Auckland Domain, Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland Domain, Auckland Overview

Set atop the remnants of the oldest volcano amongst Auckland’s volcanic field, Pukekawa, the 75-hectare expanse of greenery, is Auckland’s oldest public park. One of the most significant areas of public land in the heart of central Auckland, the Auckland Domain is also home to the Auckland War Memorial and Cenotaph. A band rotunda offers a venue for bands to play out in the open to park visitors. Boardwalks and museums provide park-goers enough avenues to stay occupied at the Domain.

The Maori community had identified the hill that the volcano sits atop as one of the most fertile areas of the isthmus and proved fertile ground for the cultivation of sweet potatoes. The land was bought by European settlers in the late 1800s, and the fresh-water lake that existed near the summit was drained to make way for first-class sports fields that still exist today.

Auckland Domain Wintergardens

The Auckland Domain Wintergardens are a system of glasshouses that house both temperate-climate flora and another one that is home to tropical plants. Designed to resemble the expansive gardens of England, the Wintergardens glasshouses consist of large Victorian-style doors, flanked by marble statues on either side of the entrance. Creepers of brightly-coloured variants make their way up the stone walls, and a large collection of endemic New Zealand fern species also make up the flora found in the Auckland Domain Wintergardens. Admission to the Auckland Domain Wintergardens is free of cost.

Wintergarden timings-

Monday - Saturday:
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday:
9:00 AM - 7:30 PM

Auckland War Memorial Museum

One of New Zealand’s most important and comprehensive museums, the Auckland War Memorial Museum, is also located within the Auckland Domain. It houses artefacts that chronicle the history of New Zealand, it’s Pacific Islander heritage, and its contemporary history and serves as a memorial to New Zealand’s war effort during the Second World War.

Auckland War Memorial Museum timings-
Monday - Sunday:
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Things to Do

The Domain also served as Auckland’s first fresh-water supply. A lava pool that turned into a reservoir of fresh-water was turned into the city’s first water supply by the Auckland Council. This source of groundwater springs have become duck ponds where park visitors can watch ducks swim.
The Auckland Domain also plays host to many public events held on its manicured lawns. Annual events such as the much-vaunted ‘Carols in the Park’ and ‘Christmas in the Park’ are held during December and are highly anticipated and draw large crowds.
Many eateries dot the area in and around the Auckland Domain. The Wintergarden Cafe, located adjacent to the Auckland Domain Wintergardens provide the perfect place to sit in an open courtyard and munch on a few snacks to recharge from all the walking. The Domain Ayr Cafe provides another dining option.

How To Reach Auckland Domain

Bus lines 500 and 515 depart at regular intervals from Auckland CBD and other central Auckland areas to bus stations close to Auckland Domain. The nearest bus stations to Auckland Domain are the Auckland Hospital Station and Grafton Station, both a short ten-minute walk away.