5 reasons to live in (or visit) sunny Takapuna

We reckon there’s no better place to live than right here in Takapuna. With so many cool things to see and do, here are just five of our top reasons to call this corner of the country home.

Eating and drinking

Takapuna boasts a plethora of places to eat and drink, with cafés, bars and restaurants to suit every taste bud. Take a stroll down Eat Street: Fortieth & Hurstmere – a groovy laneway home to seven of the best Takapuna eateries, or head to Regatta Bar & Eatery to enjoy a delicious meal on the beachside deck, taking in the stunning views of Takapuna Beach. With trendy bars, chic cafés, tasty takeaways and world flavours – including South-East Asian, Japanese, Colombian, and Italian all on offer, you’re spoilt for choice. 

Activities

You’ll never be short of interesting activities to do in our spot on the North Shore. For all-ages fun, head to Escape HQ Auckland, with its four indoor escape rooms, outdoor and online games, or Thrillzone Takapuna, offering a range of indoor and outdoor VR games and adventures. Fitness and sports fans are well catered-for, with facilities including the Takapuna Pool and Leisure Centre and YMCA North Shore Recreational Centre. Sports clubs include tennis, rugby and croquet, and the beautiful Takapuna Golf Course in Northcote Road. For those after something a little more serene, there are several yoga and pilates studios in Takapuna too.

Shopping

Takapuna is a shopper’s paradise, from the boutique shopping precinct around Hurstmere Road to the bustling Shore City Mall in Anzac Drive, home to over 50 different stores including fashion, jewellery, sport, leisure, lifestyle, and department stores. As well there is the immensely popular Takapuna Beach Sunday Market, featuring an array of stalls including arts and crafts, fresh produce, food vendors, and much more.

Beach life

Takapuna Beach is undoubtedly our greatest natural asset, and there are so many ways to enjoy it year-round. Walk the historic Takapuna-Milford walkway along the beach foreshore, enjoy a leisurely swim, or take the water toys and enjoy a spot stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking or windsurfing. Stroll along the beach’s beautiful sands, and enjoy a picnic in the lush Gould Reserve, where the kids can have a blast tearing around on the super-cool, all-abilities playground.

Culture

Art enthusiasts can visit Lake House Arts Centre – with its gallery and café set in a beautiful heritage building and garden space, or Art By the Sea, where you can take in the work of emerging and established local artists. For theatre lovers, there is New Zealand’s longest-running professional children’s theatre company the Tim Bray Theatre Company, the PumpHouse Theatre, and the Bruce Mason Centre, all offering a diverse range of world-class concert and theatre productions. And for cinephiles, the recently refurbished Takapuna Beachside Cinema is the place to go to catch the latest movie releases in luxury.

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