Government House Auckland

  • <span class="title">Government House Auckland (2)</span><br/><p> A closeup view of Government House Auckland showing the Royal Crest near the entrance to the House. </p>
  • <span class="title">Drawing Room </span><br/>The Drawing Room at Government House Auckland is used for morning and afternoon teas and to host small ceremonies.
  • <span class="title">Kawaka</span><br/>Many of the trees on the grounds of Government House Auckland date from the 1870s.   Pictured is a Kawaka tree (<em>Libocedrus plumosa), </em>believed to be more than 90 years old and one of the largest known native cedars in cultivation.
  • <span class="title">Japanese cedar</span><br/>A Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) growing on the edge of the Governors Lawn on the western side of Government House Auckland.
  • <span class="title">Morton Bay fig</span><br/>The roots of one of several Morton Bay figs (Ficus macrophylla) growing on the edge of the Governors Lawn on the western side of Government House Auckland.
  • <span class="title">Blue Atlas cedar</span><br/>A blue atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica &quot;glauca&quot;) growing on the Governors Lawn on the western side of Government House Auckland.
  • <span class="title">North Queensland kauri</span><br/>A North Queensland kauri (Agathis palmerstonii) growing on the grounds of Government House Auckland. 
  • <span class="title">California redwood</span><br/>A California redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) growing on the edge of the Mappin Lawn on the eastern side of Government House Auckland.
  • <span class="title">Japanese anemones</span><br/>Japanese anemones make a beautiful display in the gardens of Government House Auckland in Autumn.
  • <span class="title">Mona lavender</span><br/><p> Flowering in autumn in the grounds of Government House Auckland are a display of Plectranthus 'mona lavender'. </p> <p> &nbsp; </p>
  • <span class="title">Red horsechestnut</span><br/>A red horsechestnut (Aesculus carnea) growing on the Mappin Lawn on the eastern side of Government House Auckland.
  • <span class="title">Kauri</span><br/>Two kauri ricker (Agathis australis) growing on the edge of the Mappin Lawn on the eastern side of Government House Auckland.
  • <span class="title">Totara</span><br/>This totara (Podocarpus totara) is one of many long-standing trees on the edge of the Mappin Lawn on the eastern side of Government House  Auckland.
  • <span class="title">Spring blossoms</span><br/>With the arrival of Spring, the peach and cherry trees on the grounds of Government House Auckland flower with great abundance.
  • <span class="title">Clivia</span><br/>Spring sees a burst of colour from the many clivia in the grounds of Government House Auckland.
  • <span class="title">Azaleas</span><br/>Spring sees a flush of colour from the many azaleas in the gardens at Government House Auckland.
  • <span class="title">Rhododendrons and azaleas</span><br/>Spring sees a flush of colour from the many rhododendrons and azaleas in the gardens at Government House Auckland.
  • <span class="title">Pennantia</span><br/>The buds of one of the world's rarest trees, the <i>Pennanitia baylisiana</i>.  Only one tree is believed to exist on its native home, the Three Kings Islands, north of Cape Reinga.
  • <span class="title">Pohutukawa</span><br/>This pohutukawa <em>Metrosideros excelsa </em>is one of a number that ring the Governor's Lawn on the western side of Government House Auckland and was believed to have been planted more than 100 years ago.
  • <span class="title">Norfolk pines</span><br/>These two Norfolk pines <em>Araucaria heterophylla </em>are more than 25m tall and stand at the eastern entrance to Government House Auckland and were believed to have been planted more than 100 years ago. 
  • <span class="title">Pavilion and Governor's Lawn</span><br/>The pavilion on the western side of Government House Auckland was added as a part of a major refurbishment in 2005.  The pavilion allows larger events, such as investitures, receptions and award ceremonies, to be held in Auckland.  The pavilion opens out into a large grassed area known as the Governor's Lawn, which is immediately below Mt Eden.
  • <span class="title">Government House Auckland Pavilion</span><br/>The Pavilion at Government House Auckland was added in 2005 to allow larger ceremonies, such as investitures, to be held.  This image shows the dais ready for a press conference by the Australian and New Zealand Prime Ministers in 2008.
  • <span class="title">Kawaka</span><br/>Many of the trees on the grounds of Government House Auckland date from the 1870s.   Pictured is a Kawaka tree (<em>Libocedrus plumosa), </em>believed to be more than 90 years old and one of the largest known native cedars in cultivation.
  • <span class="title">Government House Auckland (4)</span><br/>One of the rocky outcrops that are a feature of the grounds of Government House Auckland.
  • <span class="title">Government House Auckland (3)</span><br/>The driveway leading to the entrance of Government House Auckland.
  • <span class="title">Government House Auckland (1)</span><br/>Government House Auckland as seen from the Mappin Lawn on the eastern side of the property, where formal State Welcomes for visiting Heads of State are held.

Government House Auckland is much smaller than Government House Wellington, having been originally built as a family home. Sir Frank and Lady Mappin bought the property in 1921 and spent the next 45 years, after building the residence, developing and landscaping the grounds. They gifted it to the Queen to be the Governor-General's official residence in Auckland in 1962.