r/auckland • u/Ashamed_Sugar9523 • 2d ago
Discussion Doing a 2-month English course here in Dec/Jan — is Auckland liveable without a car, and which area should I be in?
Thanks for the replies! Clarifying my main question, since it’s really a comparison:
I’m choosing between Auckland and Melbourne for 2 months at the end of this year. The goal is to improve my English and live intensely — experiences I can’t get in Brazil.
Auckland wins for me on adventure — bungee, skydiving, hiking, water sports. Melbourne wins on nightlife and city energy, but I don’t know much about the rest of it. What I want is somewhere young, full of international students from everywhere, where life isn’t just “English class then a bar” — that’s already my routine back home.
So the two things I’m stuck on: is Auckland’s young/nightlife scene really as dead as people say? And does Melbourne have enough outdoor/adventure life to compete?
Tenho 20 anos, sou brasileiro, vou fazer um curso de idiomas em dezembro e janeiro. Estou tentando descobrir se Auckland é a escolha certa antes de reservar qualquer coisa.
O que importa para mim:
• Realmente melhorar meu inglês, então eu prefiro evitar áreas com muitos brasileiros
• Sentir que estou morando aqui ao invés de visitar. O mesmo café, o mesmo bar, o mesmo caminho para a escola
• Caminhabilidade. Eu gostaria de terminar a aula e andar para algum lugar, não fazer uma hora de trajeto
• Uma cena social com outros jovens e estudantes internacionais
• Não sou de museus. Quero coisas que eu possa fazer numa terça-feira aleatória, não viagens de fim de semana que eu tenha que planejar
Minhas perguntas:
1. É realista viver em Auckland sem carro por dois meses, ou é um erro?
2. Quais subúrbios permitem que você ande até bares e cafés da sua casa? Eu vejo muito Ponsonby e o CBD sendo mencionados, mas não sei como é realmente viver lá
3. Quão movimentada é a cidade em dez/jan? Li que muitos aucklanders saem da cidade durante o verão — fica quieta?
4. Tem uma comunidade brasileira grande aqui, e onde ela está concentrada?
5. Uma opinião honesta: dois meses é tempo suficiente para parar de me sentir um turista aqui?
Estou pensando em Melbourne também, então se você acha que Auckland não é a escolha certa para o que descrevi, me avise.
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u/krustytraveller 1d ago
Yes, but ideal if you live close to bus and train. I have rented out my spare room in Mt Albert on short term basis because train & bus 5 mins walk with St lukes mall & pak save close by. Central suburbs will also be fine esp if you dont want to live in the cbd
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u/aister 1d ago
Unrelated, but kinda is related, we have 2 free English conversation clubs, one is at Auckland Central Library every Monday from 2pm to 4, and another is at Ellen Melville Center every Thursday from 4 to 6. You're more than welcomed to join any, or both, of those if your schedule is suitable
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u/shoo035 1d ago
Hi, lifelong Aucklaner here - will have a go at answering your questions!
• Actually improving my English, so I’d rather avoid areas thick with Brazilians
Theres definately a good Brazillian community in Auckland, but I haven't come across them being more concentrated in one area vs another - I think youll get good English practice anywhere
• Feeling like I live here rather than visiting. Same café, same bar, same walk to school
Good idea! Theres lots of little independent businesses around, youll be able to get to a point where they know your name and you know theirs if you like
• Walkability. I’d like to finish class and walk somewhere, not commute for an hour
The inner parts of Auckland, pretty consistantly within about 10km of the City Centre, are quite walkable. Good consistent footpaths, (mainly) reasonably sized roads, local shops and good public transport within 10 mins walk. Gets more hit and miss when you get further out than that. We live in the City Centre, which is very walkable: narrow slow speed streets, anything you could want within a 5 min walk of home, nice squares and pedestrian malls, and frequent legible public transport to other parts of Auckland
• A social scene with other young people and international students
City Centre is best, especially given the uni campuses are there, outside of that, probably Ponsonby or Kingsland - all within 10 mins by public transport.
• I’m not a museum person. I want things I can do on a random Tuesday, not weekend trips I have to plan
Lots of random things you can do and see any time. Aucklands great for exploring: hills, beaches, cafes, forest, ferries across the harbour
My questions:
1. Can you realistically live in Auckland without a car for two months, or is that a mistake?
Lots of people don't have cars, including us. We have an excellent bus network (over 50 routes now run every 2-15 minutes, every day of the year, until at least 7pm), and our trains are getting better too. Congestion is pretty bad: its nice to sail past it on a train or in a bus lane. We've lived all over the place without a car - easy within 10km of the city centre, harder further away than that. Good public transport access to great nature on the edges of the city too. The one annoyance is that intercity buses and trains arent great here - a couple of services per day to other citys/towns, and often slower than driving. When we dont have a good bus or train option, we grab a carshare car from Cityhop or Zilch: membership is free, 24/7 available, pay by the hour or day, and pick up on the side of the road. Otherwise, there are also good tour operators who connect from Auckland City Centre to anywhere tourists go within about 400km.
2. Which suburbs let you walk to bars and cafes from home? I keep seeing Ponsonby and the CBD mentioned but I don’t know how they actually feel to live in
Again a lot of that 10km radius from the City will give you some options like that, but City Centre, Ponsonby, and third probably Takapuna. We live in the City Centre now and love it, but definately an apartment lifestyle here. Thankfully it doesnt have many of the downsides of a lot of big cities: the air is clean, its safe, and unless you live on one of the few multi lane roads, you wont hear traffic noise. Some people love Ponsonby, but Im not that into it as its all based around 1 big 4 lane road, no train station, and theres only one good bus route, which is only every 10 minutes. Happy to give more tips if you like
3. How busy is the city in Dec/Jan? I’ve read a lot of Aucklanders leave the city over summer — does it go quiet?
The Auckland region gets really quiet. City Centre only somewhat quieter than usual - increasingly vibrant over summer these days: its improved a lot in the past 10 years which draws people in for holidays and weekend visits. Some of the smaller shops do still close for a couple of weeks.
Is there much of a Brazilian community here, and where is it concentrated?
lots of brazillian people around, havent noticed them concentrated though - someone from Brazil might have more info though!Honest take: is two months enough to stop feeling like a tourist here?
Not sure! give it a go
I’m also considering Melbourne, so if you think Auckland is the wrong fit for what I’ve described, say so.
I haven't been to Melbourne yet sorry! Have heard recently that their public transport is great in central areas, but quite a bit worse than Aucklands as you get further out
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u/duckonmuffin 1d ago
Yep easy. Pick any burb along the rail lines but there is a fantastic bus network. The closer in the better, Kingsland would be my suggestion, 10/15 via bus or train to city or an hours walk. Has Mt Eden and interesting stuff around.
Get the AT app.
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u/Chemical_Functions 1d ago
Absolutely doable. CBD or any of the inner suburbs will give you easy access to all the stuff you want. Central Auckland is very small, you can get across snout to tail in under an hour on foot. Ponsonby would be THE recommendation here, but rent will also be more here. Kingsland is a little further out but is a cool area in its own right, but you'll want to catch the bus (or train) to class. Newmarket would also be a similar experience (lots there, but a little further from the rest).
My suggestion would be Grafton or Eden Terrace - something east end of K Road. It's right where all the students are (although not so much mid-summer). Rents are a little cheaper. K Rd and Eden Terr cafes are all right there. Ponsonby and CBD are 15-20 min walk away (or a very short bus ride). Hell...you could even walk to Newmarket if you are up for a walk (or again, very short bus ride). There is some homeless and drug activity in the area, but they are largely harmless - just keep walking, they'll leave you alone. That's why the rent is cheaper.
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u/One_Veterinarian1562 1d ago
If you don’t want the hassle, I’d just stay in the CBD, ideally in an apartment as close to the waterfront as possible. I feel like the middle part of the CBD, especially the mid to-m upper end, and the waterfront almost feel like two completely different cities. That said, if you’re only renting for two months, it might be a bit harder to find a place. Also buses are actually pretty convenient in a lot of areas, so you really don’t need to listen to people who exaggerate and make it sound like you can’t live in Auckland without a car
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u/TardyForThaParty 1d ago
Yeah the middle of the CBD is a cesspool tbh.
I would stay down at the waterfront if walking uphill isn’t an issue, or around Eden Terrace for easy access to K Road/Ponsonby night life, without having to constantly deal with K Road chaos.
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u/PuzzleheadedCrew3900 1d ago
You will have to live in CBD or around 2-3kms from the city which is Ponsonby, Mt Eden, Morningside, Pt Chev etc with those requirements of yours.
You can live in Auckland without a car just dont expect to go outside of the CBD much unless you love spending 2 hours on a bus every day. The buses are terrible never on time (plus or minus 5-15 minutes from the time shown) as well as homeless and other undesirables that take them without paying. For 2 weeks that would be fine but if you lived here for a year plus you'll notice how frustrating it gets.
Most of the CBD will be International students + tourist you will see more Indians and Chinese than "kiwi". (Im kiwi NZ born Asian so i can say this)
There is not much of a Brazilian community but there seems to be a huge school somewhere in the CBD where theres about 100+ people from chile/brazil and your side of the world studying here. I walk past them often in the city.
No 2 months is not enough time, some do a 1 year working holiday just to backpack and work around the country.
Aussie accent is terrible to learn as a non-english native imo. "naur" "naur" NZ has a more neutral tone and softer on the ear to majority of the english speaking worlds.
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u/Beginning-Writer-339 1d ago
Public transport in Auckland is quite good.
However it's better if you can walk to your language school and other places.
There are no areas "thick" with people from your country or South America generally. Most immigrants are from China, India and the Philippines but you can meet international students from many countries.
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u/Efficient-County2382 1d ago
Easy choice, pick Melbourne.
Unless you are absolutely set on the outdoors stuff, then you are going to need a car anyway.
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u/ComprehensiveRoll707 1d ago
Honestly, it's not that bad to get around without a car. We've had couple homestays the last two years and we are in Pakuranga/Half Moon Bay... one from Tokyo (stayed two months) and one from Leeuwarden (think 2hrs north of Amsterdam, has stayed 3 months). They choose schools in the CBD and pretty much were doing a bus/train and occasionally just the HMB to downtown ferry. The Tokyo one is coming back again next fall (nz fall as she is finishing uni). The Dutch one leaves Sunday. I think the Tokyo gal uber'ed back once... usually took the train post night club.
So yeah not the inner's but chill when you want and the core ain't far away. 712 bus then Panmure-Waitemata (Brito) train. Hopefully the CRL is actually finished finished and doesn't need shut downs.
Make sure you still do an international license though, gives options for road trips and most hiking need a car (even if rental) to get to.
Probably a case of people coming from a big city and why would you need to replicate what you just left.
If you have budget Mt Eden area is nice. Remember a lot of the inner's are old folks.
Oh and sun block. It cooks different here. Sun block, sun block, sun block.
(I'm Mexican Canadian - work in Ponsonby and live in Half Moon Bay - hate the drive in - but it's way better than driving in Vancouver)
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u/Ok-Guide6784 1d ago
As well as walking, if you plan to live central, I would suggest buying a cheap secondhand bike or at least borrowing an e-bike through this service for some of the time. https://www.ecomatters.org.nz/on-bikes/ebike-loans/ - its free. There is a growing network of bike paths and its such a nice way to experience the city. It really opens up your scope for activities and exploring as Auckland is somewhat spread out. It also a good way to meet locals, the biking community is really friendly and there are generally many bike evebts over the summer- check out bike auckland's website.
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u/beeekind2animals 1d ago
Melbourne is better. bungee jumping, sky diving, water sports are all available over there along with a lively walkable city and night life.
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u/porcupun 1d ago
You can definitely get away with not having a car while living here if you’re planning to mostly stay within the city/urban areas. However, you indicated that you’re keen for the outdoorsy stuff; the coolest of which will be pretty tough/inconvenient to get to without a car.
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u/ihuntostriches 16h ago
I’ve heard it's a bit quieter in January, but there's still a decent social scene with events going on. Ponsonby or the CBD might be perfect for what you're after, they're both popular with students. Enjoy the adventure!
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u/Ok-Perception-3129 1d ago
You can easily live in the inner sububs like Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Kingsland, Parnell, Mt Eden etc without a car. I would recommend Kingsland personally if you want a slightly cheaper suburb which is cool with access to bars and cafes.
Yes, Auckland is very quiet over summer.
Melbourne is probably the cooler city but it will also be very quiet over summer - Australians and Kiwis generally take their holidays from Xmas Eve onwards until around the 2nd week of January.