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.[3]
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.[4] Patronage on the public bus service between Arrowtown and Sunshine Bay, which was popular with tourists, also dropped off during the pandemic.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
In December 2020, a ban on drinking on Queenstown Beach led to more public drinking at the Sunshine Bay beach.[8]
Demographics
Sunshine Bay-Fernhill covers 13.22 km2 (5.10 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 3,600 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 272 people per km2.
Before the 2023 census, Sunshine Bay-Fernhill had a smaller boundary, covering 1.31 km2 (0.51 sq mi).[1] Using that boundary, 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, comprising 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% Pasifika, 16.0% Asian, and 10.5% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 62.8, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 64.5% had no religion, 23.6% were Christian, 0.2% had Māori religious beliefs, 2.9% were Hindu, 0.8% were Muslim, 0.8% were Buddhist and 3.4% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 681 (25.8%) people had a bachelor's 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]
