The Auckland Domain (or The Domain as it is more commonly known) is Auckland’s oldest park and is a spacious and diverse piece of green space in the heart of the bustling, cosmopolitan city centre. Located in Grafton just a short 5 minute drive from downtown Auckland or a 30 minute walk, the park is full of life at any time of the year and is definitely worth a visit if you have a couple of spare hours on a trip to Auckland.
Auckland War Memorial Museum
The Auckland War Memorial Museum in the Auckland Domain
The Domain is also the home of the Auckland War Memorial Museum and this sits at the highest point of the park and can be seen from all around Auckland. The museum is a huge building which is home to hundreds of exhibits from art displays to war memorials. The museum is a popular Auckland attraction with families and there are a number of exhibits that are great for kids.
Wintergardens
Foxglove flowers in the Wintergardens in the Auckland DOmain
The Wintergardens are a big feature of the Domain and the Wintergarden Pavilion is a popular place for weddings and other formal events. It is a truly beautiful historic building with stunning views looking out over the duck ponds and fountains offering a relaxing atmosphere. The café in the Pavilion is perfect for a morning coffee or a spot of lunch and they also serve high tea on Saturdays and Sundays.
The Wintergardens themselves are a treasure in Auckland’s garden crown. With rare and spectacular plants in ever-changing displays inside the barrel-vaulted Victorian style glass house, there is always something new to discover and admire in the gardens.
Sport Facilities
Sports pitches at the Auckland Domain with the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the backdrop
The Domain is situated around the cone of an extinct volcano and the 75ha park features 10 hectares of developed first-class sports fields all built within a natural amphitheatre. Local teams will be seen playing throughout the week but the weekends are when the fields come to life with football and cricket popular sports for people to watch as they wander through the Domain.
Events
The Domain is home to many events in Auckland, especially during the summer months when the park is often heaving with people out enjoying the warm sunshine and a picnic in the park. One of the biggest events in the park is Christmas in the Domain where thousands gather to sing traditional Christmas carols and really get into the spirit of Christmas.
Getting there
The Auckland Domain is easily accessed from the city centre and if you are staying at the Grand Windsor, be sure to ask our staff for the best way of getting there. If you are driving from the city, take a left at the top of Queen Street onto Karangahape Road then a right onto Symonds Street before taking another left onto Khyber Pass Road – the Domain is well signposted from here.
If you are walking, you can take the more direct route across the Grafton Bridge where cars are often not permitted during the day. The main gates to the park are found next to the Auckland Hospital.
There are also buses and trains which will get you within close proximity of the park so be sure to ask in Britomart and they will direct you to the correct platform or stop.