Cornwall Park — Attraction in North Island

Well the new playground is in and it is for the most part a great improvement over the dated old equipment. The bigger kids playground is well set up , though the water feature does tend to drift some mist over to the nearby equipment. Not to worry, it's just water. Moving over to the toddlers playground though, this is where things get weird. We start off with the yellow wheel. What is that.. wheel of fortune? but there's no clicker, it just spins. $70 $80 or $90. 40 50 or 60... spins? 10 20 or 30 sad faces? Are these points? Weird. Then we move on to the next spinny wheel thing. It's a marble game, that with some work I can finish, but I'm a 38 year old man. There's no way a toddler even has the dexterity to move this wheel fast enough get the marble in the right place, let alone the strength. The thing is HEAVY. Which means when a larger kid comes by, he can get that thing spinning REALLY fast. So now it's a spinning at 10000RPM, with those knobs that stick out I foresee some broken little fingers in someone's unfortunate future.

Ok cool, so the wheel things are a bust. How about some puzzles. There's one with animals on the pieces, but .. you can't get some of them to stay where they should due to that physics pesky thing.. what's it called again? Oh yeah.. Gravity! There's one with some.. flowery? shapes. These have little cutouts that... also don't withstand the relentless forces of gravity, so it's impossible to complete the puzzle without having 4 arms to hold each piece in. My mini people found this most frustrating.

Ok lets try something in a different area. What about these neat wheel things that stick out of the ground like flowers. One has a bee on it an makes a cute little clinking noise as it spins. My 1 year old LOVES this. I, on the other hand, do not LOVE this. These are inexplicably mounted with their centers about 1 meter off the ground?!? My little person at full stretch can't even reach the bottom of them. Guess who's left holding the baby.. LITERALLY.

Ok stuff the puzzles and brain games. What about some good old fashioned spinning around. There's the round about. wait.. Why is that mounted half a meter off the ground too! Kids flying off roundabouts is as kiwi as pies, so now in the toddlers area, this thing guarantee's that when the aforementioned unplanned ejection happens, there's a good drop to guarantee an upset child.

Ok.. what about a swing. Miss 3 wants to go in the swings by the slides. Great. Miss 1 can't yet hold on to them.. ok where's the baby's swing.... _ Oh.. there they are. A mere 70 meters walk to .. what looks like some leftovers from the soviet era. The chains are so short that one push lasts about 4 swings. The center pole wobbles so much the kids were genuinely scared of the thing. So we're doing swings in shifts. I'm about to impose martial law and declare the swings unsafe if only to keep my step count below a million.. Miss 3 needs the bathroom. Right.. At least this part should be straight forward. Found the bathroom. It's clean and simple, albeit somewhat industrial in design. Done.. Wash hands... No soap dispencer. ok, water it is. Dry... nope.. no hand drying facility. Not empty, not broken, just .. not. That's a pretty strange omission.

Now, I don't want to sound like a whinger. It's definitely way better than the old one. The kids will successfully run themselves ragged, All in all it's a good spot.. it's...

Visiting Cornwall Park was an absolute delight! From the moment I stepped foot into this serene oasis, I was captivated by the lush greenery, tranquil atmosphere, and the sense of history that permeates every corner. The sprawling grounds offer a perfect blend of natural beauty and carefully manicured landscapes, making it an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll, a family picnic, or simply unwinding amidst nature's embrace.

The majestic trees provide ample shade on a sunny day, while the expansive lawns invite visitors to spread out and relax. The highlight of my visit was undoubtedly the iconic One Tree Hill, standing tall as a symbol of resilience and heritage. Climbing to the summit rewarded me with breathtaking panoramic views of Auckland city and beyond, a moment I'll cherish forever.

What truly sets Cornwall Park apart is its commitment to preserving its heritage and fostering a sense of community. The historic buildings, such as the elegant Acacia Cottage, offer a glimpse into the park's rich past, while the myriad of events and activities cater to people of all ages and interests.

Whether you're a nature enthusiast, history buff, or simply seeking a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, Cornwall Park is a gem waiting to be explored. With its timeless beauty and warm hospitality, it's no wonder why it holds a special place in the hearts of locals and visitors alike. A must-visit destination for anyone craving a slice of tranquility and...

A great park have enjoyed going here since i was a child and spent a lot of my growing years playing here then when i had children i always brought them here to play , feed the ducks showing them the trees the ponds and stream the bird aviary and how when i was small that the daycare center was an ice cream parlour and these days i can take my grandchildren to experience cornwall park walking the many paths and watching them enjoy playing here and sometimes its just great to sit on ond of the many benches and enjoy the sun ghe birdlife and the...