One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie)｜The Most Soulful Volcanic Hill in the City

📍 Location Located about 6 kilometers south of Auckland's city center, One Tree Hill is connected to the adjacent Cornwall Park. It is one of Auckland's most historically and culturally significant volcanoes and a sacred site for the Māori people. ⸻ 🚗 Transportation • Bus: Take buses such as 298, 30, or INN LINK from the city center. Get off near Greenlane West or Campbell Road and walk for about 10 minutes. • Driving / Uber: Set your navigation to "One Tree Hill Domain Parking" or "Cornwall Park." There are several free parking lots on-site, but they may fill up during peak times. ⸻ 📝 Personal Experience If Mt Eden is the best spot for city views, then One Tree Hill is the perfect place to experience the "essence of Auckland." One Tree Hill is a complete dormant volcanic hill, with a tall obelisk at the summit commemorating the history between the Māori people and European settlers. From the top, you can see the vast greenery of Cornwall Park and the gentle rolling suburbs of Auckland. I started my walk from the Cornwall Park entrance, surrounded by sheep and cows along the way—it was incredibly soothing! The entire park feels like stepping into a scene from the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" when the protagonist first leaves the city—calm, natural, and pristine. Reaching the summit is a bit of a challenge (especially the final uphill stretch), but the moment the wind hits you, it’s all worth it. It’s very windy up there, so I recommend bringing a jacket. Watching the sunset from this spot is truly moving—a quiet, intense, yet gentle landscape that is uniquely New Zealand.