Auckland Domain

A remarkable journey through New Zealand’s history, culture, and nature Auckland Museum is truly one of the finest museums I have visited. From the moment you arrive, the grand architecture and its elevated setting within the Auckland Domain create a powerful first impression. The views over the city and harbour from the upper level are breathtaking and add to the overall experience. Inside, the museum is beautifully organised and incredibly immersive. The Māori and Pacific Island galleries are especially outstanding, offering deep insight into the traditions, craftsmanship, and spiritual heritage of Aotearoa. The cultural performances are moving, authentic, and educational, making the visit even more meaningful. The war memorial galleries are detailed and emotional, presenting New Zealand’s military history with great respect and depth. The natural history section is equally impressive, with excellent displays on volcanoes, native wildlife, and geological formations that are both informative and engaging for all age groups. Every exhibit is clearly presented with interactive elements that keep both children and adults fully engaged. The staff are welcoming, knowledgeable, and always ready to assist. Facilities are clean and well maintained, and the café and gift shop are worth visiting as well. We spent several hours here and still felt there was more to explore. Auckland Museum is not just a place to learn, but an experience that leaves a lasting impression. Highly recommended for families, tourists, students, and anyone wanting to truly understand New Zealand’s rich history and culture.

Spent a long time just walking around here without really thinking about where I was going. Big open grass, gentle slopes, trees everywhere, and that museum sitting up there like it’s just casually watching the whole city. Feels very Auckland in a calm way. You can see the city from some angles, then turn a corner and suddenly it feels like you’re nowhere near CBD anymore. Good spot for slow walks, random pauses, sitting on the grass doing nothing for a bit. The light around sunset is actually crazy, especially when the sky goes soft and everything turns a bit golden. People jogging, people chilling, couples just wandering around, everyone kind of doing their own thing. Easy place to come back to, easy place to breathe a bit, easy place to just exist for a while.

Hill top locations cannot be beaten for an early morning visit with the world still asleep. What an amazing park for young and old and sights to explore here in Auckland. Play cricket, kick a ball, picnic with friends and family and enjoy the views. Or get a taste of culture inside the museum and stop for a moment of reflection and remember what this place is meant to keep us aware of. Abd yes, it’s not the Louvre, but the views and the available parking to enjoy the Domain are definitely in favour of this place. Though don’t come by car in the high season, parking can get tricky then.

Nice quiet park in the center of Auckland. Good walking paths. Easy 30 minute walk from main shopping area. Minimal car traffic. Cute cafe next to pond.

A lovely place to explore. Lots of delightful views/vistas, charming artwork, and gorgeous old trees. We also discovered and enjoyed a sensory garden.

Went to the winter garden through Lover’s track. Best to see when it’s summer so that you can find more vibrant flowers. You could visit the museum too, it costs $32 for intl visitor

Went to the winter garden. It is spring now and it looks like everything was in bloom. Very beautiful!

Loved the cactus garden though the water lilies stole the show 😍

This is one of the most beautiful green spaces I've ever seen in my life. I thoroughly enjoyed wandering through the grounds of the domain. Especially the greenhouses. I wanted to stay in those spaces, smell all the flowers, touch all the plants, and pick some of the very ripe fruits and vegetables. I admit to smelling some flowers and touching a few plants, but no fruits or veggies were at risk. Highly recommend the Auckland Domain if you are in Auckland. It's free, beautiful, and walking it is great exercise. It's made of win.

Green lawns, ball fields, gazebos with live music, clean public restrooms, unique trees & shrubs, endless trails with lots of benches & a very nice day. I loved the trees, I expected to see a Hobbit crawl out. We were walking to the museum & then back to our hotel. We passed pristine rolling hills, a bowling center, tennis center, Olympic aquatic center .... Many were biking, walking, jogging and enjoying the green space. There is a botanic garden near the museum.

A long uphill hike to the museum. Starting out downtown and walking to the museum, you kinda have to pass through The Domain. Also known as Pukekawa, it is the remnant of the volcano Pukekawa. This gives the park its slopes and beautiful thick trees. It's also home to the Wintergarden and many exotic plants and birds that were introduced by the Acclimatisation Society. There's a large totara tree representing the peace agreement between the Waikato tribes of Te Wherowhero, Ngati Whatua and Ngapuhi. In 1843 Governor Robert Fitzroy created the park. During the Second World War it was used as a camp ground by American troops. In the 1920s, the Auckland War Memorial Museum was built as a permanent memorial to our fallen service men and women. It was absolutely beautiful to walk through, especially downhill. I took a different path back to explore dirt paths instead of the paved ones I came in one, and discovered the gentle creek winding through. If you're hungry, there is a small cafe next to the Wintergarden. You can't be the views and shade in the summer.

Came here directly after the War Museum. I love going to botanical gardens no matter where they are. This was a great stop after the museum. It was partly inside and partly outside. The greenhouses were magnificent and very cool looking. The court yard on the inside between the 2 greenhouses looked so majestic with the little pool and statuary. Definitely check this out if in the area.

I stayed for a week at an AirBnb that was literally across the street from the Domain on Carlton Gore Road. I told myself that I'll check it out once the weather gets better - it took almost 3 weeks until the weather FINALLY got better! But this review isn't about Auckland weather, it's about the awesomeness of the Auckland Domain. It's HUGE! Like a Los Angeles city block huge. With sprawling grasslands and rolling hills at every turn. You definitely won't have any trouble finding the perfect spot for any outting - with friends, family, cohorts, therapist, etc.. There are a couple of gardens, a couple of ponds, a bunch of ducks, a museum (which will cost you $$ if you're not an Auckland resident), more cricket fields than a apartment full of uni-students and plenty of parking! Avoid the weekend crowds and take public transportation here!

This is the giant green space for this city. It does take you away from the cityscape and you can relax and enjoy the animals and trees.

In 1940, to commemorate the founding of Auckland in 1840, a new road was planned for the Domain. "Centennial Drive" was surveyed and trees planted its length but it was never formed as a road; it is now a walkway between the Duckponds and Stanley Street. Ok, so I copied and pasted that above fact for you to nerd out on ! But who knew the domain was so full of secrets , and that there was so much going on there . It is such a beautiful open space . Run , walk or skate , but get there now .

The Domain is a fantastic park located in the heart of Auckland. Cricket, rugby, soccer, jogging, bike riding - the Domain is the perfect place to practice a multitude of sports, or even just enjoy a casual stroll with friends and a picnic. Within the Domain is the Wintergardens, a great cafe and of course the Auckland War Memorial Museum - all of which are worth checking out. Ponds, geese crossings and band rotundas can also be found with the grounds of the beautiful Domain. Over the years I have spent countless hours in the Domain, reading books in the sun, taking time out of my university day and relaxing, attending events like Christmas in the Park and getting out of Starship and Auckland Hospital for a breather while visiting friends. This is what I value the most about the Domain - its handy location to the hospitals, and also how well kept the grounds are means every time I visit is a good time. Tip: Schedule some 'me' time and take a walk around the grounds of the Domain, you can't go wrong

Go for a stroll down lovers lane, see a few water fountains, visit the winter gardens, spend hours in the museum, play a sport on the many hectares of fields, sneak into the cafe and grab a nice cold drink, or take some stunning wedding photos. The Domain has pretty much everything to offer. It's wonderfully central and a short stroll past the cherry blossoms to the city centre. The only down side is parking. They only give you about 2, maybe 3 hours, and that's not particularly helpful if you want to view the whole museum on top of everything else. I parked there 4 hours and got a $15 fine, which was very irritating. I recommend moving your car after 2.5 hours if you plan to stay a decent amount of time.

Wow this is an impressive park to visit, no wonder as its Auckland's oldest park, its like the Grandfather of all parks. With its huge, beautiful and wise trees scattered around, its great to come here whether it be for a walk around the park, a lovely picnic or to play some sports on the sports grounds. There are some bush walks you can do in the Domain which many probably don't even know exist, when I used to work in the area I often came here with my husband for bush walks and you would have thought we weren't even in central Auckland. The Auckland Domain is also home to Auckland's iconic Auckland Museum also well worth a visit. There is also the Wintergardens which are lovely for wedding photos or any photos. Next to the Wintergardens you will find the Wintergarden Pavilion where you can have breakfast, lunch or a drink. Don't live or come to Auckland without visiting Auckland Domain.

The Domain is a big, beautiful park located right in the heart of Auckland leading from the top of Parnell road right into the city centre with the grand war museum providing a gorgeous backdrop (it always reminds me of The White House for some reason!) that is often lit up in amazing colours at night (when it does it provides a great photographic opportunity). There are so many things to do once inside the park too. The duck pond provides me with great entertainment on lazy afternoons, but my favourite part is the garden for the blind, with all of its funky aromas and furry plants. On my early morning drive to work through the park when it's barely even light I always see others (who are evidently much more active than myself!) jogging and doing exercise classes on the vast green. I just wish people wouldn't drive so fast along the winding roads, I'm always scared someone's going to run over one of the ducks that spill out of the pond into the path oncoming traffic!

Such a great oasis in the middle of the growing area of Auckland. Lots of great space to wander, feed the ducks or chill out in the sun and have a picnic. There is quite abit of free parking available if you can find a spot. For those unlucky ones or those who want a more secure place to park, undercover paid parking is available. Enjoy before Auckland council decide to rezone and build lots of high priced houses on.

I love coming here when funds are tight, there is so much to see and do for free! Coming here with a picnic is great because you are spoilt for choice in terms of sitting spots, it truly is a massive park. Their glasshouse gardens are also amazing, the winter garden is my favourite, I also enjoy looking at all the massive goldfish in the many ponds around the park (a great place to feed the ducks also). If you're an art lover, there are a few nice pieces scattered around the park, artists such as John Edgar, Greer Twiss and Louise Purvis were all commissioned to create site specific works for the domain.

I love the Auckland Domain. A lot of people don't realise there are a number of walking trails throughout the Domain that make you completely forget you're in the middle of the city. The green places are beautiful, the ponds with the ducks are great, and of course the Winter Gardens. I love the Domain Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter!

If you don't love the Domain, you're dead inside. It's a beautiful spot, and such a gem right in the heart of the city! Whichever way you head, it's simply delightful. As with the cafe on the grounds, this used to be my hangout during Uni when I had a long break between classes. You never tire of it. At the height of summer, you can camp out under the trees by the sports ground for lunch or whatever. On a pristine winter's day, there's nothing better than strolling through the park. The courtyard area in between the glasshouses used to be my 'special place': such a calm, peaceful spot to sit in... walking into the courtyard with the little pond, it really feels like you're stepping into another world. And there are beautiful views of the city and the Gulf if you climb the hill by the museum.

The Domain is wonderful. Its a huge park that you can walk around or just relax. I used to go and sit under one of their many trees during my lunch hour. It's vast! They're some really old trees that are huge and theres a duckpond with seating. This is perfect to gather your family for a picnic or your friends for a game of rounders. Close by is the Auckland Museum if you like war things!