Ever wondered what your street looked like before the motorway arrived? Or whether your suburb was once farmland, coastline or open countryside?
Now Aucklanders can take a fascinating trip through time using historical aerial imagery available on Auckland Council's GeoMaps.
Recently added imagery from the 1940s through to the 2000s lets you compare decades of change across the region. Whether you're a history buff, urban development enthusiast, genealogy detective or simply curious about where you live, there's plenty to explore.
From growing suburbs and disappearing orchards to changing shorelines and new transport links, the images reveal how dramatically Auckland has transformed over the years.
Five fascinating glimpses into Auckland's past
Using the GeoMaps aerial timeslider tool, we found some intriguing examples of Auckland then and now.
1. Custom St Viaduct
2. Half Moon Bay
3. Northcote
4. Papatoetoe
5. Scenic Drive, Titirangi
Why does this matter?
Historical aerial imagery isn't just interesting to look at.
The imagery helps Auckland Council understand urban growth, environmental change, heritage, land use and flood resilience. It can show how stream channels have shifted over time, help identify historic land uses and provide valuable insight into how Auckland's landscape has evolved.
For Aucklanders, it's also a unique opportunity to see the city's story unfold from above.
How to explore your neighbourhood
Ready to see what your suburb looked like decades ago?
- Visit Auckland Council GeoMaps.
- Click the clock icon with the circular arrow to open the aerial timeslider tool.
- In the search bar, select Places, Road or Address, or simply zoom in to the area of interest on the aerial photograph.
- Type the name of the suburb, road or even the address you'd like to explore.
- Once the aerial image appears, use the timeslider to move backwards and forwards through the decades.
See Auckland's history unfold before your eyes.
Whether you're revisiting childhood memories, researching local history or simply indulging your inner geography nerd, there's never been an easier way to see how Auckland has changed through time. Start exploring and see what stories your neighbourhood has to tell.