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Glenorchy, New Zealand facts for kids

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Glenorchy
Town
Boatshed near wharf
Boatshed near wharf
Country New Zealand
Region Otago
Territorial authority Queenstown Lakes District
Ward Queenstown-Wakatipu Ward
Surveyed 1864
Electorates
  • Southland
  • Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Area
 • Total 3.93 km2 (1.52 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)
 • Total 410
 • Density 104.3/km2 (270/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
9372
Area code 03
Local iwi Ngāi Tahu

Glenorchy is a small town located at the very top of Lake Wakatipu in the South Island of New Zealand. It's part of the Otago region. The town is about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Queenstown, which is the closest big town. You can get there by road or by boat.

Glenorchy has a few places for visitors, like two pubs, a café, and some small shops. These places mostly serve tourists. There's also a small airstrip for planes. The area called Paradise is very close by. Two rivers, the Dart River / Te Awa Whakatipu and the Rees River, flow into Lake Wakatipu right at Glenorchy. A part of the lake's shore called Blanket Bay is just south of the town.

What's in a Name?

Glenorchy got its name from a valley in Scotland called Glen Orchy. This valley is located in a place called Argyll.

People Living in Glenorchy

Glenorchy is a small rural town. It covers an area of about 3.93 square kilometers (1.52 square miles). In 2018, about 318 people lived here. This number has been growing! In 2013, there were 261 people, and in 2006, only 192.

The people living in Glenorchy are mostly of European background (91.5%). Some people are Māori (6.6%), and smaller numbers are from the Pacific Islands or Asia. Most people (69.8%) said they didn't have a religion, while 21.7% were Christian.

Glenorchy at the Head of Lake Wakatipu
The head of Lake Wakatipu, Glenorchy

Fun Things to Do

Glenorchy is a very popular place for tourists. It's close to many amazing walking tracks. The town is near the edges of both Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park.

There are many exciting activities you can try in or near Glenorchy:

There's also a nice, easy walk called the Glenorchy Lagoon boardwalk. It's a circular path about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) long. It's great for both tourists and locals.

General Store Glenorchy (30868190173)
General store

Glenorchy in Movies and TV

The beautiful scenery around Glenorchy has been used in many famous films and TV shows.

Movies Filmed Here

TV Shows Filmed Here

  • The 2013 BBC TV show Top of the Lake was filmed in this area. Even though the show mentions Queenstown, Glenorchy was used as the fictional town of Laketop.

Schools in Glenorchy

Glenorchy School is a primary school for students from Year 1 to Year 8. It's a state school, meaning it's run by the government. As of March 2024, it had 30 students.

The first school in the area opened in 1884 in a place called Kinloch. Another school opened in 1888 on the road to Paradise. The current Glenorchy School started in 1911 and moved to its present location in 1939.

Weather in Glenorchy

Glenorchy has a changeable climate, typical of mountain regions. It gets a fair amount of rain throughout the year. Summers are generally mild, while winters can be cold, especially higher up in the mountains nearby.

Blanket Bay

Blanket Bay is a small bay located just south of Glenorchy. The town's airstrip is found here. The bay got its name because early farmers in the 1800s used to shear their sheep in this area. They would build simple tents from blankets near the shore to shelter themselves.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Glenorchy para niños

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