About the path
Explore some of Auckland's inner-city green spaces and see some of the oldest living trees in the country along the way.
The path starts at Constitution Hill, a 15-minute walk from the Britomart Train Station.
Stroll through the University of Auckland’s gardens and see if you can identify several notable trees against the photos provided. Queen Elizabeth II planted a rimu tree in the gardens in 1953.
Make your way into the iconic Albert Park, a central oasis for people during the warmer months.
Be careful as you head out of Albert Park, the path has a steep incline. If you’re feeling peckish, take a detour and head towards Queen Street. There are plenty of great lunch spots to grab a bite to eat.
If you’ve packed food, keep heading towards Myers Park, which is a great spot for a picnic.
Myers Park has a magical garden-themed playground which kids will love. The splash pad operates between September and May each year, a perfect way for kids to cool off in the warm weather.
There are public toilets next to the playground.
Check out 10 heritage trees along the path:
1. English Oak, Quercus robur
Some of these English oaks were planted from acorns gathered from the Windsor Forest and distributed by Queen Victoria.
2. Kauri, Agathis australis
Governor General Sir Bernard Fergusson planted this kauri in 1967. The smaller kauri on the right was planted from a seed retrieved from Tāne Mahuta, Aotearoa’s largest living kauri. Tāne Mahuta measures 51.2m tall and 13.8m wide. It’s estimated to be about 2000 years old.
3. Rimu, Dacrydium cupressinum
Queen Elizabeth II planted this rimu in 1953. The largest rimu trees can be found near Taupō in the Pureora, Waihaha and Whirinaki forests. They’re an important food source for the native kākāpō bird.
4. Norfolk Pine, Araucaria heterophylla
This Norfolk pine towers above the grounds of the Old Government House. Norfolk pines can reach heights of 50m-60m.
5. South African Coral, Erythrina indica
Sir George Grey planted this tree in the early 1850s. It is an extremely rare specimen in Auckland.
6. Ombu, Phytolacca dioica
Sir George Grey planted this ombu tree. The root systems of the ombu tree often grow 4m across. The roots are soft and spongey, and are comprised of about 80 per cent water, a fire-resistant adaptation.
7. Elm, Ulmus procera
This elm tree is over 100 years old and is native to southern and western Europe. This species can grow to 35m in height with a branch spread of 15m. The wood doesn’t rot in wet conditions, so uses of elm once included water piping.
8. Pin Oak, Quercus palustris
This pin oak is believed to have been planted before 1854.
Heritage arborists have coordinated the pruning on the building side of the tree, to slow down the growth of the branches as they get closer to the building.
9. Swamp Cypress, Taxodium distichum
The swamp cypress once dominated the 1700 year old south-east American swamplands.
In 2012, scuba divers found an underwater prehistorical cypress forest, several miles into the Gulf of Mexico. The cypress trees were carbon-dated to 52,000 years old.
10. Japanese White Pine, Pinus parviflora
The Japanese white pine typically grows on steep slopes or dry rocky ridges in its native habitat of Japan.
This species of pine is commonly used in Japanese bonsai – the growing and sculpting of small trees in containers that mimic their appearance as full-sized trees.
