Herne Bay, New Zealand Herne Bay, New Zealand Herne Bay is an affluent suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located on the southwestern shore of the Waitematā 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 Waitematā Harbour. It continues to be an exclusive suburb, as it ranked as the most expensive suburb in New Zealand in 2015. Herne Bay is under the local governance of Auckland Council. According to the 2006 census,
Admiralty Bay (New Zealand) to the waters of Cook Strait, but to the west a narrow and treacherous stretch of water French Pass is the only maritime access. The Bay was named in March 1770 by Lieutenant James Cook during his first voyage to the Pacific. Having completed a circumnavigation of New Zealand aboard "HMS Endeavour", Cook had the ship anchored in the bay for resupply with wood and water, and remained there from 27–31 March 1770. Cook described the land surrounding the bay as "of a very hilly uneven surface and appears to be mostly covered with wood, shrubs, firns & c. which