Shore attractions

Auckland's North Shore

It’s a part of Auckland best known for its kilometres of attractive, white sand beaches situated on the sparkling waters of the Waitemata. This characterisation probably harks back to the North Shore’s origins as a coastal holiday destination for those from Auckland’s “mainland”.

But the area has seen rapid urban development since the advent of the Harbour Bridge in the late 1950s. In fact, prior to its amalgamation into the Super City, North Shore City was the most densely populated city in the country. That’s because – although those golden beaches still play a big part in Shore life – most of the area is now urban or suburban in character.

It’s far from homogenised though. There’s the genteel urban village charms of Devonport and Birkenhead, the bustling commercial hubs of Takapuna and Albany, the traditionally blue collar suburbs of Beach Haven and Glenfield, and the fast growing sprawl of new housing developments running up to Orewa.

This diversity offers up a wide range of property options to those interested and combined with the lifestyle factors and solid, stable economic drivers, it makes the Shore a very attractive destination to live and work. For investors though, it is an area that requires solid research to find a good deal, along with creativity and work to maximise the value of an investment property.