Auckland Domain and Auckland War Memorial Museum
Interesting facts about some of Auckland's most iconic places: The Auckland Domain, Wintergardens and Auckland War Memorial Museum within Auckland Domain
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
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Auckland City and West Coast Full Day Luxury Tour
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Experience beautiful Auckland with its 48 volcanoes, as well as the amazing West Coast Wilderness with TIME Unlimited Tours, winner of multiple global awards. Includes pick-up and drop-off in Downtown Auckland plus lunch, snacks, hot/cold drinks.
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