Avondale is a neighbourhood filled with pride, history and quirky surprises. Great North Road is the beating heart of the ‘burb where you’ll find street art and popular eateries like Burnt Butter Diner and Browne St. There are plenty of hidden gems tucked into the folds of the area, such as the cool café Hare and the Turtle and über-German restaurant Mitten Drin.
But if there’s one must-do in the area, it’s catching a flick or live gig at New Zealand’s longest running cinema, The Hollywood Avondale. Its old-timey atmosphere is an experience in itself – The Hollywood is grand, locally loved and intimate to boot.
In town for the weekend? Whether there’s rain or shine, the Avondale Sunday Market is a wonderous way to spend a Sunday. Explore a sea of stalls at what is considered one of the oldest and largest markets in New Zealand, best for scooping up fresh veggies, exotic ingredients, crafts and antiques.
Be sure to check out the giant spider installation on Great North Road, a local landmark affectionately nicknamed “Dale”. The spider is a nod to the peculiar presence of the Australian huntsman spider in the area, a harmless creature known locally as the Avondale spider. Residents love their eight-legged mascot so much that they banded together to save the statue from getting the boot in 2016 – luckily, their “Save Dale” badges were a success.
For some more fresh air, give yourself a self-guided tour of the area by walking (or cycling) along the New Lynn to Avondale Shared Path. The 2.8km-long pathway weaves through the neighborhood from New Lynn Station with plenty of urban and natural scenery along the way.
Entertainment is made easy over at Paradice Ice Skating Avondale, where you can wobble or whiz around at one of the few ice-skating rinks in Auckland. Popular with families, Paradice also has an epic laser tag course suitable for ages six and up.
Getting there Te huarahi ki reira
Avondale is a 15-minute drive from the city centre and also accessible by several bus routes.
Local tip He tīwhiri mō te rohe
Tuck into authentic Mexican tacos at a pop-up stall located across from Green Jades – open every Thursday 6-9pm and Sunday 9am -1pm.
