Last updated October 2026
Bellevue is a residential suburb on Tauranga’s western side, part of the Ōtūmoetai Peninsula and the Matua-Otūmoetai General Ward. It sits between Matua and Otūmoetai to the north and east, with Bethlehem and Brookfield nearby, and offers a settled suburban feel close to the harbour and city centre.
The area is known for its cluster of schools, including Bellevue School, Ōtūmoetai Intermediate and Ōtūmoetai College, which draw families to the neighbourhood. Quiet streets, local reserves and easy access to peninsula amenities make it a practical base for everyday living and short trips around western Tauranga.
Official Suburb Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 4,060, up 1% since 2018
- Land area
- 1.73 km²
- Location
- 3.3 km west of central Tauranga
- Council
- Tauranga City Council
- Neighbouring suburbs
- Matua, Otūmoetai, Brookfield, Bethlehem
- Ward or local board
- Matua-Otūmoetai General Ward (Tauranga City Council)
- Main shopping
- Local needs are met at nearby Cherrywood shops in Otūmoetai and the larger Bethlehem Town Centre; city centre and other Tauranga retail are a short drive away.
- Nearby landmarks
- Ōtūmoetai College and Intermediate campus area; proximity to Tauranga Harbour and Waikareao Estuary; Carlton Reserve (nearby on the peninsula); links toward Matua and Otūmoetai waterfront areas
Who Lives in Bellevue
About 4,060 residents in 1,390 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
Schools in Bellevue
Three schools sit inside the Bellevue boundary. All have an enrolment zone, so check an address is in zone before you buy or rent.
Also zoned for Bellevue
Zones change, so confirm with the school before relying on one.
Bin Day in Bellevue
by 7am on collection day
Streets near a suburb edge can differ, so check the council lookup if unsure.
Streets in Bellevue
32 streets are in Bellevue. Search any street in Tauranga to see which suburb it is in.
Show all 32 streets in Bellevue
- A
- Anne Road
- Aquavue Way
- B
- Bellevue Road
- C
- Canberra Place
- Carlton Street
- Charles Street
- Chestnut Way
- Chevron Drive
- Crombie Street
- Cynthia Place
- E
- Emily Place
- Eventide Way
- G
- Graham Place
- H
- Hazelnut Way
- K
- Katherine Place
- L
- Linklater Avenue
- Little John Drive
- M
- Margaret Road
- Matilda Way
- Mulberry Lane
- N
- Ngatai Road
- O
- Oriana Crescent
- P
- Princess Road
- Q
- Queen Road
- S
- Sereno Vista
- Seymour Place
- Sherwood Street
- W
- Waka Way
- Western Road
- Westwood Street
- Windsor Road
- Worsley Way
A long road is listed in each suburb it runs through.
Safety and Hazards
About the Tauranga average for the number of people who live here. Another 3 reports were at shops and businesses.
Buses from Bellevue
15 bus stops inside the suburb.
Typical weekday daytime frequency.
Handy Facilities
Weather and Rent at a Glance
Weather is city-wide; rent is for this suburb.
In Bellevue
Places and businesses inside the official Bellevue boundary.
Places
About Bellevue
Bellevue forms part of the established residential fabric of the Ōtūmoetai Peninsula in western Tauranga.
Bellevue forms part of the established residential fabric of the Ōtūmoetai Peninsula in western Tauranga. The peninsula is bounded by the Waikareao Estuary and Te Awanui (Tauranga Harbour), giving many parts of the wider neighbourhood a sense of closeness to the water even where streets are inland. Council describes the Matua-Otūmoetai area as well placed because of its central location, green spaces, schools and commercial centres.
The suburb itself is primarily residential, with a mix of family homes on quiet streets. It developed as Tauranga expanded and now sits alongside neighbouring Matua, Otūmoetai, Brookfield and Bethlehem.
The name Bellevue appears in local history in other contexts (including an early hotel elsewhere in the city), but the modern suburb is defined by its housing, schools and everyday peninsula living rather than a single landmark building.
Education is a defining feature. Bellevue School is a state contributing primary (Years 0–6) on a terraced site with fields, playgrounds and a pool; it also offers Montessori classrooms.
Most students progress to nearby Ōtūmoetai Intermediate and then Ōtūmoetai College, both located in Bellevue. The three schools create a strong local education pathway and a lively daytime rhythm around school hours.
Residents value parks, walkways and cycle connections across the peninsula. Council projects such as Accessible Streets for Ōtūmoetai have focused on safer walking, cycling and bus travel through Bellevue, Brookfield, Otūmoetai, Matua and related corridors, reflecting community interest in better local transport options.
Community Facilities and Outdoors
The suburb’s character is shaped by its schools and residential streets rather than a large commercial strip of its own.
The suburb’s character is shaped by its schools and residential streets rather than a large commercial strip of its own. Everyday shopping and services are found at Cherrywood in Otūmoetai and at Bethlehem Town Centre a short distance away.
On the peninsula, parks and reserves support recreation; Carlton Reserve is one of the nearby green spaces that serve the wider Otūmoetai–Bellevue community. Harbour edges and estuary margins in the broader Matua-Otūmoetai neighbourhood provide open-air options for walks and views without leaving western Tauranga.
Near Bellevue
Just outside Bellevue, within 5 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Show 2 more places
Businesses
Where to Learn More
Tauranga City Council – Ward boundaries: Official description of the Matua-Otūmoetai General Ward, which includes Bellevue, Matua, Otūmoetai and Brookfield.
Wikipedia – Bellevue, New Zealand: Overview of the suburb, location, education facilities and census-derived context with primary-source citations.
Let’s Talk Tauranga – Matua-Ōtūmoetai neighbourhood: Council neighbourhood page covering the peninsula setting, community focus and local projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people live in Bellevue?
About 4,060 people lived in Bellevue at the 2023 Census, up 1% since 2018. See Who Lives in Bellevue
What school zones cover Bellevue?
The zones of Bellevue School (Tauranga), Ōtūmoetai Intermediate and Ōtūmoetai College cover all of Bellevue. Ōtūmoetai Primary School has a zone covering part of it. Zones change, so check an address with the school. See Schools in Bellevue
When is bin day in Bellevue?
Friday. Bins go out by 7am on collection day. Streets near the edge of the suburb can differ, so check the council lookup if unsure. See Bin Day in Bellevue
Which buses serve Bellevue?
Route 60, about every 20 min; routes 72a and 72b, about hourly. There are 15 stops in the suburb. See Buses from Bellevue
Is Bellevue in a flood zone?
About 12% of the land in Bellevue is in the council's mapped flood areas. Check a street on the council map before you buy. See Safety and Hazards
What suburbs border Bellevue?
What ward is Bellevue in?
It is in the Matua-Otūmoetai General Ward of Tauranga City Council. The city-wide Māori ward is Te Awanui.
Where do people shop near Bellevue?
Cherrywood shops in Otūmoetai cover many local needs. Bethlehem Town Centre and central Tauranga retail are a short drive away.
Is Bellevue a good area for families?
Yes. The concentration of primary, intermediate and secondary schools, residential streets and peninsula parks make it popular with families.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Explore Tauranga only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Bellevue is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.
Sources and data notes 9
- Official Suburb Facts: Boundary, area and neighbours: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. Population: Stats NZ 2023 Census usually resident population, CC BY 4.0, summed from the statistical areas inside the boundary.
- Who Lives in Bellevue: Stats NZ 2023 Census, CC BY 4.0. Figures are summed from the census areas inside the official Bellevue boundary. Percentages are of the people or homes that answered each question; a figure is left out when fewer than 100 answered.
- Schools in Bellevue: Ministry of Education school directory and enrolment zones (CC BY 4.0 and CC BY 3.0 NZ), October 2026.
- Bin Day in Bellevue: Tauranga City Council collection areas.
- Streets in Bellevue: LINZ NZ Addresses road data, CC BY 4.0.
- Safety and Hazards: NZ Police victimisation data, CC BY 4.0, September 2025 to August 2026 (crimes inside homes are only published for burglary); Bay of Plenty Regional Council tsunami evacuation zone (October 2025); Tauranga City Council flood risk map (depth 300 mm or more) and Western Bay of Plenty District Plan flood hazard areas.
- Buses from Bellevue: Bay of Plenty Regional Council Baybus timetable data, CC BY 4.0.
- Handy Facilities: Tauranga City Council public toilets; NZTA EVRoam charging sites.
- Weather and Rent at a Glance: NIWA climate averages 1991-2020 (via Figure.NZ); Tenancy Services rental bond data (new bonds in the suburb’s Stats NZ areas), July 2025 to June 2026, CC BY 3.0 NZ.