Parnell is Auckland's oldest surviving suburb — a ridge-top residential and commercial district of restored Victorian and Edwardian wooden villas, converted wool stores, and boutique retail immediately east of the CBD. Parnell Village, the central shopping strip along Parnell Road, was created in the 1970s by developer Les Harvey as New Zealand's first pedestrian-oriented boutique district and influenced the later transformation of similar neighbourhoods in the country.
The Parnell Rose Gardens (at the northern end of Parnell), the early Neo-Gothic Holy Trinity Cathedral (still unfinished after 130 years of construction), and Ewelme Cottage (an 1864 pioneer cottage on Ayr Street, Auckland's oldest remaining kauri cottage) together form a heritage walk. Parnell has many good restaurants (Non Solo Pizza is an Italian institution since 1998, and Domain & Ayr is the neighbourhood's modern brunch leader), and the proximity to both the War Memorial Museum and the Domain makes it a natural afternoon add-on.
Verified Facts
Parnell is Auckland's oldest surviving suburb
Parnell Village was created as a boutique district in the 1970s by Les Harvey
Holy Trinity Cathedral is still under construction 130 years after starting
Ewelme Cottage dates to 1864
Get walking directions
Parnell Road, Parnell
