Last updated October 2026
Sports fields, two playgrounds, a pool, a skate area and a living history museum all share the same green space in Pakuranga. Lloyd Elsmore Park is, in Auckland Council’s words, “one of Auckland’s largest multi-use parks”, covering about 75 hectares in East Auckland.
Team sports and wheeled activities each have their own fields and facilities, and the Lloyd Elsmore Park Pool and Leisure Centre, with its splash pad, sits inside the park. So do Howick Historical Village, which recreates a settlement of 1840 to 1880, and Howick Little Theatre. Access is from Pakuranga Highway and Cascades Road, and the Lloyd Elsmore Path runs through the grounds.
Practical Information
- Location
- 2R Bells Road, Pakuranga (council park data); access from Pakuranga Highway and Cascades Road, with pedestrian access from Aviemore Drive
- Size
- About 75 hectares in the council’s park extents data
- Managed by
- Auckland Council (Howick Local Board area)
- Dogs
- On a leash at all times unless the council’s dog walking rules for the park say otherwise
- Facilities
- Sports fields, two playgrounds, skate facilities, the Lloyd Elsmore Park Pool and Leisure Centre with a splash pad, toilets, changing rooms, seating and parking, including mobility parking
- Status
- Auckland Council: Lloyd Elsmore Park page
About Lloyd Elsmore Park
Most of the park is given over to sport. The council lists fields and facilities for team sports and wheeled activities, and photo captions in a history article from Howick Historical Village name the Pakuranga United Rugby Club grounds and the Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in the park. Skate facilities sit within the park too.
For younger visitors there are two playgrounds that the council says suit a wide age range, plus the splash pad at the pool and leisure centre. The park also has toilets, changing rooms and seating, and its parking includes mobility parking.
Away from the fields, the council notes plenty of open space for quieter recreation. The Lloyd Elsmore Path runs through the park.
Howick Historical Village and the Theatre
Howick Historical Village, at 75 Bells Road, is a living history museum on seven acres of grounds and heritage gardens. The council says it presents life in mid-19th-century Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, and the village says it depicts a settlement of the period from 1840 to 1880. Visitor details are on the village’s own website.
Howick Little Theatre is also in the park, and the council lists it as a venue for cultural and heritage activities.
The Elsmore Name
The park shares its name with Sir Lloyd Elsmore. A local history article published by Howick Historical Village tells the story of his wife, Marie, who grew up in Blackball on the West Coast and married Lloyd in Greymouth in 1935.
The couple raised four children, ran a grocery store and settled in Auckland, moving to Pakuranga in the late 1950s.
Marie served as mayoress of Ellerslie and later of Manukau, and the couple became Sir Lloyd and Lady Marie Elsmore in 1982. The article says that when the park’s pool opened, two roads were named after the couple: Sir Lloyd Drive and Lady Marie Drive.
Where to Learn More
Auckland Council: Lloyd Elsmore Park: facilities, access points, attractions in the park and park rules.
Howick Historical Village: the living history museum inside the park, with visitor information and local history articles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Lloyd Elsmore Park?
In Pakuranga, East Auckland. The council’s park data gives the address as 2R Bells Road, with access from Pakuranga Highway and Cascades Road and a pedestrian entrance from Aviemore Drive.
How big is the park?
About 75 hectares in the council’s park extents data. The council calls it one of Auckland’s largest multi-use parks.
Are there playgrounds?
Yes, two, which the council says cater for a wide age range. There is also a splash pad at the pool and leisure centre.
Is there a swimming pool in the park?
Yes. The Lloyd Elsmore Park Pool and Leisure Centre is in the park and includes a splash pad.
What is Howick Historical Village?
A living history museum at 75 Bells Road, inside the park, depicting a settlement of 1840 to 1880 on seven acres of grounds and heritage gardens.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, on a leash. That is the council’s standard rule for its parks, and it applies here unless the dog walking section of the park page sets something different.
Are there toilets and parking?
Yes. The council lists toilets, changing rooms, seating and parking, including mobility parking.
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