Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill is one of Auckland’s most significant volcanic cones — a 182-metre summit that offers panoramic views across the isthmus, a deep layer of Māori and colonial history, and a landscape still marked by centuries of human activity. It sits at the heart of Cornwall Park, one of the city’s largest and most visited green spaces, but the maunga itself is a separate, protected entity managed under Māori authority.
Practical Information
| Address | Cnr Manukau Road and Green Lane West, Epsom, Auckland 1051 |
|---|---|
| Summit elevation | 182 m above sea level |
| Entry | Free |
| Hours | Open daily during daylight hours |
| Walk to summit | Approx 20–30 minutes return from Cornwall Park entrance |
| Parking | Free parking at Cornwall Park off Manukau Road and Green Lane West |
| Dogs | Not permitted on the maunga itself; allowed on leads in surrounding Cornwall Park |
| Managed by | Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority |
About the Maunga
Maungakiekie is a scoria cone formed by volcanic activity roughly 20,000 years ago. Its name translates loosely as “the mountain of the kiekie vine” — a reference to the native climbing plant that once grew across its slopes. The cone reaches 182 metres and on a clear day the views extend from the Waitematā to the Manukau, across the harbour bridges, Rangitoto, and the volcanic fields of the wider Auckland region.
At the summit stands an obelisk erected in 1940 by Sir John Logan Campbell, one of Auckland’s earliest European settlers, who donated both One Tree Hill Domain and Cornwall Park to the city. Campbell is buried at the base of the obelisk — his grave marked by a simple stone. The obelisk itself was intended as a tribute to the Māori people of the land, though its colonial framing is not without complexity.
The slopes of the maunga are still visibly sculpted by the terracing, kumara storage pits, and defensive earthworks of the large pā that once occupied the site. Maungakiekie was one of the most heavily fortified and densely settled volcanic pā in pre-European Tāmaki Makaurau, with an estimated population of several thousand at its peak. The earthworks — carved into the scoria over generations — are among the best-preserved in the country and give the hillside a distinctive stepped appearance that is striking even to a casual visitor.
Pā History and Māori Connection
The maunga was occupied primarily by Ngāti Whātua and Te Kawerau ā Maki, and before them by earlier iwi whose names and histories are recorded in oral tradition. The site held strategic, spiritual, and economic importance — its position commanding both coasts made it a critical stronghold during periods of inter-tribal conflict.
The pā was abandoned in the early nineteenth century following musket-era warfare, and European settlers subsequently cleared much of the native bush from the slopes. Today, Maungakiekie is vested in and managed by the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority — a co-governance body established under the Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Act 2014, which recognises the volcanic cones of Auckland as taonga of Māori significance. Dogs, horses, and vehicle access to the summit are restricted as part of the management approach.
The Tree
The maunga’s English name comes from a lone tree that once stood on its summit. Historically a grove of tōtara and other native trees grew at the top, cleared by the mid-1800s until a single large tōtara remained. That tree eventually died and was replaced with a Monterey pine (Pinus radiata), which stood for decades as the de facto “one tree.”
In 1994, a Tūhoe activist used a chainsaw to damage the pine as a protest over Māori land rights. A second chainsaw attack in 2000 caused severe additional damage, and the tree was removed shortly afterward. The loss of the lone pine prompted considerable public debate about what, if anything, should replace it. A grove of young native trees — including tōtara — has since been planted on the summit, acknowledging the maunga’s original character and its Māori name.
Where to Learn More
Official park page with facility information, access details, and management notes for the maunga and surrounding Cornwall Park domain.
Cornwall Park Trust
The trust that manages Cornwall Park surrounding the maunga — event listings, farm animals, café, walking maps, and visitor information.
Wikipedia — Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill
Detailed article covering geological history, the pā occupation, the history of the lone tree, and the 1994 and 2000 chainsaw incidents.
FAQ
Where is Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill?
It’s in Epsom, Auckland, at the corner of Manukau Road and Green Lane West — roughly 5 km south of the CBD. It sits within Cornwall Park.
Is there still a tree on One Tree Hill?
No single tree remains. The famous lone pine was removed in 2000 after a chainsaw attack. A grove of native trees, including young tōtara, has been planted on the summit in its place.
How long does it take to walk to the summit?
The walk from the Cornwall Park entrances to the summit and back takes around 20–30 minutes. The path is grass and gravel, with a moderate gradient.
Is there a fee to visit?
No. The maunga and Cornwall Park are both free to enter. Parking at the park is also free.
Can I take my dog to One Tree Hill?
Dogs are not permitted on the maunga itself. They are allowed on leads in surrounding Cornwall Park areas.
Who manages Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill?
The maunga is managed by the Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority, a co-governance body of Auckland Council and Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau. Cornwall Park surrounding it is managed separately by the Cornwall Park Trust.
What are the best views from the summit?
On a clear day you can see the Waitematā Harbour, Manukau Harbour, Rangitoto Island, the Waitemata and Manukau CBD, and much of the Auckland volcanic field. The 360-degree panorama is one of the best in the city.
Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill is part of things to do in Auckland. If you’re visiting, Cornwall Park immediately surrounds the maunga and adds walks, farmland, a café, and picnic areas to the visit.