- Est. Median Value
- $1.18M
- Median Weekly Rent
- $620/wk
- Safety Score
- 82/100
- Green Space
- 11%
- Current Weather
- 11.1°C
- Median Age
- 40 yrs
~43 crimes/1k/yr
few clouds
Living in Botany Downs
Botany Downs is a 1980s and 1990s residential suburb in East Auckland, around 22 km southeast of the CBD, between Howick to the east and East Tāmaki to the west. It was rural farmland until the late 1980s, then developed quickly into a planned residential and retail precinct. The streets are wide, the cul-de-sacs are many, and the shopping centre is the gravitational heart of the suburb.
Botany Town Centre, opened in 2001 on Te Irirangi Drive, is one of the largest open-air shopping centres in New Zealand, with around 200 retailers and a mix of major chains, supermarkets, restaurants and cinemas. It's the eastern Auckland equivalent of Sylvia Park or Westfield Albany. On weekends the parking can feel like a separate problem to solve.
Botany Junction across the road covers the additional homewares and bulk retail. Lloyd Elsmore Park (technically in Pakuranga) is the closest large public park, with the Allan Brewster Recreation Centre.
Botany Downs Secondary College and Botany Downs Primary School serve the local catchment. Macleans College and Howick College are nearby. There's no train station; everyone drives, or takes the 70 series buses to Botany Town Centre.
Is Botany Downs a good place to live?
Botany Downs is home to roughly 5,775 people across 5.7 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Botany Downs scores 63 out of 100, with a safety score of 82/100 and 11% green space.
Schools: Botany Downs has 35 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $1.18M, and weekly rent typically sits around $620.
Lifestyle: Botany Downs has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. Public transport stops are within easy reach. The current temperature is 11.1°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Botany Downs is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.
Map
Livability Breakdown
- Safety82
- Amenities54
- Schools79
- Housing Affordability32
- Green space36
- Community89
- Transport100
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $1.18M
- Median Weekly Rent
- $620/wk
- Median HH Income
- $124K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +2.4%
- Data Year
- 2023
Key Financial Indicators (NZD)
† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.
Nearby Suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Botany Downs?
- Botany Downs is in East Auckland, around 22 km southeast of the Auckland CBD. It sits between Howick (east), East Tāmaki (west), Pakuranga (north) and Flat Bush (south).
- What is Botany Town Centre?
- Botany Town Centre is a large open-air shopping centre on Te Irirangi Drive, opened in 2001. It has around 200 retailers including supermarkets, fashion, homewares, restaurants and cinemas. Free parking on site.
- How old is Botany Downs?
- Botany Downs was developed from rural farmland from the late 1980s into the 1990s and early 2000s. Most homes are post-1985, with the suburb shaped around Te Irirangi Drive and Botany Town Centre.
- How do I get from Botany Downs to the CBD?
- By car, around 30 to 40 minutes off-peak via the Southeastern Highway and SH1. There's no rail line. The 70 and 711 series buses run from Botany Town Centre to Britomart, taking around 60 minutes.
- What schools are in Botany Downs?
- Botany Downs Primary School (state co-ed, years 1 to 6) and Botany Downs Secondary College (state co-ed, years 9 to 13) are the main local schools. Macleans College and Howick College are nearby and zoned to overlapping catchments.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Botany Downs
Schools in zone for Botany Downs
Children living in Botany Downs have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Botany Downs School
Contributing · roll 570 · decile 9
Howick Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 599 · decile 8
Owairoa Primary School
Contributing · roll 784 · decile 9
Sancta Maria College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 1059 · decile 5
Pakuranga College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 2273 · decile 6
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Botany Downs. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.
Other nearby schools
Schools close to Botany Downs that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).
Elim Christian College
Composite · roll 1064 · decile 7 · 0.5 km away
Our Lady Star of the Sea School (Howick)
Contributing · roll 290 · decile 9 · 1.2 km away
Howick Primary School
Contributing · roll 308 · decile 8 · 1.3 km away
Point View School
Contributing · roll 622 · decile 9 · 1.9 km away
Howick College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 2238 · decile 8 · 2.0 km away
Cockle Bay School
Contributing · roll 728 · decile 10 · 2.0 km away
St Mark's School (Pakuranga)
Contributing · roll 199 · decile 6 · 2.0 km away
Somerville Intermediate School
Intermediate · roll 961 · decile 10 · 2.0 km away
Elm Park School
Contributing · roll 471 · decile 5 · 2.4 km away
Macleans Primary School
Contributing · roll 545 · decile 7 · 2.4 km away
Shelly Park School
Contributing · roll 449 · decile 10 · 2.5 km away
Wakaaranga School
Contributing · roll 631 · decile 7 · 2.5 km away
Farm Cove Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 502 · decile 8 · 2.7 km away
Riverhills School
Contributing · roll 121 · decile 4 · 2.7 km away
Botany Downs Secondary College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 2001 · decile 7 · 2.7 km away
Mellons Bay School
Contributing · roll 407 · decile 10 · 2.9 km away
Macleans College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 3078 · 3.0 km away
Bucklands Beach Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 944 · decile 9 · 3.0 km away
Pakuranga Heights School
Contributing · roll 476 · decile 7 · 3.1 km away
Pigeon Mountain School
Contributing · roll 466 · decile 8 · 3.1 km away
Sunnyhills School
Contributing · roll 471 · decile 9 · 3.1 km away
Saint Kentigern College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 2347 · decile 10 · 3.7 km away
Pakuranga Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 273 · decile 3 · 3.7 km away
Edgewater College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 634 · decile 3 · 4.0 km away
Willowbank School (Howick)
Contributing · roll 695 · decile 8 · 4.3 km away
Anchorage Park School
Contributing · roll 120 · decile 3 · 4.6 km away
Panmure Bridge School
Full Primary · roll 205 · decile 1 · 4.8 km away
Bucklands Beach Primary School
Contributing · roll 388 · decile 10 · 4.9 km away
Riverina School
Contributing · roll 136 · decile 3 · 4.9 km away
Tāmaki School
Full Primary · roll 174 · decile 1 · 4.9 km away
Explore Botany Downs
Things to do(1)
Lloyd Elsmore Reserve
Parks & green spaces(1)
Lloyd Elsmore Reserve
Healthcare(1)
Kingseat Hospital
Eat & Drink in Botany Downs
Places to eat & drink(3)
Howick Club Inc
St Pierre's Sushi
Marcel Bakery
Tradies & Services in Botany Downs
Tradies & services(6)
Colour Addiction
Control Tek Services
Jay Tru Builders
Remedy Appliance Servicing
SKIDS Botany Downs
Voltsy Electrical Ltd
Shops in Botany Downs
Shops(6)
Chapman Onion Exports
Dance Wear
Dazzle Bouti-que By Jazz
Home Express
Merchant 1948
trendyful
Beauty & Fitness in Botany Downs
Beauty & fitness(6)
Azaleabeautynz
Get a Haircut NZ
Kess Hair and Beauty botany
Miles MJ Salon - Botany
Studio K Hair Design
That Beaute Salon
Professional Services in Botany Downs
Professional services(4)
Carol A Rigby
Kouki Weddings & Elopement
Picton Clothing Alterations
Succession Plus
Botany Downs Weather
Current conditions: 11.1°C, few clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 22.9 | 17.53 | 6.59 | 9.94 |
| ☀️ Feb | 22.71 | 16.52 | 5.64 | 10.36 |
| 🍂 Mar | 20.72 | 14.26 | 2.61 | 10.12 |
| 🍂 Apr | 19.74 | 14.32 | 3.26 | 8.67 |
| 🍂 May | 17.05 | 11.71 | 4.73 | 7.58 |
| ❄️ Jun | 15.64 | 10.37 | 3.3 | 7.39 |
| ❄️ Jul | 14.49 | 8.9 | 3.39 | 7.42 |
| ❄️ Aug | 14.49 | 7.78 | 2.56 | 8.11 |
| 🌸 Sep | 16.13 | 10.76 | 3.64 | 9.45 |
| 🌸 Oct | 17.34 | 11.86 | 3.32 | 10.26 |
| 🌸 Nov | 19.17 | 13.02 | 3.3 | 10.98 |
| ☀️ Dec | 21.88 | 15.94 | 4.08 | 11.38 |
Botany Downs Community
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