The Volcanoes of Devonport
Devonport is home to three of Auckland's volcanic cones, two of them among the best short climbs in the city. North Head and Mount Victoria give harbour views and history, with the ferry across part of the appeal.
What volcanoes are in Devonport?
Three cones sit in and around the village. North Head (Maungauika) guards the harbour mouth, Mount Victoria (Takarunga) rises behind the town as the highest point on the North Shore, and Mount Cambria nearby was largely quarried away and is now a reserve. Two short ferry stops from the city, they make Devonport one of the easiest places to climb a volcano in Auckland.
North Head (Maungauika)
North Head is a coastal cone riddled with military history. As well as the volcano itself and its harbour-mouth views, the headland is honeycombed with tunnels, gun emplacements and bunkers built for coastal defence, which you can walk through. It is a short, easy climb with a lot packed into it, and the lookout back across the Waitematā to the city is one of the best in Auckland.
Mount Victoria (Takarunga)
Takarunga is the highest point on the North Shore and a short climb straight up from Devonport village. The summit gives a sweeping view over the harbour, the city skyline and out to Rangitoto. Like the other maunga it was once a fortified pā, and the terraces of that history are still visible in the slopes. The walk up takes only a few minutes from the town.
How to visit them
Take the ferry. The Devonport ferry from the downtown Auckland terminal is a short crossing and lands you a few minutes' walk from both cones, so you can climb them without a car. Do them together as an easy half-day, with the village's cafes and the waterfront in between. The ferry ride itself, out across the harbour, is part of what makes the trip.
Climb the cones with a guide in hand
Volcanic AKL maps North Head, Mount Victoria and every other cone with routes, history and viewpoints. Works offline on the maunga.
Explore Volcanic AKLRelated: Best volcanic cones to walk in Auckland.