The Precincts
Our central city is made up of a number of precincts that offer distinct business, retail and entertainment experiences. For more information about the businesses that are within these areas, download our Insiders Guide to Downtown Auckland.
Queen Street
Queen Street role has the most significant concentration of retail shopping activity and the location of choice for most brand-name retail tenants. In the future, the precinct presents the opportunity to develop as a retail "address” of national and international significance, offering continuously active retail and entertainment activities along its main section from Custom Street to Wellesley Street.
The Arts Precinct
The Arts precinct is located in the 'heart' of the city centre, and is home to the Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland Central City Library, Aotea Square, Auckland Town Hall, Aotea Centre and Civic Theatre. It is also home to a number of private dealer galleries, theatres and cinemas, and is serviced by great bars and restaurants. This is where people come to enjoy the Auckland's vibrant arts scene.
High Street District
The High Street District is an eclectic mix of independent fashion boutiques, brand labels, giftware and restaurants and bars, and has a distinctly New Zealand flavour that appeals to a broad range of visitors. Its role will evolve further over time, with an increasing focus on outdoor dining and activities, with linkages created through Commerce Street and Fort Lane to the retail precinct at Britomart.
Britomart
Britomart is a successful mixed use activity precinct that houses high-quality speciality retail tenants and an active street dining and hospitality atmosphere, and is a showcase for the city's built heritage. It is a focus for tourist visitors, office workers and City Centre residents alike, and will become an important linkage between the Queen Street Core and the emerging waterfront district.
The Waterfront
The Waterfront stretches from Wynyard Quarter in the west, along to the port in the East. It offers distinctive pockets of fine dining and entertainment activities in Princes Wharf, Viaduct and Wynyard Quarter areas. It also support the numerous commercial and residential tenants in the area, through service base retailing, and is a key gateway to the city centre.
K' Road
K' Road's particular ambience derives from the mix of activities and cultural focus, the architectural character, its role as a night-time destination for young people (with a range of bars and nightclubs), and the range of eclectic retail, multi-cultural and art-focussed tenancies. While the precinct will continue to attract a more mainstream clientele, it will retain its unique character and charm, becoming a successful shopping district that serves a market distinct from that of the rest of the CBD.
City West
The City West area lies adjacent to the Queen Street precinct and is anchored with hospitality and entertainment in the Federal Street and Elliott/Darby Street areas. There is a strong pedestrian focus, with an increasing presence of outdoor dining and 24/7 entertainment offering.
Victoria Quarter
It's the historic warehouse and industrial area of Auckland's CBD, bounded by Hobson, Fanshawe and Union Streets, the motorway, and includes Victoria Park. Once the industrial hub of early Auckland, the quarter is now an eclectic mix of historic buildings and commercial activities; intimate in parts and bleak and barren in others. Sitting on the periphery of the core CBD retail area, the area is developing a strong hospitality offering, particularly in around the Drake and Sale street areas, and it offers a slightly grittier urban experience. During the day it caters to the large number of commercial tenants in the area, and at night residents and visitors. It is a gateway to both the City West and the Waterfront areas.
The Commercial District
This is the hub of the city's business district, and includes the Shortland Street and Fort Street areas. It is home to many of the country's premier legal and accounting firms. During the day, the area offers an increasing mix of retail, café, restaurant and commercial activities, and at night increasing entertainment offerings.
The Learning Quarter
Auckland's Learning Quarter is a world-class centre for education, research and commercialisation and the key to fuelling Auckland's future success. The Learning Quarter covers the city campuses of The University of Auckland and AUT University. It is a great asset for Auckland to have two of the country's high achieving universities located in the heart of the city centre. This makes The Learning Quarter a cornerstone in Auckland's attraction to local and international businesses, potential students and residents.
The Learning Quarter is a vibrant place with a stimulating environment, rich heritage, a strong history of achievements, significant open spaces and landscapes (such as Albert Park), unique cultural facilities and a diverse range of events and activities.
