Ponsonby is an inner-west Auckland suburb around 2 km west of the central city. It borders Grey Lynn, Freemans Bay, Herne Bay and Saint Mary's Bay.

What is Ponsonby Road known for?

Ponsonby Road is Auckland's leading inner-west hospitality strip, with cafés, bars, designer fashion, Ponsonby Central and a steady rotation of restaurants. Particularly busy Friday and Saturday evenings.

What is Ponsonby Central?

Ponsonby Central is a heritage-building food precinct on Richmond Road, with around 12 restaurants and bars in a converted warehouse complex. Open daily, especially busy on weekends.

How do I get from Auckland CBD to Ponsonby?

By car, around 5 to 10 minutes via Hopetoun Street and Ponsonby Road. The Inner Link and Outer Link buses run frequently. Walk from Karangahape Road in around 15 minutes.

What schools are in Ponsonby?

Ponsonby Intermediate (state co-ed, years 7 to 8) is the main local school. Auckland Girls Grammar handles the secondary catchment. Several private schools are nearby.

Which schools are in zone for Ponsonby?

Children living in Ponsonby are in zone for Ponsonby Intermediate, Richmond Road School, Western Springs College-Ngā Puna o Waiōrea, Auckland Girls' Grammar School. Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.

How do I check my school zone in Ponsonby?

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.

Ponsonby, Auckland | Schools, Lifestyle & Local Guide

Living in Ponsonby

Ponsonby is the inner-west Auckland suburb that's done the most aggressive identity reinvention of any in the country. It started as a tightly-built Victorian neighbourhood for early Auckland workers in the 1880s, became a busy Pasifika community through the 1950s and 60s, and from the early 1990s gentrified hard. The villas got restored, the property prices took off, and Ponsonby Road became the inner-west's main hospitality strip.

Ponsonby Road runs the spine from Karangahape Road in the south to the Three Lamps intersection in the north: cafés, bars, designer fashion, Ponsonby Central (a heritage-building food precinct), the SPQR institution, and a steady flow of new openings most months. Western Park covers the local green space.

The Ponsonby Market on Richmond Road runs weekly. Auckland Girls Grammar is at the eastern boundary. Most homes are restored Victorian villas, which is most of the property conversation around here.

Ponsonby isn't subtle and doesn't pretend to be. The bar density on Friday night reaches a number I can't substantiate, and the parking situation matches it. It's the kind of suburb people either love or quietly disapprove of, often the same person on different days.

Is Ponsonby a good place to live?

Ponsonby is home to roughly 5,286 people across 3.9 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Ponsonby scores 55 out of 100, with a safety score of 81/100 and 6% green space.

Schools: Ponsonby has 58 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 $2.33M, and weekly rent typically sits around $545.

Lifestyle: Ponsonby has cafés, shops and things to do nearby. The current temperature is 11.3°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.

Whether Ponsonby 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

Safety81
Amenities100
Schools72
Housing Affordability16
Green space20
Community22
Transport31

Property & Economics

Est. Median Value: $2.33M
Median Weekly Rent: $545/wk
Median HH Income: $177K/yr
Pop. Growth (5yr): -7.8%
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 Ponsonby?: Ponsonby is an inner-west Auckland suburb around 2 km west of the central city. It borders Grey Lynn, Freemans Bay, Herne Bay and Saint Mary's Bay.
What is Ponsonby Road known for?: Ponsonby Road is Auckland's leading inner-west hospitality strip, with cafés, bars, designer fashion, Ponsonby Central and a steady rotation of restaurants. Particularly busy Friday and Saturday evenings.
What is Ponsonby Central?: Ponsonby Central is a heritage-building food precinct on Richmond Road, with around 12 restaurants and bars in a converted warehouse complex. Open daily, especially busy on weekends.
How do I get from Auckland CBD to Ponsonby?: By car, around 5 to 10 minutes via Hopetoun Street and Ponsonby Road. The Inner Link and Outer Link buses run frequently. Walk from Karangahape Road in around 15 minutes.
What schools are in Ponsonby?: Ponsonby Intermediate (state co-ed, years 7 to 8) is the main local school. Auckland Girls Grammar handles the secondary catchment. Several private schools are nearby.

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Ponsonby

Schools in zone for Ponsonby

Children living in Ponsonby have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.

Ponsonby Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 589 · decile 8
Richmond Road School
Contributing · roll 276 · decile 7
Western Springs College-Ngā Puna o Waiōrea
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1785 · decile 8
Auckland Girls' Grammar School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1197 · decile 4

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Enter your address to check your school zone in Ponsonby. 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 Ponsonby that you may be able to enrol at under open enrolment or by application (outside your home zone).

Marist Catholic School (Herne Bay)
Contributing · roll 116 · decile 7 · 0.1 km away
St Paul's College (Ponsonby)
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 392 · 0.3 km away
Auckland Secondary Schools' Centre
Activity Centre · decile 10 · 0.6 km away
Bayfield School
Contributing · roll 352 · decile 10 · 0.7 km away
Ponsonby Primary School
Contributing · roll 298 · decile 10 · 1.1 km away
St Mary's College (Ponsonby)
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 1000 · decile 8 · 1.2 km away
Grey Lynn School
Contributing · roll 242 · decile 7 · 1.3 km away
Freemans Bay School
Contributing · roll 590 · decile 6 · 1.4 km away
Westmere School (Auckland)
Contributing · roll 355 · decile 10 · 1.5 km away
Newton Central School
Contributing · roll 300 · decile 8 · 1.8 km away
St Joseph's School (Grey Lynn)
Full Primary · roll 72 · decile 4 · 1.8 km away
Aotearoa Infinite Academy
Secondary (Year 9-15) · 2.0 km away
City 0-10
Composite · 2.1 km away
UP International College New Zealand
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 348 · 2.2 km away
Pasadena Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 366 · decile 8 · 2.3 km away
The BUSY School NZ
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 105 · 2.4 km away
Kōwhai Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 548 · decile 7 · 2.5 km away
Te Kapehu Whetu - Tamaki
Secondary (Year 9-15) · 2.5 km away
Northern Health School
Specialist School · roll 2 · 2.6 km away
Mt Albert School
Contributing · roll 499 · decile 6 · 3.0 km away
Point Chevalier School Rangi-mata-rau
Contributing · roll 600 · decile 10 · 3.1 km away
Ficino School
Full Primary · roll 143 · decile 9 · 3.2 km away
Mt Eden Normal School
Contributing · roll 557 · decile 9 · 3.3 km away
St Francis Catholic School (Pt Chevalier)
Contributing · roll 263 · decile 7 · 3.3 km away
St Peter's College (Epsom)
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 1324 · 3.4 km away
Marist School (Mt Albert)
Contributing · roll 261 · decile 8 · 3.4 km away
Auckland Grammar School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 2779 · 3.5 km away
Marist College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 773 · decile 7 · 3.5 km away
Mt Albert Grammar School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 3629 · decile 7 · 3.8 km away
Balmoral School (Auckland)
Full Primary · roll 757 · decile 8 · 3.8 km away
Gladstone School (Auckland)
Contributing · roll 775 · decile 9 · 3.9 km away
Newmarket School
Contributing · roll 241 · decile 8 · 3.9 km away
ACG Parnell College
Composite · roll 1984 · decile 10 · 3.9 km away
Edendale School (Auckland)
Contributing · roll 497 · decile 6 · 4.0 km away
Eden Campus
Teen Parent Unit · 4.0 km away
Crimson Global Academy
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 67 · 4.1 km away
Balmoral S D A School
Full Primary · roll 65 · decile 6 · 4.1 km away
TKKM o Nga Maungarongo
Composite · roll 67 · decile 4 · 4.2 km away
Waterview School
Contributing · roll 247 · decile 3 · 4.3 km away
Epsom Girls Grammar School
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 2319 · decile 10 · 4.5 km away
Good Shepherd School (Balmoral)
Contributing · roll 176 · decile 7 · 4.5 km away
Auckland Normal Intermediate
Intermediate · roll 687 · decile 10 · 4.6 km away
Birkenhead School
Contributing · roll 446 · decile 9 · 4.6 km away
Northcote School (Auckland)
Contributing · roll 403 · decile 9 · 4.6 km away
Parnell School
Full Primary · roll 518 · decile 8 · 4.6 km away
Northcote College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 1618 · 4.7 km away
Chelsea School
Contributing · roll 377 · decile 10 · 4.7 km away
Maungawhau School
Contributing · roll 637 · decile 9 · 4.7 km away
Diocesan School For Girls
Composite · roll 1723 · decile 10 · 4.8 km away
St Michael's Catholic School (Remuera)
Contributing · roll 221 · decile 10 · 4.8 km away
Kohia Terrace School
Full Primary · roll 364 · decile 10 · 4.8 km away
St Mary's School (Northcote)
Contributing · roll 314 · 4.9 km away
Elim Christian College Mt Albert
Composite · roll 440 · 4.9 km away
Ecole Francaise Internationale Auckland
Contributing · roll 64 · decile 10 · 4.9 km away

Explore Ponsonby

Things to do(16)

Suite

Sala

Allfit

Proton Pilates - reformer class

orexart

Swing Out Central

Kofukan Karate NZ

Mande White Yoga

ALLFIT Ponsonby

Brown Reserve

Riverhead Forest

Unlimited Dance Inc

Power by Nutrition

Ponsonby School of Dance

Vermont Reserve

Tole Reserve

Parks & green spaces(4)

Brown Reserve

Riverhead Forest

Vermont Reserve

Tole Reserve

Healthcare(8)

Unichem

Doctors on Jervois

Herne Bay Medical Centre

Auckland Iron Clinic

Helander Dermatology

Ponsonby Medical Centre

Auckland Gynecology Specialists

Month	High (°C)	Low (°C)	Rainfall (mm/day)	Sunshine (hrs/day)
☀️ Jan	22.95	17.84	4.73	10.78
☀️ Feb	22.95	17.61	5.14	10.43
🍂 Mar	21.31	15.56	2.64	10.25
🍂 Apr	19.78	14.95	3.29	8.8
🍂 May	17.23	12.48	3.78	7.68
❄️ Jun	15.52	11.1	3.66	6.97
❄️ Jul	14.67	9.92	5.06	6.93
❄️ Aug	14.65	8.82	3.5	8.02
🌸 Sep	15.93	10.78	3.69	9.25
🌸 Oct	17.06	12.02	3.88	10.11
🌸 Nov	19.26	13.57	4.57	10.83
☀️ Dec	21.64	16.17	4.07	11.16

Living in Ponsonby

Is Ponsonby a good place to live?

Map

Livability Breakdown

Property & Economics

Key Financial Indicators (NZD)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools & Enrolment Zones in Ponsonby

Schools in zone for Ponsonby

Ponsonby Intermediate

Richmond Road School

Western Springs College-Ngā Puna o Waiōrea

Auckland Girls' Grammar School

Check your school zone

School Zone Checker

Other nearby schools

Marist Catholic School (Herne Bay)

St Paul's College (Ponsonby)

Auckland Secondary Schools' Centre

Bayfield School

Ponsonby Primary School

St Mary's College (Ponsonby)

Grey Lynn School

Freemans Bay School

Westmere School (Auckland)

Newton Central School

St Joseph's School (Grey Lynn)

Aotearoa Infinite Academy

City 0-10

UP International College New Zealand

Pasadena Intermediate

The BUSY School NZ

Kōwhai Intermediate

Te Kapehu Whetu - Tamaki

Northern Health School

Mt Albert School

Point Chevalier School Rangi-mata-rau

Ficino School

Mt Eden Normal School

St Francis Catholic School (Pt Chevalier)

St Peter's College (Epsom)

Marist School (Mt Albert)

Auckland Grammar School

Marist College

Mt Albert Grammar School

Balmoral School (Auckland)

Gladstone School (Auckland)

Newmarket School

ACG Parnell College

Edendale School (Auckland)

Eden Campus

Crimson Global Academy

Balmoral S D A School

TKKM o Nga Maungarongo

Waterview School

Epsom Girls Grammar School

Good Shepherd School (Balmoral)

Auckland Normal Intermediate

Birkenhead School

Northcote School (Auckland)

Parnell School

Northcote College

Chelsea School

Maungawhau School

Diocesan School For Girls

St Michael's Catholic School (Remuera)

Kohia Terrace School

St Mary's School (Northcote)

Elim Christian College Mt Albert

Ecole Francaise Internationale Auckland