away
Otonga Road School
Contributing · roll 503 · decile 7 · 4.4 km away
Rotorua S D A School
Full Primary · roll 42 · decile 4 · 4.4 km away
Explore Western Heights
Things to do(2)
NOMAD kickboxing
Sykes Boxing Gym
Parks & green spaces
Parks and reserves for this area haven’t been catalogued yet.
Healthcare(1)
Western Heights Pharmacy
Eat & Drink in Western Heights
Places to eat & drink(11)
Aorangi Peak restaurant
Western Heights Bakery
Glassy Junction Bar
The Bakehouse Cafe
Ceylon Food Corner
The Bakehouse Cafe Roast and Grill Rotorua
Air Indian Restaurant
Air Indian Takeaways
Aorangi Peak Restaurant Rotorua New Zealand
Hoong Mooi Chinese Takeaway
Golden Dragon Chinese Takeaway
Tradies & Services in Western Heights
Tradies & services(3)
Rotorua share the love garden swaps
Little Darlings Educates
Outspoken Tiler
Shops in Western Heights
Shops(3)
Brookland Liquor Centre
Countdown Rotorua
Four Square
Beauty & Fitness in Western Heights
Beauty & fitness(4)
Badlash
Mane Hair Design
NOMAD kickboxing
Sykes Boxing Gym
Professional Services in Western Heights
Professional services(1)
Flawless Details
Western Heights Weather
Current conditions: 4.7°C, few clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 21.05 | 13.71 | 6.91 | 9.3 |
| ☀️ Feb | 21.3 | 13.4 | 5.42 | 9.35 |
| 🍂 Mar | 18.89 | 10.3 | 2.27 | 9.75 |
| 🍂 Apr | 17 | 10.19 | 2.88 | 7.76 |
| 🍂 May | 13.68 | 7.21 | 6.54 | 6.82 |
| ❄️ Jun | 12.25 | 6.26 | 4.55 | 6.61 |
| ❄️ Jul | 11.32 | 4.46 | 3.05 | 6.47 |
| ❄️ Aug | 11.76 | 3.41 | 1.95 | 7.3 |
| 🌸 Sep | 14.2 | 6.32 | 4.38 | 8.44 |
| 🌸 Oct | 16.17 | 7.93 | 3.77 | 9.56 |
| 🌸 Nov | 18.17 | 9.61 | 3.1 | 10.19 |
| ☀️ Dec | 21.19 | 12.7 | 4.2 | 10.36 |
Western Heights Community
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Local tips
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