Located on the waterfront, Auckland CBD is one of the most developed places in New Zealand where people live and work, all within a few blocks of one another.
Occupying a space of 433 hectares, it’s roughly twice the size of Wellington and Christchurch CBDs and is bound by the harbour coastline and a ring of inner suburbs including Parnell, Grafton, Mount Eden, Newton and Freemans Bay.
Auckland’s sparkling harbour provides the backdrop for restaurants, bars, cafés, apartments and workplaces. So whatever you find yourself doing, you’ll do it with a view.
The buzz of city life is a magnet for visitors and locals, offering a haven for young professionals who like to work and play without a commute. While most people live in apartments, life in central Auckland is better spent out with friends enjoying the dining, shopping and scenery.
Work, play or just soak in the surroundings, Auckland Central is the place to be. Locals love that everything is literally on your doorstep.
The bright lights of New Zealand’s biggest city mean you’re never far away from the action. From the city’s best shopping to clubs, bars, restaurants and galleries, there’s something to see and do around every corner.
If you love being by water you’ve come to the right place. Take a stroll along Wynyard Quarter or the Viaduct and watch the superyachts, boats and ferries glide by. You’ll soon see why Auckland is known as the city of sails.
If you’d like to join them there are plenty of opportunities from boat tours to fishing charters, sailing schools or even ferry rides to nearby islands.
And when you’re done exploring the harbour, relax in one of Auckland’s best eateries. You’ll find everything from fine dining to casual meals right from the foreshore to the bohemian and eclectic K’ Rd.
When it comes to events, it’s not a matter of what you can go to, but more a case of how will you fit it all in.
Spark Arena, nestled behind the Ports of Auckland, is New Zealand’s largest indoor arena attracting big-name artists including Dua Lipa, Beyoncé and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It also hosts sporting events like the UFC and NBL and even musicals like The Lion King and Hamilton.
The Aotea Centre, Aotea Square and Auckland Town Hall host the Auckland Arts Festival where live music, ballet, theatre, circus, cabaret and the visual arts transform the Auckland cultural scene every March.
Why not experience the Civic Theatre, built in 1929, this landmark building displays a recreation of the Southern Hemisphere night sky under which audiences watch an array of international performers, musicals and movies at the annual NZ International Film Festival.
The social scene is at the heart of inner-city life. Auckland’s business community gathers at the relaxed yet sophisticated Northern Club, perfect for a meal or cocktail before the evening begins.
If you love being on the water, learn to sail at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Westhaven Marina. It’s NZ’s most decorated yacht club, home of the America’s Cup and a stone’s throw from Wynyard Quarter.
For those who prefer to keep their feet on land, The Auckland Bowling Club is the city’s premier lawn bowling club, offering year-round activities for its members. Enjoy some gentle exercise and a laugh with friends during Barefoot Bowls or make an afternoon of it at Sunday Burgers and Bowls. A warm welcome awaits.
The central city is home to nearly 40,000 Aucklanders who enjoy the vibrant buzz of city life. Significant changes in the city centre have created pedestrian-friendly spaces to improve connectivity between downtown, Karangahape Road and Wynyard Quarter.
Residents love the close proximity to shops, restaurants and work, which allows them to make the most of every minute of their day.
Living in Auckland Central comes with a range of benefits, from the convenience of being close to work, schools, study and medical care to a host of other amenities. It’s also easy to live more sustainably with a variety of public transport options, less reliance on owning a car and lower overall travel costs. There’s a lot to like about inner-city life.
Depending on which part of the central city you live, primary-age children can access a great education at either of Parnell or Freeman’s Bay schools.
Ponsonby Intermediate provides an exceptional grounding for progression into secondary education and ACG Parnell College, an independent private school, produces some of New Zealand’s best secondary school results.
Auckland Grammar School, established in 1869, is a state, day and boarding secondary school for boys. It is known for its academic excellence and sporting achievements, having produced the most All Blacks out of any other school in Auckland. Auckland Grammar's sister school, Epsom Girl's Grammar, is one of the largest schools in New Zealand, enabling students to be confident, active, resilient learners.
No matter where you are in Auckland Central, you’re never far away from medical care. The GPs and nurses of CityMed on Quay St provide the full range of general practice services to aid with physical and mental health issues. The Doctors QuayMed Britomart and Wynyard also offer the full range of primary health care from screening, women’s health, immunisation, wellness checks and urgent care and at the top of town there’s the K’ Road Medical Centre GP service. If you’d like to see someone they’re there to help.
Bus, ferry, train, tram or by foot. There are so many transport options to get in and around Auckland Central.
The Auckland Ferry terminal helps connect Auckland’s north shore and Waiheke Island to the centre of town, from there, it’s a hop, skip and a jump to Waitematā Station (Britomart), the busiest train station in the country.
Suburban bus services help connect wider Auckland to the centre of town but for the locals, the Link bus is the way to get around, just jump on in the centre of town, hop off at Victoria Park and walk down to Wynyard Quarter where you can take a historic tram on the weekends for a circular tour around the area.
But by far the best way to get around the city is on foot with vibrant pedestrian-priority corridors transforming Queen St, downtown and Aotea Quarter.
The City Centre Masterplan is working to transform Auckland Central into a vibrant hub for generations to come.
There’s a new green space planned for the west waterfront at Wynyard Point, redevelopment of cruise, train and ferry infrastructure, revitalised pedestrian priority on Queen St and Karangahape areas and a new expanded Learning Quarter on the eastern side. Just watch this space as it comes to life.
Galleries, museums, movies, outdoor activities, cruises, shops, restaurants, extreme experiences, you name it. It’s easier to make a list of the things you can’t do in Auckland Central.
Experience the beauty of the Waitematā Harbour up close with a day-long sea kayak tour to Rangitoto Island or a whale and dolphin safari where you’ll learn about the variety of marine animals and birds that call Tāmaki Makaurau home.
For those who prefer a faster pace, Auckland Adventure Jet offers high-speed jet boating including 360-degree spins and sharp turns departing hourly from Auckland’s downtown.
The city is known for its high-density living but there are havens of green around every corner.
Victoria Park, at the western edge of the city, is perfect for catching a ray of sunshine over lunch or a quick run before work. Fort St Pocket Park is a new green space with picnic benches, planters and trees. Amey Daldy Park is an oasis at Wynyard Quarter where children can run, play, explore and feel the grass between their toes.
Albert Park is perhaps the most important of all, located in the heart of the CBD. It contains many important monuments, well-maintained gardens, giant trees and a band rotunda. It’s a sanctuary for students of nearby Auckland University of Technology.
A destination for local and international shoppers, there’s something for everyone in this part of town. Tourists and visitors, make a bee-line for the luxury duty-free shopping on offer near the intersection of Queen and Custom Streets. Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Prada and Dior. They’re all there.
Locals also enjoy the eclectic and upscale Commercial Bay shopping centre and Britomart Place. Also off Customs St, these areas are where local designer boutiques, meet designer dining experiences. But it doesn’t stop there, walk up the hill on Queen St, take a left and you’ll find yourself on High St for shopping that’s unique to the city centre. Bookstores, vintage clothes, jewellers and street-style fashion create an alternative art-house vibe. Walk back to Queen St and you’ll find Farmers, New Zealand’s very own department store, catering to a range of budgets.
Weekends can be spent exploring the City Farmers’ Market at Britomart with baked goods, produce, meats and cheese. It’s all there to enjoy as you make your way around while sipping a barista-made coffee.
Wherever you are in this part of town, you’re never far away from a memorable dining experience. Twenty of Auckland’s top fifty most-awarded restaurants call Auckland Central home.
You can experience everything from a superbly cooked casual meal to a fine dining experience you’ll remember for years. There’s something for everyone here.
You could even stage a progressive dinner across the city – start with polpette at Baduzzi in Wynyard Quarter then some oysters at Soul Bar in the Viaduct then, try the Hāngī lamb shoulder with wood ear mushrooms and winter celeriac at Ahi, followed by the Basque cheesecake at Candela on Karangahape Rd.
Then, finish the night with a quiet cocktail at Tom Foolery in St Kevin’s Arcade. Or for something equally iconic but nowhere near as fussy, enjoy a classic burger from the White Lady on Commerce St or Karangahape Rd
Auckland Central has experiences you simply can’t find elsewhere. The Sky Tower is a world of adventure by itself. Ride the lift to the observation deck of New Zealand’s tallest building for a 360-degree panoramic view of the city. Then, take the express route down with a bungee jump to the bottom before trying your luck on the roulette table at Sky City Casino inside.
For those after a more cultural experience, the Auckland Art Gallery serves as a beacon for artists and art lovers alike. Exhibitions from world-renowned artists of importance like Frida Kahlo, the Impressionists, Picasso and Dali have all been displayed here alongside work by local Māori and Pacific artists.
Auckland’s Maritime Museum in Viaduct Harbour celebrates New Zealand’s place as one of the most maritime nations in the world. Sail the Waitematā Harbour aboard the Museum’s ketch-rigged scow or cruise aboard a 110-year-old motor launch for something a little different. An ever-changing series of exhibitions will keep you guessing, from our amazing coastal ecosystems and natural life to the pioneering voyages of discovery that shaped our country. It’s a place you’ll want to return to again and again.
