Highland Park Auckland: East Auckland Family Suburb with Pak’nSave and Parks

Highland Park sits in the central peninsula of East Auckland, west of Howick. The Pakuranga Stream, a tributary of the Pakuranga Creek, flows through the western part of the suburb. Aviemore Drive serves as a major north-south arterial, linking Pakuranga Road and Bucklands Beach Road to Cascades Road.

In May 1972 the Manukau City Council sold land for the Highland Park Estate to Neil Construction Ltd, which developed around 650 house lots south of Pakuranga Road. The first houses were sold in February 1974.

The original Highland Park Shopping Centre opened in 1978 on a nine-acre site and was themed around the Scottish Highlands, complete with a fort structure; many local street names also reflect Scottish origins. In the same year the second Georgie Pie restaurant in New Zealand opened here and was promoted as the country’s first drive-through restaurant.

At the 2023 census, residents had a median age of 40.1 years. Ethnicity figures included 43.7% European (Pākehā), 47.8% Asian, 6.1% Māori and 7.7% Pasifika, with 56.7% of people born overseas. It forms part of the Pakuranga electorate and the Howick Local Board area.

Highland Park functions as a convenient family residential base with everyday amenities close at hand and easy reach of larger East Auckland hubs.

The former Highland Park Shopping Centre was purchased by Foodstuffs in December 2017. After the lease ended in 2023 the centre was demolished and a new Pak’nSave Highland Park was built on the site at 503–505 Pakuranga Road.

The $100 million supermarket, measuring 6,391 m², opened on 25 February 2025 and has been described as New Zealand’s largest new supermarket. It sits beside an existing Woolworths store.

The Pak’nSave provides extensive grocery options for daily needs and draws shoppers from across East Auckland. While the old multi-tenant shopping centre no longer exists, the large supermarket now anchors local retail convenience. Residents also have ready access to the bigger Botany Town Centre, Pakuranga Plaza and Howick village for a wider range of shops, services and dining.

William Green Domain at 600R Pakuranga Road is a large, well-established park suitable for sport and recreation. It is the home ground of Fencibles United association football club and features an artificial turf pitch (one full-size and several youth pitches) plus clubrooms and parking (entrances off Pakuranga Road near St John Ambulance and Hutchinsons Road).

Dogs must be on a leash unless otherwise signed; the park is smokefree and subject to standard Auckland Council rules on alcohol and waste.

The Cascade Walkway is a public path that follows the Pakuranga Creek and links Highland Park westward to Lloyd Elsmore Park. It offers a pleasant local walking option through green space along the stream corridor.

These green spaces support everyday recreation, organised sport and dog walking within the suburb, complementing the residential character.

Highland Park is roughly 18 km from the Auckland CBD, with a typical drive time of 15–20 minutes depending on traffic and route (via SH1 and local roads). Bus services operate along Pakuranga Road and nearby corridors, including connections toward Panmure and the city.

Howick & Eastern Buses and Auckland Transport services provide public transport options. Local roads such as Pakuranga Road and Aviemore Drive give straightforward access to surrounding suburbs and commercial centres.

Howick village lies immediately to the east and offers historic character, cafes, shops and coastal access. Botany Town Centre to the south provides major retail, dining and entertainment. Pakuranga and Lloyd Elsmore Park supply further sports facilities, parks and shopping.

Beaches at Bucklands Beach and Half Moon Bay are a short drive away. The suburb’s central East Auckland position makes it a practical base for exploring the wider Howick and Pakuranga area.