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Auckland Domain |
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| Auckland Domain, Auckland |
Auckland Domain, Auckland is Auckland’s oldest park. With an area of 75 hectares, it is one of the largest parks in the city. Auckland Domain, Auckland lies mostly within the crater of the Pukekawa volcano.
Located in the central suburb of Grafton, the park is home to the Auckland War Memorial Museum one of Auckland’s main tourist attractions. The museum sits conspicuously on the crater rim. Many sports fields are a part of the floor of this crater.
The Auckland Domain volcano, Pukekawa, is around 100,000 to150,000 years old. It is one of the oldest in the Auckland Volcanic Field. Its crater is made of a mixture of scoria, lapilli and original basement rock.
Originally, the crater floor was a lake, which later turned into a swamp and slowly filled up with alluvium and sediment, before being drained by Europeans for use as playing fields and parkland. These origins are still somewhat visible in that the Duck Ponds are freshwater-fed from the drainage of the crater.
Dominating the Auckland Domain is the Auckland War Memorial Museum. This large neo-Greek style building was inaugurated in the year 1929. The rear portion of the museum was added in the 1960s.
The Auckland War Memorial Museum Library is one of the most important research libraries in the country. The material available here is inexhaustible and is meant for the use of the general public as well as academics and researchers. The library is highly valued throughout New Zealand and internationally.
The Auckland Domain has also hosted many of New Zealand’s largest outdoor events. They include balloon ascents during the Edwardian period, the 1953 Elizabeth II Royal Tour, Papal visits and various sports events.
One of the largest annual events organized here are “Christmas in the Park”. In the past this event has drawn more than 200,000 spectators. Popular events held on a regular basis are the “Symphony under the Stars” and the “Teddy bears Picnic”.The Auckland Domain was used as a racecourse during the organizing of the 2005 Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix.
Detailed online information on Auckland Domain, Auckland can be obtained in travel.mapsofworld
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