Auckland, New Zealand: Monte Cecilia Path

Too short to be reckoned a hike this is nonetheless a short walk that delights for its beautiful setting, magnificent trees, history and art.

Monte Cecilia Park in Hillsborough, generally known locally simply as 'The Pah', is an Auckland Council Park that has been developed and expanded in recent years to become one of Auckland's finest city parks. The focal point at the top of a prominent hill is a large mansion known as the Pah Homestead which was purchased by the Council in 2002. Major renovations and development of the park followed before it was opened as the TSB Wallace Arts Centre in 2010. The public art gallery is known for changing exhibitions of contemporary New Zealand art from the collection of the benefactor James Wallace. The park has been enlarged with additions most recently when a primary school was shifted off the site.

The walk is simply a circuit of the grounds and, when combined with a visit to the gallery, is a good use of an hour or 90 minutes.

There are many historic plantings as well as more modern park landscaping. One of the old trees had succumbed to a storm shortly before my visit. 

The huge lawn sweeping down the hillside at the front of the house is reminiscent of the landscaping of some English stately homes.

There is an online map and the site includes several signs around the property giving historical details.

For those wanting more exercise a visit to the park and path could easily be combined with a bike trip on the SW Cycleway, which passes with 900 m  of the park.

Summary: Easy walk (although some steep slopes), city park, 1.2 kn circuit.

Walked: January 2019