One of the most pleasant suburbs in Auckland, Devonport is blessed with an
idyllic location across the harbour from Auckland CBD, and some of the best preserved heritage in the city.
The best place to get your bearings is the summit of 87m high Mount Victoria, home to stunning views of Auckland (including the CBD, Rangitoto, Harbour Bridge), an old canon, and some playful air vents for a watertank.
The free Devonport Museum provides a great introduction to the history of the area, housed in a former church which was cut in half and relocated (upside of wooden buildings…).
A highlight was this amazingly detailed model of a typical Devonport villa, filled with detail inside.
The museum is in the well maintained and very pleasant Mt Cambria Reserve, the remains of a volcano cone that was quarried away.
There’s more history at the nicely presented and free Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, reflecting that Devonport is the home of the New Zealand Royal Navy.
There’s a decent cafe on site and lovely views from the end of the nearby pier.
Behind the museum is North Head, home to possibly the finest views in Auckland, and plenty more military history.
North Head looks down on the neighbouring Cheltenham Beach which has made lists of the best beaches in the world.
One of the newest buildings in town is the wonderful Devonport Library, opened in 2015, a great model for how modern libraries should be.
To end with a couple of scenic views from Cyril Bassett VC Lookout at the end of Stanley Point, and the cool lookout tower at Narrow Neck Beach.
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