Parnell is the oldest Auckland suburb, immediately east of the central city. It runs from the Auckland Domain south to the harbour at Mechanics Bay, with Parnell Road as the main spine.

What is the Auckland Domain?

The Auckland Domain is Auckland's oldest park (75 hectares), at Parnell's western boundary. Includes the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the Wintergardens and walking tracks.

What is Holy Trinity Cathedral?

Holy Trinity Cathedral on St Stephen's Avenue is the Anglican cathedral of Auckland. The original 1843 St Mary's Church was relocated to the site in 1982 as part of the cathedral precinct.

How do I get from the Auckland CBD to Parnell?

The Parnell train station puts Britomart 4 minutes away. By car, around 5 minutes via Parnell Road. Walking from Britomart through the city takes around 15 minutes.

Is Parnell the oldest Auckland suburb?

Yes. Parnell was established in 1841 as one of the first suburbs of Auckland. It retains a remarkable density of heritage buildings, churches and Victorian villas.

Which schools are in zone for Parnell?

Children living in Parnell are in zone for Parnell School, Auckland Grammar School, Baradene College, Epsom Girls Grammar School. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.

How do I check my school zone in Parnell?

Use the School Zone Checker on this page — enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.

Parnell, Auckland | Schools, Lifestyle & Local Guide

Est. Median Value: $2.43M
Median Weekly Rent: $650/wk
Safety Score: 86/100
Green Space: 35%
Current Weather: 11.2°C
Median Age: 44 yrs

Living in Parnell

Parnell is the oldest suburb of Auckland, established in 1841, just east of the central city. It runs from the Auckland Domain in the south to the harbour at Mechanics Bay in the north, with Parnell Road as the spine and a remarkable density of heritage buildings, churches, restaurants and small galleries along the way.

The Auckland Domain (75 hectares, the city's oldest park) sits at Parnell's western boundary, with the Auckland War Memorial Museum on the highest point and the Wintergardens at the foot. Holy Trinity Cathedral on St Stephen's Avenue is the Anglican cathedral, with the original 1843 St Mary's Church relocated alongside in 1982 (the move was an engineering feat in its own right).

Parnell Road runs as the retail and hospitality spine: restaurants (some of Auckland's longest-running), boutiques, jewellers, art galleries, the Parnell Cathedral end of the strip running down to The Strand. Britomart is 5 minutes' walk away.

Most residents are in apartment buildings developed since 1990, with the heritage villas concentrated on the side streets above Parnell Road. Parnell School handles the local primary. The train station puts Britomart 4 minutes away. Worth a Sunday morning wander.

Is Parnell a good place to live?

Parnell is home to roughly 9,126 people across 3.2 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Parnell scores 75 out of 100, with a safety score of 86/100 and 35% green space.

Schools: Parnell has 65 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 $2.43M, and weekly rent typically sits around $650.

Lifestyle: Parnell has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. Public transport stops are within easy reach. The current temperature is 11.2°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.

Whether Parnell 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

Safety86
Amenities100
Schools91
Housing Affordability15
Green space100
Community89
Transport40

Property & Economics

Est. Median Value: $2.43M
Median Weekly Rent: $650/wk
Median HH Income: $160K/yr
Pop. Growth (5yr): -3.8%
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

Browse all suburbs in Auckland →

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Parnell?: Parnell is the oldest Auckland suburb, immediately east of the central city. It runs from the Auckland Domain south to the harbour at Mechanics Bay, with Parnell Road as the main spine.
What is the Auckland Domain?: The Auckland Domain is Auckland's oldest park (75 hectares), at Parnell's western boundary. Includes the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the Wintergardens and walking tracks.
What is Holy Trinity Cathedral?: Holy Trinity Cathedral on St Stephen's Avenue is the Anglican cathedral of Auckland. The original 1843 St Mary's Church was relocated to the site in 1982 as part of the cathedral precinct.
How do I get from the Auckland CBD to Parnell?: The Parnell train station puts Britomart 4 minutes away. By car, around 5 minutes via Parnell Road. Walking from Britomart through the city takes around 15 minutes.
Is Parnell the oldest Auckland suburb?: Yes. Parnell was established in 1841 as one of the first suburbs of Auckland. It retains a remarkable density of heritage buildings, churches and Victorian villas.

Parnell Weather

Current conditions: 11.2°C, clear sky

Month	High (°C)	Low (°C)	Rainfall (mm/day)	Sunshine (hrs/day)
☀️ Jan	22.95	17.84	146.77	10.78
☀️ Feb	22.95	17.61	145.7	10.43
🍂 Mar	21.31	15.56	81.8	10.25
🍂 Apr	19.78	14.95	98.8	8.8
🍂 May	17.23	12.48	117.3	7.68
❄️ Jun	15.52	11.1	109.8	6.97
❄️ Jul	14.67	9.92	156.87	6.93
❄️ Aug	14.65	8.82	108.5	8.02
🌸 Sep	15.93	10.78	110.7	9.25
🌸 Oct	17.06	12.02	120.43	10.11
🌸 Nov	19.26	13.57	136.97	10.83
☀️ Dec	21.64	16.17	126.13	11.16

Living in Parnell

Is Parnell a good place to live?

Map

Livability Breakdown

Property & Economics

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Parnell

Schools in zone for Parnell

Parnell School

Auckland Grammar School

Baradene College

Epsom Girls Grammar School

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Other nearby schools

Crimson Global Academy

ACG Parnell College

Victoria Avenue School

Saint Kentigern Boys' School

Saint Kentigern Girls' School

St Michael's Catholic School (Remuera)

St Peter's College (Epsom)

Newmarket School

Ecole Francaise Internationale Auckland

Te Kapehu Whetu - Tamaki

The BUSY School NZ

UP International College New Zealand

Northern Health School

Orakei School

King's School (Remuera)

Dilworth School

Diocesan School For Girls

City 0-10

Remuera School

Kadimah School

Auckland Girls' Grammar School

St Joseph's School (Orakei)

Ficino School

Aotearoa Infinite Academy

Freemans Bay School

Newton Central School

Remuera Intermediate

St Cuthbert's College (Epsom)

Meadowbank School

Totara Point School

Kohia Terrace School

Devonport Primary School

Mt Eden Normal School

Auckland Normal Intermediate

Stanley Bay School

Mt Carmel School (Meadowbank)

St Leo's Catholic School (Devonport)

Eden Campus

St Mary's College (Ponsonby)

Cornwall Park District School

Kōwhai Intermediate

Epsom Normal School

Sisters United Academy

Richmond Road School

Kohimarama School

Ponsonby Intermediate

St Joseph's School (Grey Lynn)

St Mary's School (Ellerslie)

St Paul's College (Ponsonby)

Selwyn College

Michael Park School

Our Lady Sacred Heart School (Epsom)

Balmoral School (Auckland)

Grey Lynn School

Marist Catholic School (Herne Bay)

Ponsonby Primary School

St Thomas School (Auckland)

Ellerslie School

Maungawhau School

Vauxhall School

Balmoral S D A School

Explore Parnell

🎯Things to do(27)

Things to do(27)

Parks & green spaces(10)

Healthcare(12)

Places to eat & drink(183)