Liston Park is a public park in Ellerslie, a small rural settlement in Auckland City, north of Auckland, and holds a 3.9 rating on Google. Rural parks like those scattered through Auckland City's farmland are usually simple affairs: open grassed space, a few mature trees and plenty of quiet rather than playgrounds, cafés or sports facilities. That is part of their appeal, but it pays to come prepared, since settlements like Ellerslie have few shops nearby, so bring water and anything else you need. After Auckland's winter rain, grassed areas can stay soft and muddy underfoot, so older footwear is sensible, and it is worth checking signs for dog rules if you are bringing a pet. Regulars tend to use places like this for a short walk, a picnic or a leg-stretch for the dog rather than a planned day out. For anyone living around Ellerslie, Liston Park offers exactly that: an unhurried patch of green close to home.