Kingsland

Keenly sought out by latte lovers and a haven for young things wanting to be close to the city action, the suburb has heaps to offer in terms of real estate, trendy eateries and ambience. By CHARLOTTE COSSAR.

'The overriding allure that exudes the confidence of a happening place keeps many of the suburb's residents happy."

Kingsland is a suburb which is fast coming of age as one of Auckland's more sought after locations. Close to the CBD, Newmarket, St Lukes, Western Springs and Ponsonby, it has much that sophisticated professional urbanites seek and more.

The area has seen its fair share of gentrification over the last 15 years and the narrow streets and vintage renovated housing stock has given it a real Ponsonby feel.

This ambience has protruded further to boutique shopping along New North Rd and a restaurant and cafe culture hunted for by many of the city's trendy looking for a fantastic night out away from the well-worn Ponsonby and Mt Eden hotspots.

Indeed, the stretch of New North Rd enclosing this particular sphere of activity has become almost impossible for car parks during dining hours. Celebrities have also been spotted frequenting the locale. Nicely complementing the restaurants and cafes are designer hamburger and fish and chip shops.

Once possessing a bohemian atmosphere, the arrival of well-heeled, professional young couples has seen this influence wane somewhat. However, the overriding allure that exudes the confidence of a happening place keeps many of the suburb's residents happy.

Kingsland was once a farmland region called Rocky Nook. Subdivided in 1844, the post office opened in 1880, and in late 1901 the Kingsland Cricket Club rented a few acres of paddock to create a wicket - now known as Eden Park.

A tramline in 1903 meant the area was only minutes away from the city. And a popular move in 1925 saw a loop line added to include Eden Park with trams running to the city at one-minute intervals on opening day.

House styles in the area range from Victorian villas to transitional villas and Californian bungalows, and due to the small size of most of the sections there are few subdivided sections and, therefore, a lack of newer townhouses. However, there are a number of one- to two-bedroom units. While many of Kingsland's villas and bungalows have already undergone renovation, the occasional original gem can still be picked up.

Real estate prices have appreciated considerably in the last few years reflecting the suburb's close proximity to the central city. Some two-bedroom units currently ask upwards of $350,000. House prices will regularly be in the $500,000 to $850,000 bracket, sometimes higher.

Local amenities are numerous. Included among these is the famous St Lukes shopping centre. The area is serviced by a number of public transport options, including buses and trains.

Local schools include Mt Albert Primary, Newton Primary and Kowhai Intermediate School, with Auckland Girls Grammar and Western Springs College as the secondary schools.

Eden Park is, of course, a major drawcard and Western Springs still acts as a magnet for the speedway enthusiasts - even in the current climate. Western Springs Park, of course, cannot be beaten as a daytime attraction for families, while the close proximity to the zoo and MOTAT adds to the region's appeal.