Monte Cecilia Park — Attraction in Puketāpapa

Truly a big park with hidden entrance that actually quite interesting for me (:

Although the main entrance is easily noticed by the huge white Victorian styled building, but you could also enter this park from the side entrance by parking on the curb, right on the side of some residential.

This park is used to be some sort of farmstead while also horses ranch, back on the days of the first European settlement in Aotearoa. The family who runs it, build the farmstead as familiar as how farm was built back at home.

Although the history was fascinated me.. but truly my breathtaking moment was when I went up to the hillside then straight looking down into the city lights and there you could see Mt. Mangere too. Truly one majestic moment. I couldn't fathom that the family who runs it just built the best farmstead all over Auckland with...

As the entrance is off a busy road, you'd never guess such a peaceful park is at the end of the driveway! Plenty of parking. It's an easy hilly walk (inclines are not very steep) so not the place to go if you're after a flat walk. Lots of nice spots to picnic, especially as it's not super busy here. Mostly sealed pathway. Huge natural bowl in the middle of the park is the off leash area for dogs - my dog loves chasing her ball around here! Also quite a popular spot for rock hunters, so keep your eyes peeled 👀 especially around the side of the park with all the large trees...

Spectacular park that most Auckland residents don't know about. Isn't even shown on Google Maps as a green space.

Historic homestead now houses cafe/restaurant and Wallace Art Collection on public view. Ample parking, four additional pedestrian entrances, amazing views northeast and south, massive trees throughout park, off-leash dog areas, lots of wooden seating, parrots and rabbits to be found. Regular visitors are friendly and talkative with lovely, well behaved dogs. Planes and helicopters fly over often. No childrens playground but popular with kids of all...