Auckland Domain and Auckland War Memorial Museum

Auckland Domain

• Is Auckland's oldest park
• 75 hectares of spaciousness and diversity
• Has been developed around the cone of an extinct volcano
• The 'tuff rings' created by volcanic activity thousands of years ago can be seen in the land contours
• Forms a natural amphitheatre with about 10 hectares developed as first-class sports fields
• The park has the classic charm of formal gardens, green clearings edged by mature trees and an impressive statuary
• Most pieces are in the formal gardens, including one of the most striking pieces: a large free-form reflecting pool with three bronze sculptures
• The central, male figure represents Auckland and the two females offer wisdom and 'fertility of the soil'
• Duck ponds mark the up-welling of the Domain's natural springs
• Century old-trees shade numerous picnic spots
• Outdoor concerts and many other events are held in the Domain
• In summer heat, manicured playing fields sustain the city's oldest cricket traditions, while winter brings the vigour of rugby, league and soccer
• Several trees were seedlings from a nursery set up in the Domain in 1841 to grow and distribute European plants and trees to the whole of the city
• Today, the nursery supplies plants for displays in the Winter Garden and city parks
• Features for visitors: the Wintergardens and the Auckland War Memorial Museum
• Auckland Domain is part of several Auckland Tours offered by TIME Unlimited Tours, one of New Zealand's most awarded tourism businesses.

Auckland War Memorial Museum

• Is New Zealand's oldest museum
• Established in 1852 in a two-room farm cottage in the central Auckland suburb of Grafton
• Is recognised as holding nationally and internationally significant collections
• Tells the story of New Zealand, its place in the Pacific and its people
• Is a war memorial for the province of Auckland and holds one of New Zealand's top three heritage libraries
• It has pre-eminent Maori and Pacific collections, significant natural history resources and major social and military history collections, as well as decorative arts and pictorial collections
• Is home to millions of objects
• Provides educational services to over 60,000 school children annually and is one of New Zealand's most popular man-made tourist attractions with around half a million visitors each year
• Over 100 full-time employees and 200 volunteers help maintain the Museum and its very special collections
• A visit to Auckland Museum and the Maori Cultural Performance is part of TIME Unlimited Tours' "Auckland Maori Tours EXTRA" tour

Auckland Wintergardens

• Situated in the Domain
• Established after World War I and is a protected heritage site
• Built on the financial success of the Auckland Industrial Exhibition held in the Auckland Domain in 1913
• A popular attraction within the park, offering a quiet and relaxing environment close to an Arts and Crafts cottage built around the same time
• Visitors are first invited into a classical courtyard and pond set out in a formal manner with various plants and water lilies
• The complex consists of two display glasshouses (temperature averaging 20 degrees Celsius) one containing temperature plants and the other containing tropical plants
• A formal courtyard with a pond ion the center
• A fernery within an old quarry
• The complex is open all year round
• Entry is free
• 1 April - 30 October: Monday to Sunday (9am - 4.30pm)
• 1 November - 31 March: Monday - Saturday (9am - 5.30pm) and Sunday (9am - 7.30pm)
• The Wintergardens are also sometimes visited by TIME Unlimited Tours