Auckland’s North Shore is where golden beaches, colonial-era villas and a breezy coastal lifestyle collide with city convenience. Boasting waterfront views, access to top school zones, quaint village centres, and a strong sense of community, this part of the city has long been one of New Zealand’s most desirable addresses.
It’s no surprise that some of Auckland’s steepest house prices are found here. Whether you’re drawn to Devonport’s seaside charm, Takapuna’s lively hub, or the quiet exclusivity of Stanley Point, the North Shore delivers a mix of prestige and laid-back living.
If you’re considering a million-dollar move, our guide to the five most expensive suburbs in Auckland’s North Shore breaks down property values, lifestyle perks and what makes each spot so sought-after.
Stanley Point is located to the east of Devonport with spectacular views of the city. The suburb also has easy access to Devonport’s ferries and the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
With limited land, heritage character and city-fringe convenience, it’s easy to see why this small suburb commands such a high price.
This quiet, prestigious suburb is situated on a peninsula adjacent to Devonport. Here you will find stunningly restored character villas dating back to the 1800s, as well as luxury contemporary homes with harbour and city views.
Stanley Point is so small that you can almost count the number of streets on two hands. Although it’s situated across the water from Auckland’s CBD, it offers a waterfront lifestyle without giving up convenience. You get the best of all worlds living in Stanley Point. Locals enjoy tree-lined streets, nearby bays and beaches, a small village for shopping and groceries and easy access to the ferry.
Easy access to the beach and parks is what makes this suburb, although expensive, feel laid back. Close by are Stanley Bay Park, Narrow Neck and Cheltenham beaches. Being close to Devonport means easy access to Devonport Library, Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, and the North Head/Maungauika and Mt Victoria/Takarunga hills for weekend walks. This suburb also benefits from regular ferries from Devonport Wharf to the CBD.
Right next door to Stanley Bay is Devonport, a well-known suburb thanks to the ferry that funnels visitors and locals from Auckland City to the North Shore. This suburb has it all: charm, community, beach and city views.
Devonport is famous for being one of Auckland’s original seaside villages. The area has many heritage villas and bungalows that have been lovingly restored today. These homes also often have well-cared-for gardens.
You’ll also find small pockets of architecturally designed newer builds. Even so, many of these are smaller or take inspiration from the character of the suburb. Expect understated elegance rather than showy mansions.
Devonport has a lovely laid-back vibe that mixes family with community and a local artistic scene. You’ll find small brew pubs, cafes, boutique hotels and art galleries peppered throughout the suburb.
Plus, a quick ferry ride gets you into the Auckland business district.
Pretty beaches are nearby, but it’s the small town community within a big city that makes this suburb so special.
In the centre of Devonport, you’ll find the Library, theatre, Navy Museum, waterfront dining, parks and excellent cycling and walking.
Waitematā Golf Club, North Head summit, Devonport Domain and tennis and sailing clubs are all close by.
Campbells Bay is among the Shore’s most expensive suburbs and is a 25-minute drive north of Devonport. It’s a small suburb, half of which is taken up by a large golf course and Centennial Park, a leafy domain filled with native trees and walking tracks.
Here you’ll find upscale addresses, with family homes built on generous sections. As a newer suburb (compared to Devonport or suburbs further south), these houses were built on larger plots of land and maximise the sea views. You’ll find a mixture of redeveloped homes from the 1960s and 1980s, as well as new large builds.
It’s beautiful, family-friendly, boasts its own beach and has quick access to SH1. This suburb is close to the Mairangi Bay/Milford villages and their amenities, while the lack of commercial businesses means the suburb maintains a quiet feel.
Within the suburb, you’ll find many options for exploring nature, including Campbells Bay Beach & Reserve and walking tracks at Centennial Park.
Although there aren’t many cafes or small businesses within Campbells Bay itself, the suburb is next to Mairangi and Milford, both of which have cafes and shops.
Takapuna is one of the North Shore’s most well-known suburbs. It serves as a hub for many surrounding residential areas and has supermarkets, sports fields and other facilities and amenities nearby.
Takapuna may have the most dense housing in all of the North Shore. You’ll find a mixture of everything from apartments and townhouses near the centre, to established family homes and luxury builds closer to the beach or lake.
Takapuna has always offered one of the best all-round lifestyles available in the North Shore. It’s got beaches and nature as well as a high street with cafes, shops and supermarkets. It’s also well-linked to the motorway and the city.
North Shore Hospital is a large employer in the area. The suburb has several gyms, a supermarket, as well as smaller farmers' markets, a medical centre, and transport links all within walking distance.
Takapuna Beach and Lake Pupuke are hot spots for people who love watersports.
There are also theatres, art galleries and community sports centres throughout.
Narrow Neck is located just north of Devonport. It stretches from Bath Street Reserve, along the Waitematā Golf Course, up Lake Road and across to the end of Narrow Neck beach.
While you might not have heard of it, Narrow Neck sits between two well-known North Shore locations: Devonport and Takapuna. Here, the streets are leafy, and the beach is only a few steps away.
You’ll find a mix of renovated bungalows, modern family homes and elegant and upscale new builds.
Narrow Neck Beach runs north to south along the entirety of the east side of this suburb.
It's a great location, close to the community village feel of Devonport and the larger shopping hub of Takapuna. Yet the suburb itself is quiet, highly walkable and has a strong community feel. The suburb also has its own golden sand beach.
Vauxhall Primary School is located in Narrow Neck. Many residents attend Belmont Intermediate, then Takapuna Grammar for intermediate and secondary school.
The Golf Course at Waitematā and Narrow Neck Beach & Reserve are two standout features of this suburb.
Ngataringa Park, coastal walking and cycling, and fast access to the Devonport ferry for the CBD are all major drawcards for living in this quiet suburb. The suburb also boasts great views out to the imposing volcano on Rangitoto Island.
Narrow Neck boasts spectacular views, a golden sand beach and access to the amenities of the North Shore’s most popular suburbs.
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