Find the perfect neighborhood in Auckland for you

12.10.2023 - 10:47 / lonelyplanet.com / Louis Vuitton

Auckland’s 1.6 million people are spread out across a large geographic area, in many distinct neighborhoods.

Stretching across a narrow strip of land between the West Coast and the Hauraki Gulf and pouring over the region’s dormant volcanoes, the city and its suburbs seem to occupy every inch of usable land.

The Central Business District (CBD) is relatively small, with the majority of Auckland’s population living in suburbs outside of the city center. As a result, each neighborhood has developed its own town center, with local eateries, parks and shops. Where you choose to stay in Auckland will play a large part in how you experience New Zealand’s largest city.

Here are a few neighborhoods to consider visiting next time you travel to Auckland.

Named after the HMS Britomart, the first English ship to explore the nearby harbor, Auckland’s city center is popular with visitors and makes an easy, convenient base for stays in the city. Britomart is a modern and dynamic downtown area with a wide range of restaurants, bars and cafes within easy walking distance.

Grab lunch from a nearby cafe and join the locals relaxing on the lawn at Takutai Square on sunny days. This is also a popular venue for public events during the summer, including music gigs, open-air cinema screenings and the Saturday markets. Be sure to check out what’s on at the nearby Spark Arena, which hosts international performances. 

You can spend an afternoon discovering local designers in Britomart’s boutiques and exploring the shops and eateries in Commercial Bay. Auckland’s newest mall, it's where you'll find Kiwi and global brands. Queen St, Auckland’s main drag, is where all the international designer brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci have set up shop. You can also walk around the harbor to the Viaduct and onwards over the small bridge to Wynyard Quarter to explore Silo Park and the Fish Markets.

How to get there: The SkyBus leaves the airport every 30 minutes and stops in Customs Street East near Britomart.

Where to stay: Hotel Britomart is an upscale hyper-sustainable contemporary hotel in Britomart. Otherwise, choose Sofitel Auckland for a luxury stay.

If you’re after an area with a bit of buzz, consider staying in Ponsonby. One of Auckland’s older neighborhoods, Ponsonby has narrow streets and Victorian villas – yet it’s the main drag that attracts visitors to the area. Lined with boutique shops, Ponsonby Rd is a great destination for scoping out local designers, perusing art galleries and enjoying long lunches as you watch the world go by.

Foodies will find themselves in close proximity to good restaurants ranging from newer fusion eateries to some of Auckland’s best fine-dining institutions. To linger over dinner and drinks, head to Prego,