One Tree Hill

By Charlotte Cossar.

Famous as one of Auckland's most popular and well-known volcanic landmarks, One Tree Hill - or Maungakiekie - is an established suburb, centrally placed to access most areas of the city.

Established in the 1930s when neighbouring Onehunga with its thriving port became crowded, One Tree Hill and Royal Oak have many period bungalows now on half-size sections. These tidy two- to three-bedroom homes range in price from upwards of $350,000. For an average house on a full section, you would be looking to pay anything from upwards of $400,000 and for top-of-the-range properties, you could pay close to the million-dollar mark.

Although there are still some old homesteads around, many have been moved to make way for more contemporary abodes. The suburb now is a pleasant mix of modern and period architecture.

The Royal Oak roundabout, with its legendary Ollies ice cream parlour, acts like the centre of a compass - you can go north to Epsom, east to Onehunga, west to Mt Albert or south, although not directly, to the airport.

Moreover, the beauty of having so many arterial roads leading from one roundabout is that you do not have to use the motorway. Even though, it is still only a five-minute drive away.

Being one of Auckland's medium-sized suburbs, the area comprises a strip of streets. The Royal Oak village, which is quite large in comparison, is a thriving hub for locals. Most of the major stores are in residence, including Whitcoulls, Pak N Save, Hugh Wrights and Plastic Box. In addition, you will never go thirsty or hungry; cafes and restaurants, including many ethnic ones, have opened their doors in the past five or six years.

The established suburb also has a mix of residents. The flat nature of the area makes it ideal for the elderly, and the popular primary and intermediate schools make it a drawcard for young families. These families tend to use One Tree Hill as a stepping-stone to Epsom when their children reach secondary school age.

Another group who are now buying in this area are ex-Pakuranga and Howick residents who are tired of traffic hold-ups and are keen to spend more time with their families.

Young professionals also make their home in One Tree Hill because of its central position. It is only a 10- to 15-minute drive to the city, a 10-minute drive to the airport and south Auckland and a five-minute drive to Penrose's Industrial Edge.

However, the biggest attraction of the area is having Cornwall Park and One Tree Hill Domain at its doorstep. This expanse of country green in suburbia is too appealing for many to ignore. As one local said: "If you're thinking of buying elsewhere in Auckland, park your car and take a leisurely walk through our slice of heaven. You can't put a price on that."