About the park

Cornwall Park is renowned for its landscape design and wide variety of mature trees. It is centred on a volcanic cone, One Tree Hill, with many interesting geological features. A pre-European Maori fortification (pa) was built on the cone, many features of which can still be seen.

The Park's donor, Sir John Logan Campbell, is buried on the summit of One Tree Hill alongside the obelisk. The Maori name for the hill is Maungakiekie - mountain of the kiekie. Kiekie (Freycinettia banksii) grows as an epiphytic climber or vine. Immediately adjacent to the Park is One Tree Hill Domain, administered by Auckland Council.

One Tree Hill Domain and the neighbouring Cornwall Park together form the largest area of parkland in Auckland city. The two parks are run under different management but visitors can experience them as one Park.

One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie) is a 182 metre volcanic peak. The summit provides views across the Auckland area, and allows visitors to see both of Auckland's Harbours. Sir John Logan Campbell, who is buried on the summit, gave the name One Tree Hill to Maungakiekie. He was inspired by the sacred Totara he saw on his first visit here in 1840. Te Totara i Ahua was cut down as part of the colonisation of Auckland during the 1850s and 60s. Campbell attempted to replace the Totara however only a single Monterey Pine survived. The tree was damaged after successive attacks by Maori protestors, and was eventually felled for safety reasons in 2001.

You can enjoy walks and drives around Cornwall Park where you can find stone walls, olive groves, avenues of oaks and a kauri plantation along with picnic and barbecue areas as well as an information centre and a restaurant.

Acacia Cottage, built in 1841 by John Logan Campbell & John Brown can also be found in Cornwall Park. It is open for visitors for free.