What’s it like living in Auckland? The great news is that Auckland is a vibrant city full of life, with stunning beaches and diverse cultural experiences providing the perfect recipe for creating the ideal work-life balance! Read on for the highlights and benefits of living and working in Auckland, or check out other articles in this series on what it’s like living in New Zealand.
About Auckland – Everything You Need To Know
As New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland is home to approximately a third of the country’s total population and is renowned for its diversity, urban delights and natural wonders – Auckland quite literally has it all!
Cost Of Living In Auckland
Is Auckland expensive to live in? The short answer is – yes. Housing costs in Auckland are generally considered the most expensive across the country – primarily due to population numbers and housing availability in relation to the city centre. However, rental properties are readily available across a variety of budgets, here is a quick guide to some of the most popular suburbs in Auckland.
- Auckland Central City. Right in the heart of the city, very near the waterfront, the CBD is small enough that you will find everything you need within easy walking distance, but large enough that you will never be bored! Apartment living is the most common in the Auckland CBD. Although rent is higher than in the outskirts, you will save big on parking and transportation costs.
- Devonport. Located on the opposite side of the harbour, Devonport offers a more relaxed vibe, complete with seaside views and boutique shopping. Ferry commutes are an option for workers in the central city, or you can travel by car across the Auckland Harbour Bridge.
- Ponsonby. Known for its chic vibe and specialty shopping, Ponsonby is home to some of Auckland’s most expensive homes while also offering fantastic nightlife and plenty of fine dining options.
- Mission Bay. Beach lovers will likely gravitate towards Mission Bay. Roughly 8 km drive from the central city, this seaside suburb is popular for its waterfront setting, casual dining and social scene.
- Mount Eden. Around 5 km from the central city, Mount Eden is a popular suburb with a mix of housing options, including apartments and standalone homes. You will also find a range of businesses, shops, cafes, and restaurants.
- Ellerslie. A little further out, Ellerslie offers slightly more affordable living options with a focus on stand alone properties or townhouses.
It is good to know that flatting/house sharing is common in Auckland (helps with living costs), as is apartment living and townhouses. Higher housing costs mean average daily living costs in Auckland are likely to be higher than in other areas of New Zealand, however public transportation is more reliable and better serviced. Essential services such as electricity and internet are readily available with a variety of pricing/plan options from the main providers, including Spark, 2Degrees, and OneNZ (formerly known as Vodafone) for mobile/internet services and Mercury, Meridian and Contact Energy for power suppliers. These services are generally charged at similar rates right across New Zealand but do shop around for the best deal.
Auckland Demographics
What is the average age of people living in Auckland? According to the 2023 census data, the median age of Aucklanders is 35.9 years, compared to 38.1 New Zealand-wide. Also, according to the 2023 census data released by the Auckland District Council, there are 1,656,486 people living in Auckland, representing 33.2% of the total New Zealand population.
Auckland is the most ethnically diverse city in New Zealand, with European and Asian peoples making up the majority at 49.8% and 31.3%, respectively (according to the 2023 Census data).
Transportation In Auckland
Getting around Auckland City is made easy with regular bus services, reliable harbour ferries and a centrally located train station. Taxi and Uber services are readily available, as are e-scooters and bikes. Bear in mind traffic can be a bit of a hassle in Auckland, especially during rush hour.
Auckland is also home to both international and domestic airline services within a short drive from the CBD (it’s the busiest airport in NZ in fact!). Regular international flights are available to many different countries, including Australia, the UK, Canada, USA, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Auckland Weather And Climate
Auckland enjoys a relatively mild climate, and although subject to increased humidity levels when compared to the rest of NZ, its summers are warm and inviting, with long days and mild nights. Expect temperatures ranging from 15 to 25 degrees for the majority of the year.
May through August are the wettest months, with temperatures averaging around 15 to 17 degrees. Being located in the upper North Island, rainfall levels are higher in Auckland, however it’s usually restricted to short downfalls and light rain with fairly warm accompanying temperatures. Fun fact: it’s not uncommon to experience all four seasons in one day in Auckland, with sunshine, rain, and strong winds all occurring within the same 24 hours!
Education Services In Auckland
Auckland has two excellent universities (The University of Auckland and The Auckland Institute of Technology) as well as several other higher education facilities including private training institutes catering for more niche industries. If it’s primary or secondary education you are after, there are numerous public and private schooling options.
The availability of education services in Auckland make it a popular choice for those with young families who want to ensure their children’s education is taken care of. It does pay to be aware that if seeking out a particular primary or secondary school, Auckland schools will likely be subject to zoning restrictions, meaning you have to live within the enrolment zone in order for your children to attend.
6 Things To Do In Auckland
Auckland is a city full of fun and excitement – there really is a little something for everyone! Check out our top 6 things to do in Auckland below.
- Shop Till You Drop! Shopping enthusiasts will enjoy world-class retail precincts offering a variety of boutique and designer stores with all of your mainstream favourites plus plenty of boutique options for those who like to hunt down that unique and sought-after piece.
- Eat Out. An array of tantalising restaurants and bars scattered across the city await the enthusiastic foodie. Expect to find everything from fine dining to street food with many different cultural influences and fusion feasts on offer.
- Jump Off The Sky Tower. Perhaps Auckland’s most iconic landmark, the Sky Tower provides everything from fine dining to base jumping by wire and is famous as the tallest man-made structure in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Catch A Local Event. Auckland is a hub for entertainment, hosting numerous live music and performing arts events throughout the year. For example, the Civic Theatre, a heritage venue built–in 1929, offers a combination of performing arts theatre, live music, and cinema experiences – definitely one not to miss! Additionally, the Auckland Art Gallery is the country’s most prominent art institution featuring over 15,000 works from New Zealand, the Pacific and overseas.
- Visit The Auckland War Memorial Museum. Instantly recognisable for its distinctive heritage-style building, the Auckland War Museum is a must-do activity in Auckland. Serving both as a memorial site for war casualties as well as holding some of New Zealand’s most important historical artefacts and treasures, including an extensive Maori and Pacific Island collection – you won’t be disappointed!
- Explore The Great Outdoors. If you love nature and wildlife, there are many picturesque landscapes, mountains, volcanoes, beaches and reserves in and around Auckland. Local favourites include the tranquil vineyards and shores of Waiheke Island, the black sand and rugged scenery of Piha Beach and the unspoiled forests of Tiritiri Matangi Island, a wildlife sanctuary for endangered native birds and reptiles.
And There’s More…
Auckland has so many things to do it would be difficult to list them all here, but some of the more notable mentions are the Rainbow’s End amusement park, Butterfly Creek, sailing on the Auckland Harbour (it is the City of Sails after all!), horse riding, fishing, skydiving, bungy jumping, hiking, swimming, surfing and the list goes on… and on!
Healthcare Facilities In Auckland
Auckland offers a full range of high-quality medical services with Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand employing around 20,000 staff and caring for over a million patients per year across the region’s six main hospitals and a selection of other healthcare facilities.
Auckland hospital care covers a huge variety of specialties, including Emergency, General Medicine, Neonatal Intensive Care, High–Risk Obstetrics, Surgical Services, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Intensive Care Unit, Trauma Service, Neurosurgery, Oncology, Radiology, Children’s Intensive Care Unit, Lung, Liver and Renal Transplants, and Psychiatry.
The main hospitals in the Auckland district are Auckland City Hospital, including National Women’s Health, Starship Children’s Health, Green Lane Clinical Centre, Middlemore Hospital, North Shore Hospital and Waitakere Hospital.
Middlemore Hospital’s plastic surgery service is the home of the National Burns Unit, which serves the whole of New Zealand as well as some Pacific Islands. The Auckland City Hospital is New Zealand’s largest public hospital and clinical research facility. In conjunction with Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland City hospital accommodates over 1,100 beds and employs around 12,000 staff, approximately twenty percent of whom are medical. The Auckland University Medical School promotes innovation and research and collaborates with other services to enhance the integration of hospital-based systems and improve patient outcomes.
Working In Auckland
An abundance of career opportunities and the promotion of a healthy work/life balance awaits those who choose to work in Auckland. Being New Zealand’s largest job market, there are opportunities across a wide range of industries, everything from large multinational companies through to smaller owner/operator businesses. Salaries are also higher in Auckland than in other parts of New Zealand, which helps to alleviate the higher living costs.
Career prospects remain stable in Auckland due to its place as a business hub for many players on the world stage. The biggest benefit of working in Auckland is the opportunity to make good business connections with other professionals due to the tight-knit business community both in Auckland and New Zealand in general – meaning you are less likely to become a faceless number than you are in other larger cities.
Whether your preference is for dining and entertainment, history and culture or beaches and wildlife, you’ll find it all in Auckland, complemented by an extensive range of opportunities for every medical specialty. Please contact the Triple0 team today to learn more about the region and any potential medical recruitment opportunities in Auckland.
