Come home to a sophisticated architecturally designed home at our boutique development at Ōwairaka. A fresh suite of new homes is on offer in the form of stylish and contemporary architecture, located in this central area of Auckland. Situated on Hendon Avenue, right near famed Murray Halberg Park, these homes back onto the greenery of Alan Wood Reserve. Enjoy convenient access to the CBD and Auckland’s inner suburbs, including Mt Albert. Ōwairaka offers an excellent lifestyle, with an easy commute, great schools, fantastic parks and playgrounds, and a diverse array of eateries representing cuisine from many parts of the globe – all in your local urban gem of a neighbourhood. And with your architecturally designed, high-quality, low-maintenance Universal home, you’re free to simply enjoy it all.
Urban desirability
With its enviable location Ōwairaka provides an urban desirability that’s hard to beat. The neighbourhood is home to one of Auckland’s most vibrant multicultural communities, bringing a host of benefits to the local events and foodie scene. The striking volcanic peak of Ōwairaka / Mount Albert, also known as Te Ahi-kā-a-Rakataura, dominates the landscape of Ōwairaka and surrounding suburbs. Both the mountain and the wider area of Ōwairaka are steeped in history.
The local area is also rich in green spaces, from a variety of parks right nearby including Alan Wood Reserve, Murray Halberg Park and rugby field, Anderson Park, and Kukuwai Park (Hendon Avenue Reserve). Close by is the iconic mountain of Ōwairaka / Mt Albert, for breathtaking views of the city that are hard to beat. Take a stroll along a section of Te Auaunga / Oakley Creek, one of Auckland’s longest urban streams.
Enjoy the walkway that winds its way along beside the creek, through established bush, with an abundance of native and exotic flora and fauna including the threatened New Zealand longfin eel. The Friends of Oakley Creek runs a variety of programmes to help protect and preserve the creek environment and improve water quality.
Not too far away are Underwood Park, and Ōwairaka Park with its skate park and a kids’ bike pump track. A little further on is Ōwairaka Athletics Club, home to the Lovelock Track, with a softball club and a baseball club close by too.
A handy location
A highly desirable central suburb location for home buyers, Ōwairaka is located just 8kms from Auckland CBD, right beside Mt Albert, and minutes from Grey Lynn and Mt Eden. Being central means it’s easy to reach the CBD with a short car trip, pop on your helmet to use one of the handy local cycleways, or select from public transport options available including buses and trains. With frequent buses along Sandringham, Mt Eden and Dominion Roads and buses along Mt Albert Road, all connecting to the Mt Albert rail station, the area has good accessibility. The nearby Waterview Connection (State Highway 20) provides easy access to the city, Auckland Airport, and other major transport routes. When it comes to cycling, there are plenty of bike paths and cycle-friendly options to discover, either for families or those in search of a longer cycling adventure.
Ōwairaka is iconically marked out by the soaring Te Whitinga footbridge. Designed by Warren and Mahoney, Te Whitinga (meaning “the crossing”) connects Kukuwai Park in Ōwairaka to the suburb of New Windsor, and is part of the wider Waterview Connection project.
Ōwairaka is just 10 minutes from Mount Albert train station by bike. Some of Ōwairaka’s bike paths are tucked away and slightly hidden, but linked together they’re a good adventure route for confident children and adults alike. The Te Auaunga Oakley Creek restoration project has recently extended a bike path from Oakley Creek through several local parks.
Ōwairaka’s Vision
Universal Homes’ boutique development at Ōwairaka is a much-loved suburb between Mt Albert and Mt Roskill, is rapidly becoming a more vibrant, urban neighbourhood. The Ōwairaka re-development, which began in 2018, is delivering higher quality and more affordable homes and up-to-date infrastructure, within a neighbourhood where the community can thrive.
Our work is focused on delivering beautiful brand-new homes in this location, as we have at a range of other popular locations including Westgate, Northcote, Milldale and Hobsonville Point.
Significant planning and investment has already been poured into this area, and will continue over the coming few years. The remit is to deliver improved infrastructure and amenities to Ōwairaka to support a thriving, growing community. This includes investment into infrastructure such as new streetscapes, parks, and walkways, the undergrounding of overhead services, and new stormwater pipes in the area.
The Ōwairaka Development masterplan prioritises inclusivity, sustainability, and community wellbeing for residents to enjoy a positive lifestyle in a healthy brand-new home. The appeal of this neighbourhood will continue to rise: key neighbourhood infrastructure and amenities will be upgraded so that community spaces and essential services are future-proofed for generations to come. Renovating the neighbourhood will make Ōwairaka an even better place to live.
The vision for new Ōwairaka homes is to create a neighbourhood that everyone is proud of; providing a place to live centrally, with the ability to access a great lifestyle with ease. Public transport, parks, beaches, Te Auaunga / Oakley Creek walkway, shops, entertainment, and a thriving food scene are all within easy reach of this great neighbourhood. The appeal of this boutique neighbourhood, just 8kms from the CBD, will become even stronger as this development progresses. With significant investment going into parks, public spaces, green space, roading, and services, Ōwairaka residents will enjoy a neighbourhood that supports their wellbeing and lifestyle.
The development of the area includes the restoration of Te Auaunga Awa / Oakley Creek begun in 2003 by The Friends of Oakley Creek, in partnership with Auckland Council, local boards, mana whenua, community groups, local volunteers, and other agencies. This restoration of Te Auaunga Awa and the walkways and parks alongside it is transforming the area into a greener, healthier, more connected suburb. The creek is considered a socially, culturally, and environmentally significant waterway.
Shopping and entertainment
Whether you’re into boutiques or a mall experience, take your pick from plenty of shopping options in and around Ōwairaka. Many retail, dining, recreational, entertainment, and medical facilities are all nearby. St Lukes Shopping Centre offers a broad range of mall shopping options, as well as a movie theatre. Browse nearby shops at Mt Albert, Mt Eden, Sandringham, and Pt Chevalier.
For the exercise fans, enjoy getting to know loads of local parks and green spaces, or take a dip at the Mt Albert Aquatic Centre. Become involved with the rich athletics history and legacy embedded in the area. Close by is Ōwairaka Athletics Club and the Lovelock Track, home of iconic Kiwi gold medal-winning Olympians, plus a softball club, a baseball club, and Murray Halberg Park, the home of rugby league club Marist Saints and the Ōwairaka Sea Scouts. Ōwairaka Park has plenty on offer for all ages, including walkways, sports fields, a skatepark, a playground, and basketball courts, surrounded by shady pōhutukawa trees. There’s even a weekly 5 km Ōwairaka Parkrun to join. Additionally, there are several fascinating historical walks in the area, taking in grand villas, Edwardian homes, farmland, and the mountain’s ballast pit.
Educational opportunities
Educational options for small children through to young adults are all catered for with excellent local facilities. There’s the highly regarded Ōwairaka Kindergarten and Ōwairaka District School, plus many other daycare and primary school options nearby. This area of Ōwairaka is in zone for various secondary schools, with private school options close by too. Te Pūkenga Unitec is right on your doorstep for tertiary study options. Public transport routes are available to other nearby tertiary CBD options including the University of Auckland, and AUT University.
Soak in all that Ōwairaka offers, with its laid-back, urban boutique atmosphere. Simply walk or cycle tree-lined streets to enjoy local cafes, boutique eateries, and shops. Ōwairaka is an ideal location to make your very own. Explore our new homes and secure your spot in Ōwairaka today!
What’s on offer in Ōwairaka
There’s plenty to do in leafy Ōwairaka, with its relaxed urban boutique lifestyle meaning it’s easy to walk or cycle to a broad range of recreational activities and outdoor pursuits.
On the menu at Ōwairaka
When hunger strikes and you’re after a bite to eat, take your pick from the diverse and delicious laid-back eateries of Ōwairaka.
The history of Ōwairaka
Set amidst a richly historic area, Ōwairaka’s vibrant roots as the region’s food basket extend back centuries to the earliest days of Auckland’s residential settlement.
