One Tree Hill / Maungakiekie is one of Auckland’s most distinctive landmarks — a 182-metre volcanic cone topped with a stone obelisk and a lone pine tree, rising above the sweeping parkland of Cornwall Park in the inner suburb of Epsom. The summit offers wide views across the Auckland isthmus, and the park at its base is one of the city’s most loved open spaces, home to grazing sheep, heritage farm buildings, an ancient olive grove, and several walking tracks. The maunga has been sacred to Māori for centuries and carries considerable historical and cultural significance alongside its role as a public park.
Practical Information
| Address | Cornwall Park, Greenlane West, Epsom, Auckland |
| Hours | Cornwall Park open daily; summit road open approximately 6am–8pm (seasonal variation) |
| Entry | Free |
| Parking | Multiple car parks within Cornwall Park off Greenlane West and Huia Lodge Drive; free |
| Summit drive | Sealed road to near the summit; short walk to the top from the upper car park |
| Facilities | Café / restaurant at Huia Lodge (Acacia Cottage area); toilets throughout the park; visitor information at the Huia Lodge |
| Dogs | Permitted in Cornwall Park on a leash; not permitted in fenced sheep grazing areas or on summit |
| Nearest transport | AT Metro bus routes along Greenlane Road and Manukau Road |
About One Tree Hill / Maungakiekie
Maungakiekie was one of the most heavily fortified pā sites in pre-European New Zealand. The terracing and earthworks on its flanks are still clearly visible and represent centuries of occupation by iwi including Wai-o-hua and, later, Ngāti Whātua. The name Maungakiekie refers to the kiekie vine that once grew on the slopes. At its peak, the pā on Maungakiekie may have housed several thousand people, making it one of the largest settlements in the country at the time.
The “one tree” of One Tree Hill was originally a tōtara tree sacred to Māori, which was felled in the late 19th century and replaced with introduced trees. A single Monterey pine occupied the summit for most of the 20th century but was damaged in 1994 when a Māori activist protesting land rights attacked it with a chainsaw, and again in 2000 with a further attack. The pine was felled by Auckland City Council in 2000 on safety grounds. Replanting has been discussed for years; the summit remains treeless apart from the obelisk, though as of 2025 planting proposals are under ongoing consideration by the Tūpuna Maunga Authority.
The Obelisk
The stone obelisk at the summit was erected in honour of Sir John Logan Campbell, known as “the father of Auckland,” who donated the land that became Cornwall Park to the people of New Zealand in 1901. Campbell is buried at the base of the obelisk. The structure is 11.6 metres tall and stands on the highest point of the crater rim, visible from much of the surrounding city.
Cornwall Park
The 170-hectare Cornwall Park surrounding the maunga is maintained by the Cornwall Park Trust Board and operates separately from Auckland Council. The park contains working farmland — sheep graze the open slopes year-round — as well as an olive grove planted in 1840 (one of the oldest in New Zealand), Acacia Cottage (the oldest surviving wooden building in Auckland, built in 1841), and a café. Multiple walking tracks wind through the park and connect to the summit route. The combination of active pastoral farming, heritage buildings, and volcanic landscape within a few kilometres of the CBD makes Cornwall Park genuinely distinctive.
What Visitors Say
“Cornwall Park is Auckland at its best — sheep grazing, massive old trees, a volcanic cone with harbour views, and a good café. Walked for two hours and felt like we’d barely covered it.” — TripAdvisor review
“The terracing on the volcanic slopes is remarkable once you know what you’re looking at. The information boards help a lot. Go on a weekday morning if you want the summit to yourself.” — Google Maps review
Where to Learn More
Cornwall Park Trust Board — official site covering park hours, facilities, events, the café, and information on Acacia Cottage and the park’s history.
Tūpuna Maunga Authority — Maungakiekie — authoritative information on the maunga’s history, current access, and co-management under the Treaty settlement.
NZ History — One Tree Hill — background on the history of the “one tree,” the 1994 and 2000 attacks, and the debate over replanting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there no tree on One Tree Hill?
The original tōtara was felled in the 19th century. A single Monterey pine stood at the summit for most of the 20th century until it was attacked in 1994 and again in 2000, then felled on safety grounds by Auckland City Council in 2000. The summit has been treeless since, though replanting is being considered by the Tūpuna Maunga Authority.
Can you drive to the top of One Tree Hill?
Yes — a sealed road runs close to the summit with a small car park near the top. A short walk from the upper car park reaches the obelisk and crater rim.
Is there a cost to enter Cornwall Park or the summit?
No — Cornwall Park and the One Tree Hill summit are both free and open to the public.
What is the obelisk at the summit?
The obelisk was erected in honour of Sir John Logan Campbell, who donated the Cornwall Park land to New Zealand in 1901. Campbell is buried at its base. The obelisk is 11.6 metres tall.
Are there walking tracks in Cornwall Park?
Yes — multiple tracks wind through the park and up to the summit. The park also connects to the wider One Tree Hill Domain. Allow at least an hour for a relaxed walk that includes the summit.
What is Acacia Cottage?
Acacia Cottage is a small wooden cottage built in 1841 by Sir John Logan Campbell and is considered Auckland’s oldest surviving wooden building. It stands within Cornwall Park near the Huia Lodge café.
Can you take dogs to Cornwall Park?
Dogs on a leash are welcome in most of Cornwall Park but are excluded from the fenced sheep grazing areas and the maunga summit itself.
More to Explore in Auckland
One Tree Hill / Maungakiekie is one of Auckland’s most rewarding volcanic walks. For another high summit experience try Maungawhau / Mount Eden, Auckland’s tallest cone at 196 metres. Both are part of the wider Auckland walking tracks network that links many of the city’s volcanic features.