North Otago
Just a short drive north up the coast from Dunedin is North Otago and the Waitaki District. The Waitaki District takes in the towns of Oamaru and Palmerston, and stretches inland through the Waitaki River Valley from the Waitaki River mouth through Kurow, Omarama to Lake Ohau.
The area is known for its idyllic fishing villages, rolling green pastures, diverse wildlife and renowned hospitality. Eco-tourism is a growing activity in the area.
Oamaru is well known for it's distinctive whitestone buildings built from the local limestone. Their annual Victorian Heritage celebrations generally take place over several days during November during which time you are quite likely to see locals getting about in Victorian dress or riding Penny Farthing cycles down the street.
Moeraki Beach south of Oamura is known for an unusual attraction; the Moeraki Boulders. The spherical boulders vary in sizes up to 3 metres in diameter and are considered to be the best examples of their kind anywhere in the world.Information from Tourism Waitaki website.:
Property Sales Statistics
Median Residential Dwelling Price Comparison from Previous Years for Otago Region
| Year | Median Price as at Dec |
Total Properties Sold |
Value of Total Properties Sold |
| 2010 | $233,000 | 2,494 | $656,280,074 |
| 2009 | $230,000 | 2,951 | $756,371,108 |
| 2008 | $230,000 | 2,652 | $688,748,215 |
| 2007 | $250,050 | 3,749 | $986,915,837 |
| 2006 | $229,000 | 3,891 | $942,078,000 |
| 2005 | $205,000 | 3,823 | $884,377,000 |
| 2004 | $194,250 | 4,120 | $833,419,000 |
| 2003 | $145,500 | 5,259 | $773,979,000 |
| 2002 | $103,000 | 4,260 | $498,171,000 |
| 2001 | $89,500 | 3,216 | $352,952,000 |
| 2000 | $90,000 | 2,648 | $298,358,000 |
| 1999 | $95,000 | 2,927 | $324,650,000 |
| 1998 | $97,000 | 2,654 | $279,446,000 |
| 1997 | $89,500 | 2,653 | $292,036,000 |
| 1996 | $99,500 | 3,286 | $365,441,000 |
NB - Dwellings include houses, townhouses, units, apartments, home and income, conversions and residential investment blocks. Information provided by REINZ (Real Estate Institute of New Zealand)
