One Tree Hill

One Tree Hill

We went out shopping to find an American product store called "Martha's Backyard".  We found it and had great success!  On our way back we decided to visit a nearby park. Wow! It was beyond our expectations. 

The area contained two parks: Cornwall Park and One Tree Hill Domain.

We drove through Cornwall Park and ended up stopping for a long time.  It is green and lush. Areas are fenced off with sheep and cattle inside.  It was lambing season and we were able to watch new lambs born and mothers pushing them to get up for the first time.  It was peaceful and miraculous.

This picture is of older lambs in the park. 

We drove around to the other side to One Tree Hill.  One Tree HIll is a 597 ft volcanic peak.  It is a memorial to Maori's and New Zealanders.

On the summit is an obelisk, a memorial to the Maori people.  Before the obelisk stands a bronze statue of a Maori warrior. Beneath it is the grave of Sir John Logan Campbell who donated money for the obelisk.

                   

This is not the actual tree that the park was named after.  The actual tree was attacked twice with chainsaws by Maori activists to draw attention to the injustices they believed the New Zealand government had inflicted upon Maori.

These last two pictures are panoramic pictures from on top of the hill looking out.  The valley's were beautiful. Notice all the clouds.  We experience all 4 seasons in one day here.