Abstract: Urban design variables - dwelling density, street design, diversity of land use, destination accessibility and distance to transit (the 5 ‘Ds’)- have been associated with transport mode use, including walking. This paper examines residents’ experiences and observations on what makes their neighbourhood pleasant and unpleasant for walking in four Auckland localities with contrasting built environment and socio-economic profiles. Two GIS-based indices were developed to measure neighbourhood built environment attributes. First, a composite index of access to 33 types of service and amenity destinations (recreational, educational, commercial, health-related, social and cultural) within an 800m neighbourhood buffer. Second, a walkability index comprising four variables: land use mix, dwelling density, street layout and retail building to land area ratio. Residents in the four localities participated in a photo elicitation exercise. In a facilitated group session residents presented and discussed photographs they had taken of what made their neighbourhood good and bad for walking. In this paper we consider the attributes of a walkable neighbourhood that, through the eyes of residents, were consistent with the items of a streetscape audit instrument and the five ‘Ds’ and those which reflect attributes of particular places that fall outside those captured by the indices.