Albert Park offers a host of interesting attractions

Set amidst one of Auckland most geo thermally active areas, it is impossible imagine that just sixty thousand years ago the lush Albert Park was in fact an area filled with volcanic ash and molten lava. Today Albert Auckland is an oasis of calm on contemplation set in the midst of one of New Zealand’s busiest cites and also serves as an exhibition area for modern art and sculpture.

The checkered history of the park can be traced back to an ancient Maori village that was here called Rangipuke. The village was later conquered by the Europeans in the middle of the 19th century and was converted in to a defense post. In an ironic twist the imprisoned Maori villagers were used as manpower during the construction of the defenses and the barracks.

Following the exit of the army from Auckland, the area was placed under the administration of the Auckland City Council who envisaged the creation of a public park. During the late 1800’s the committee set up to upgrade the park installed the Albert Fountain and converted an old gardener’s cottage into the Albert Park House. The building that now houses the Auckland Art Gallery was also built; a notable feature of this construction is its French Renaissance style architecture. An important phase in the life of Albert Park were the years following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, tunnels and shelters were dug under the park in case of aerial bombardment and the ornamental canons were hidden.





Among the attraction at this picturesque park is the Victorian style fountain, this has always been regarded as the central feature of the park. A statue honoring Queen Victoria was built later adjoining the fountain. Along the area bordering Princes Street is a rather eccentric contraption. This floral clock which is officially reffered to as the Laidlaw Floral Clock was unveiled in 1953 in honour of the Queen’s visit to Auckland.

Located in a highly residential urban area of Auckland, Albert Park can easily be accessed via the many streets and roads that converge here. Located in this area is an Auckland luxury hotel known as the Langham Hotel in Auckland. Unlike many Auckland hotels this hotel offers you an advantageous location and unparalleled access to the city’s most important areas.

Albert Park offers a host of interesting attractions / Author: eMarketingEye

Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive at eMarketingEye which is a search engine marketing company that offers integrated Internet marketing services and specializes in serving the online travel and hospitality industry. (http://www.emarketingeye.com/ )