Ponsonby and surrounding suburbs
Including Grey Lynn, Freemans Bay, Herne Bay
and St Marys Bay
Ponsonby
Uber-chic villas, boutique shopping, coffee-drinking and liberal-minded residents – Ponsonby is where Auckland’s creative and cosmopolitan set congregate, sipping their skinny lattes and strolling down the iconic café and restaurant-studded Ponsonby Road. Residents love its strong community spirit, its character-filled streets and reputation for leading edge attitudes and design. As a highly sought-after place to live, it is a few minutes drive from Auckland’s CBD and Viaduct Harbour.
Grey Lynn
Perhaps more of a family area than Ponsonby because of its larger houses and sections, Grey Lynn’s many bungalow and villas have been thoroughly revived in recent years. Home to many arty types, actors and media-makers, the suburb is proud of its slightly “hippy” reputation – this is where you find the famous Harvest Wholefoods and where everyone shops with reusable bags.
Herne Bay
With wide leafy streets, a northern slopes aspect and harbour-side positioning, Herne Bay is
the blue-chip area of this group of suburbs. Large gracious homes on big sections mix with some grand architectural delights in streets that are continually sought-after by buyers wanting a “northern slopes” address. In “southern” Herne Bay, on the other side of vibrant Jervois Rd, renovated villas line up along what are known as “the avenues”. 
St Marys Bay
A small, intimate, north-facing suburb made up of a mix of early colonial villas and transitional villas, St Mary’s Bay has a distinct personality and a desirability that’s driven by its limited pool of houses. Many of the homes have inner-harbour over the yacht masts of Westhaven Marina and city skyline views; an amble up the road puts you in the Three Lamps shops, or a stroll down the hill takes you to the marina and viaduct.
Attractions
Cafes, and more cafes, along Ponsonby Rd, Jervois Rd and at Three Lamps corner
Boutique shopping, along Ponsonby Rd and Jervois Rd
The old Ponsonby Post Office, now home to a Belgian beer house!
Western Park with its intriguing “building parts” sculptures
Grey Lynn Park (there’s a free toddler’s swimming pool)
Westhaven Marina for some yacht-spotting
Cox’s Bay Reserve
Western Springs Reserve
Auckland Zoo and MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology)
Schools
Primary:
Bayfield School
Freemans Bay School
Ponsonby Primary School
Richmond Road School
Grey Lynn School
Newton Central School
St Francis School
St Joseph’s School
Intermediate:
Ponsonby Intermediate
Pasadena Intermediate
Secondary:
Auckland Girls Grammar
St Mary’s College
St Paul’s College
Western Springs College
