Devonport: Ferry Access, History and Coastal Scenery
Accommodation in Devonport
Ferry Access and Getting Your Bearings
You can reach Devonport from Downtown Ferry Terminal by ferry in 12 minutes; the journey is scenic. Check the Auckland Transport timetable before travelling. In addition to access, historic sites, volcanic landscapes and routes are all factors when choosing a destination. If you’re looking for hotels in Devonport, you can consider whether cultural history, coastal views, or activities on foot and by bike will shape your stay most. The options differ by theme and mode of transport.
Culture and Devonport’s History
The Victoria Theatre in Devonport is classified as a Category 1 historic place; access is private. The Torpedo Bay site is one of the best-preserved examples of a 19th-century mining operation in New Zealand, and possibly in the entire Southern Hemisphere. The Torpedo Bay Navy Museum is the official museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. The Devonport Museum is dedicated to Devonport’s history and memorabilia. The Esplanade Hotel has been part of the area’s tourism and leisure history for more than 80 years. Together, these sites offer a range of themes, from a historic place and the Navy to local memorabilia and Devonport’s connection with tourism.
Walks and Art Around Town
The “Devonport Heritage – Cheltenham to Fort Takapuna” walk starts at Torpedo Bay and passes late Victorian and Edwardian houses. The Devonport Arts Festival’s Residential Art Trail follows a self-guided route featuring 22 public murals through Devonport Village and around Cheltenham Beach and Vauxhall Shops. The walk focuses on architecture along the route, while the murals and self-guided format shape the Art Trail experience. The trail and festival programme may change, so check the latest information before your visit.
Volcanic Landscape and Routes
Maungauika (North Head) is one of Auckland’s oldest volcanic cones, with coastal platforms and scoria deposits. The area is also crisscrossed by military tunnels, interconnected bunkers and empty gun emplacements. Takarunga offers coastal views, as well as remnants of pā terraces and storage pits. Volcanic features, military traces, coastal views and archaeological remains each highlight a different aspect of the landscape.
Green Route to Takapuna
The Green Route from Devonport to Takapuna starts in Devonport and takes about 40 minutes by bike. It follows paths, boardwalks and bridges through parks, mangroves and heritage streets. The approximate cycling time gives you an indication of how long this route takes; the Residential Art Trail, by contrast, focuses on its 22 murals and self-guided route. These offer two distinct experiences: a cycling route through varied landscapes and an art trail through named areas of Devonport.
Parking Near Maungauika
There is a visitor car park at the foot of Maungauika, as well as plenty of on-street parking nearby. Parking availability can change, so check the current situation before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Hunua, Orewa, Clarks Beach, Waiatarua, Leigh, Warkworth, Wellsford, Glen Murray.
For the broader travel overview: Auckland.
