Sunshine Bay

Sunshine Bay is an inlet of Lake Wakatipu and suburb of Queenstown in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on the lower slopes of the Ben Lomond mountain, west of Fernhill, on the northern side of the lake.

Sunshine Bay
Suburb
Coordinates: 45.0441414°S 168.6227571°E / -45.0441414; 168.6227571
CountryNew Zealand
CityQueenstown
Local authorityQueenstown-Lakes District Council
Electoral wardQueenstown-Wakatipu Ward
Area
[1]
 • Land131 ha (324 acres)
(Ben Lomond) Fernhill)
Sunshine Bay
Closeburn (Lake Wakatipu)

It is only accessible by a single road from the main Queenstown township, which was completely blocked off by a single car crash in October 2020.[2]

Many homes in the suburb were rented out to tourists or tourism workers, until the COVID-19 pandemic led to an end to international tourism.[3] Patronage on the public bus service between Arrowtown and Sunshine Bay, which was popular with tourists, also dropped off during the pandemic.[4]

In August 2020, a developer sought permission from Otago Regional Council to rezone five hectares of land to develop 200 new residential units at Sunshine Bay.[5]

Later that same month, several on-street carparks were removed from Arawata Terrace, after a bus became stuck due to cars parked on both sides.[6]

In December 2020, a ban on drinking on Queenstown Beach led to more public drinking at the Sunshine Bay beach.[7]

Demographics

Sunshine Bay-Fernhill covers 1.21 km2 (0.47 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 3,250 as of June 2022,[8] with a population density of 2,686 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20062,256—    
20132,358+0.63%
20182,931+4.45%
Source: [9]

Sunshine Bay-Fernhill had a population of 2,931 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 573 people (24.3%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 675 people (29.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 861 households. There were 1,566 males and 1,365 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.15 males per female. The median age was 29.6 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 294 people (10.0%) aged under 15 years, 1,221 (41.7%) aged 15 to 29, 1,332 (45.4%) aged 30 to 64, and 84 (2.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 72.6% European/Pākehā, 5.6% Māori, 1.1% Pacific peoples, 16.0% Asian, and 10.5% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 62.8%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 64.5% had no religion, 23.6% were Christian, 2.9% were Hindu, 0.8% were Muslim, 0.8% were Buddhist and 3.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 681 (25.8%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 120 (4.6%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 246 people (9.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,094 (79.4%) people were employed full-time, 240 (9.1%) were part-time, and 48 (1.8%) were unemployed.[9]

References
  1. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  2. Williams, Guy (28 October 2020). "Driver charged after car overturns in Queenstown". Allied Press. Otago Daily Times.
  3. Roxburgh, Tracey (13 February 2021). "Queenstown real estate auction nets $20m". Allied Press. Otago Daily Times.
  4. Houseman, Molly (13 March 2021). "Covid blamed for falling use of buses in Queenstown". Allied Press. Otago Daily Times.
  5. Roxburgh, Tracey (3 August 2020). "No decision on Sunshine Bay development". Allied Press. Otago Daily Times.
  6. Houseman, Molly (22 August 2020). "Bus in a pinch when parked cars block narrow road access". Allied Press. Otago Daily Times.
  7. "Beers on Queenstown Beach blocked by booze ban extension". New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Otago Daily Times. 11 December 2020.
  8. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  9. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Sunshine Bay-Fernhill (347800). 2018 Census place summary: Sunshine Bay-Fernhill
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