Last updated October 2026
Howick is one of East Auckland’s most historic and pleasant suburbs — a heritage village with Howick Beach foreshore, the Howick Historical Village (one of NZ’s main living-history museums), and a strong village commercial strip on Picton Street that makes Howick distinctly different from the surrounding newer East Auckland suburbs.
Official Suburb Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 11,510, up 4% since 2018
- Land area
- 3.14 km²
- Location
- 15.2 km east of central Auckland
- Council
- Auckland Council
- Neighbouring suburbs
- Mellons Bay, Bucklands Beach, Cockle Bay, Botany Downs, Highland Park, Somerville
- Ward or local board
- Howick Local Board
- Getting there
- Picton Street, with buses; SH1 motorway access
- Main shopping
- Picton Street village
- Schools
- Howick Intermediate, Howick Primary School, Owairoa Primary School
- Nearby landmarks
- Howick Historical Village, Stockade Hill, Howick Beach, the Howick Hotel
Who Lives in Howick
About 11,510 residents in 3,960 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
About Howick
Howick is one of Auckland’s oldest established suburbs — settled by Fencible soldiers from the 1840s and retaining significant heritage character around the Picton Street village and Stockade Hill lookout. The combination of heritage village, Howick Beach foreshore, and the Howick Historical Village living-history museum makes Howick one of East Auckland’s most distinct and visitor-rich destinations.
Howick Historical Village
Howick Historical Village is one of NZ’s main living-history museums — recreating colonial Howick life with original heritage buildings (relocated from across NZ), costumed interpreters during special events, and substantial collections covering Fencible settlement and 19th-century Auckland history. The museum is a major regional cultural attraction.
Picton Street and Howick Beach
Picton Street is Howick’s heritage village commercial strip — preserved Victorian and Edwardian buildings housing cafes, restaurants, boutiques and services, with the historic Howick Hotel as a long-running landmark. Howick Beach at the foot of the village gives sheltered Hauraki Gulf swimming with surf-lifesaving patrols in summer. Stockade Hill (the original Fencible defensive position) overlooks the village with panoramic views.
Near Howick
Just outside Howick, within 10 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Businesses
Where to Learn More
Howick Historical Village — major living-history museum.
Safeswim — Howick Beach — water quality monitoring.
Howick Local Board — local government area covering Howick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Howick?
East Auckland on the Hauraki Gulf coast. ~18 km from CBD.
What’s Howick Historical Village?
Major NZ living-history museum recreating colonial Howick life with original heritage buildings.
What’s on Picton Street?
Heritage village commercial strip — preserved buildings housing cafes, restaurants, boutiques, services.
What’s Stockade Hill?
Historic Fencible defensive position overlooking the village with panoramic views.
Which schools are in Howick?
Howick Primary School, Howick Intermediate and Owairoa Primary School are the local schools.
Is Howick Beach patrolled?
Howick Beach at the foot of the village offers sheltered Hauraki Gulf swimming, with surf-lifesaving patrols in summer.
For more East Auckland suburbs see Auckland Suburbs.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Explore Auckland only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Howick is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.