Meadowbank

Including St Johns and Ellerslie

Many families with school-age children buy in Meadowbank, turning their backs on the grammar zone fights that take place in Remuera next door. They might enrol their children in private schools and enjoy the extra disposable income saved on housing. If you want a stable area, friendly neighbours and a relaxed lifestyle, then Meadowbank's hard to beat. St Johns also attracts families.
There's a multicultural mix as well, with many Asian migrants making these suburbs home, especially St Johns Park.

Meadowbank underwent a building boom 20 to 30 years ago. As a result, many solid homes with generous living areas and double garaging were built on sections of about 600-800sq m. These, plus the mix of older established homes and recent developments, which blend well into the landscape, give a lived-in, friendly feel. The sense of space is one of the suburb's most attractive features.
St Johns includes many rental properties, while St Johns Park has large, modern, multi-bedroom family dwellings.

Ellerslie has some old villas as well as terraced housing near the village. Ladies Mile and Pukerangi Cres still have some grand old merchant's houses.
Amenities The local primary schools have solid reputations, and being on major bus routes makes travelling to nearby secondary schools easy.

Meadowbank is home to one of the best supermarkets in Auckland - the Foodtown nestled in the small Meadowbank mall. There's also easy access to Newmarket, Pakuranga/Howick and Botany Town Centre. Just around the corner on the Mt Wellington Highway there's a busy mega centre including The Warehouse, Noel Leemings, Rebel Sports, Briscoes, Plastic Box and an Ezibuy retail store.

One of Meadowbank's great benefits is its easy access to the waterfront, with beaches and myriad water sports. Auckland Domain and One Tree Hill are just down the road. The big Waiatarua Reserve is popular with joggers and weekend strollers, and Remuera Golf Course is well patronised (there's a long, long waiting list). The impressive university sports fields and tennis centre on Merton Rd are local assets. Ellerslie Racecourse is also here, and is the site of the Sunday morning car fair. There's also a small par-three golf course and driving range in the infield.

Trends
Meadowbank has often been seen as a cheaper alternative to Remuera, however, the price gap is narrowing. In Tahapa St a fibrolite, ex-state house on a good-sized section sold in early 2005 for $470,000.

Prices vary, from fairly high values in St Johns Park to three to four bedroom family homes in St Johns selling for the mid to late $200,000s and into the $300,000s.

Rental and investment
Investors are particularly attracted to St Johns with the high demand for rental accommodation in the suburb.

Best streets
Temple St is seen as Meadowbank's best. Ellerslie has no real standout streets. In St Johns and St Johns Park, anything near the golf course demands top dollar; also Panapa Dr, Coldham Cres and Charles Fox Pl.