Situated on the periphery of Auckland’s central business district, the luxurious town of Parnell is the nation’s first suburb, settled by early Europeans in late 1841.
Though known today for its leafy avenues, large Edwardian villas, hidden estates and a long main road leading down to the sea, Parnell—separated from the grayness of Auckland city by the lush Domain park—has a history of decaying glory. After years of neglect, Parnell was revitalized in the 1970s by local property developer Les Harvey, who opted to restore dilapidated old buildings along Parnell Road and turn them into high-end restaurants, cafes, craft shops and boutiques in a bid to recapture the soul of the Parnell Village of old.
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Boundaries
Blessed with hilly topography that overlooks the tranquil waters of Waitemata Harbour, Rangitoto Island and the Gulf, Parnell’s southern point borders the bustling upscale district of Newmarket, known as the fashion and trend capital of New Zealand.To its west, you will find the Auckland Domain, the oldest and largest park in the city, and to the north, the Ports of Auckland.
Price Range
Parnell today is what CoreLogic New Zealand’s chief economist Kelvin Davidson called an “upper-end” suburb, with a median value of NZ$2.04 million (US$1.29 million)— nearly NZ$1 million more than the all-Auckland figure of NZ$1.16 million (and more than twice as much as the national media price of NZ$820,000).
In particular, anything close to “the village strip”—also known as Parnell Road, which houses most of the area’s luxury design boutiques, galleries and fine eateries—commands a premium, said Marina Greatbatch from Sotheby’s International Realty New Zealand.
“In this sought-after vicinity, it would be difficult to buy even a shoebox for less than