Ponsonby

Auckland

Ponsonby featuring shopping and signage
Ponsonby showing signage
Ponsonby showing a park and heritage architecture
Ponsonby
Ponsonby featuring signage

Visit stylish bars and excellent restaurants or shop for designer clothes when you visit Auckland’s most fashionable suburb.

Shop in boutique clothes stores, search for rare vinyl in second-hand record shops or sit in a café and people-watch as Auckland’s coolest folk strut by in Ponsonby. Explore the bustling marketplace in the suburb’s main street or take a stroll around the backstreets to see the stunning Victorian villas and homes for the city’s young professionals. Spend your evening in a bar watching live music or dance the night away at one of Ponsonby’s fashionable clubs.

Perched on a hill overlooking Auckland’s city centre, Ponsonby is known for being the city’s most happening suburb. In the 1960s, Ponsonby was one of Auckland’s roughest areas. It transformed into an edgy, alternative neigborhood when it became a hotspot for artists and the city’s gay community. Ponsonby is now one of Auckland’s most desirable residential areas and offers fantastic shopping, nightlife and cultural attractions.

You’ll find most of the shops, bars and restaurants along the main strip, Ponsonby Road. Walk from one end to the other and stop by fashion boutiques, music shops and more. Make sure you visit the Ponsonby Market, an undercover marketplace located about halfway down the street. Here, you’ll find stalls selling superb fresh produce and a short strip of great restaurants serving cuisine from all over the world.

Don’t miss a visit to one of Ponsonby’s cafés. Kiwis are serious about their coffee and Ponsonby is where you’ll find some of the best around. When evening comes, book a table in one of the many excellent restaurants. Ponsonby is known as the “dining room of Auckland” and you can find something to satisfy all palates in this area.

Ponsonby has accommodation options to suit different budgets. The suburb’s proximity to Auckland’s city centre makes it a great vacation base. If you’re staying elsewhere, reach Ponsonby via the free bus service that loops around the city centre.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Ponsonby Hotel Deals

Cordis, Auckland by Langham Hospitality Group

Cordis, Auckland by Langham Hospitality Group

5 out of 5
83 Symonds Street, Box 2771, Auckland
The price is CA $139 per night from Sep 14 to Sep 15
CA $139
CA $160 total
Sep 14 - Sep 15
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star spa hotel in Auckland. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,365 reviews)
"Really enjoyed our stay. The cocktails in the bar were a good standard. Food was fantastic"

Reviewed on Aug. 11, 2025

Cordis, Auckland by Langham Hospitality Group
The Grand by SkyCity

The Grand by SkyCity

5 out of 5
90 Federal Street, Auckland
The price is CA $163 per night from Aug 31 to Sep 1
CA $163
CA $188 total
Aug 31 - Sep 1
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Auckland. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 11 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,757 reviews)
"Greet staff and beautiful facilities. A really great city experience!!"

Reviewed on Aug. 11, 2025

The Grand by SkyCity
Novotel Auckland Airport

Novotel Auckland Airport

4.5 out of 5
35 Tom Pearce Dr, Auckland International Airport, Auckland
The price is CA $224 per night from Sep 6 to Sep 7
CA $224
CA $258 total
Sep 6 - Sep 7
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Auckland. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), 24-hour room service, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,941 reviews)
"Great hotel"

Reviewed on Aug. 11, 2025

Novotel Auckland Airport
SkyCity Hotel

SkyCity Hotel

4.5 out of 5
Corner Victoria and Federal Streets, Auckland
The price is CA $149 per night from Aug 21 to Aug 22
CA $149
CA $171 total
Aug 21 - Aug 22
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Auckland. Enjoy free WiFi, 11 restaurants, and a casino. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,773 reviews)
"Really comfortable beds & pillows. The rooms were really dark so we could sleep in! Loved the rain head shower in bathroom"

Reviewed on Aug. 10, 2025

SkyCity Hotel
Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre by IHG

Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre by IHG

4 out of 5
Corner Wyndham & Albert Streets, Auckland
The price is CA $118 per night from Aug 24 to Aug 25
CA $118
CA $136 total
Aug 24 - Aug 25
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Auckland. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (880 reviews)
"The stay and staff were fantastic. This hotel turned an otherwise failure of a trip bearable. I was able to eat at various places, get a couple of massages, do some shopping and enjoy myself even though I couldn't do any of the things I went to Auckland for due to an information data breach and having ..."

Reviewed on Aug. 5, 2025

Holiday Inn Express Auckland City Centre by IHG
Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland

Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland

3 out of 5
80 Wellesley Street West, Auckland, Auckland
The price is CA $96 per night from Aug 31 to Sep 1
CA $96
CA $111 total
Aug 31 - Sep 1
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Auckland. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Popular attractions SkyCity Casino and Sky Tower are located ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (535 reviews)
"Great staff at an amazing hotel"

Reviewed on Aug. 12, 2025

Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Ponsonby

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Viaduct Harbour

The captivating waterfront views and popular shops are a few things travelers love about Viaduct Harbour. Check out New Zealand Maritime Museum or Princes Wharf while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Halsey Street Tram Stop to get around town.

Viaduct Harbour
Auckland CBD featuring city views and street scenes

Auckland Central Business District

4.5/5(309 area reviews)

Densely developed and bustling with arts, culture, and education, this financial hub offers shopping at Commercial Bay and Queen Street, galleries like Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Convenient public transport options are available at Britomart Transport Centre.

Auckland Central Business District
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Grafton

While visiting Grafton, you might make a stop by sights like Grafton Bridge and Symonds Street Cemetery.

Grafton
Auckland Domain showing a garden

Parnell

5/5(3 area reviews)

If you're spending time in Parnell, you might enjoy attractions like Parnell Rose Gardens and Auckland Museum. You might also enjoy the neighborhood's ample dining options before hopping on the metro at The Strand Station to see more of the city.

Parnell
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Newmarket

Premier retail hub, Newmarket boasts over 400 stores, numerous dining options, and entertainment venues. Explore Highwic's Gothic architecture, unwind at Lumsden Green, and access Auckland via the railway station.

Newmarket
Mt. Eden which includes landscape views and tranquil scenes

Mount Eden

5/5(1 area review)

Unique features of Mount Eden include the bars and shopping. Make a stop by Mount Eden or Eden Park while you're exploring the area.

Mount Eden

Ponsonby

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