Herne Bay, New Zealand

Herne Bay
While not quite typical of Herne Bay, the two rounded skyscrapers rising from the suburb, the Westwater and Shangri-La Apartments, are local landmarks
Basic information
Local authority	Auckland Council
Population	2,823 (2006)
Surrounds
North	Waitemata Harbour
East	Saint Marys Bay
South	Ponsonby, Grey Lynn
Southwest	Coxs Bay
West	Westmere, Coxs Bay
Northwest	Waitemata Harbour

Herne Bay /hɜːrn/ is an extremely affluent suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located on the southwestern shore of the Waitemata Harbour to the west of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It is known for its extensive harbour views, marine villas and Edwardian age homes. Herne Bay has been a prosperous area since the 1850s due to its outlook over the Waitemata Harbour, it continues to be an exclusive suburb today, as it ranks as the most expensive suburb in New Zealand.

Herne Bay is under the local governance of the Auckland City Council.

According to the 2006 census, Herne Bay has a population of 2,823. Its postcode is 1011..

The suburb is named after Herne Bay, a fashionable but respectable seaside resort in English county of Kent.

From the 1850s onwards it became apparent that Auckland's Herne Bay was quite handy to the centre of town by a short boat trip. Herne Bay developed as an early commuter suburb and was the location of several large houses belonging to members of the professional classes. Most of these houses (termed 'marine villas') were readily accessible from the water, with their own jetties and boathouses - in some cases there was not any land route to them. Some of these early houses still exist, surrounded by later houses which were built as their large properties were subdivided around the turn of the 20th century.

Also located in this area on the shore of Ponsonby (between Argyle Street and the sea) was Kemp's Gardens. This was a popular pleasure resort for Auckland's people during the 1860s. The gardens were "complete with pavilion, gardens and illuminations": "A free hand was given, drinks were sold, music was provided and the least said the better". Later renamed "Cremorne Gardens" after the fashionable pleasure gardens in London, Kemp's gardens boasted a "Dancing Pavilion, ten acres of walks and sports grounds". It is remembered in the name "Cremorne Street".

Local secondary schools include Auckland Girls Grammar School, Western Springs College (Coed), St Paul's College (Catholic boys) and Saint Mary's College (Catholic girls).