Auckland Domain

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 largest areas of public land in the heart of the 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.