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New Zealand > Auckland
> Devonport
Devonport is a charming hideaway and historical
maritime village nestled on Auckland's North Shore. It makes for an ideal
getaway from the bustling city traffic and with water on three sides, unique
heritage buildings and spectacular views, you may wish you could linger longer.
 With its Victorian villas, a picture postcard waterfront, Devonport is one of
the most delightful places to walk around and you don't need to spend any money
here, simply take the 1/2 day stroll around the village. The walking trail takes
you along the waterfront and past the yacht club, up onto North Head for great
vies of Auckland city, Rangitoto island and the Hauraki Gulf.
The trail then leads along Cheltenham beach, the ideal spot for a picnic and a
swim before strolling along Albert Road, over or around Mt Victoria and back
down Victoria Road to the shopping area and ferry terminal. While a fit person
may do all this in an hour or so, it is an ideal way to pass a whole day.
Along with the colonial architecture, Devonport
Village has an excellent range of specialty shops, cafes and restaurants.
 Visit:
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The Navy Museum, a treasure trove of maritime artefacts showing the
role of the New Zealand navy and its role in national and international history.
Open daily, 10.00am - 4.00pm
Free entry
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Peter
Raos Master Glass Artist
Gallery;
2 Queens Parade. Devonport, Just opposite the ferry terminal
Phone: (09) 445 4278,
HOURS: Mon ~ Fri 10am ~ 4pm -
Saturday & Sunday 11am~3pm
Website
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Devonport Wine and Food Festival
Auckland’s annual and iconic event in late February - on Sat 16 & Sun 17
February 2008
Website
Getting There
The 10 minute Fullers Passenger ferry ride is the most relaxing way to
arrive in Devonport, ferries leave from the terminus at the bottom Queen Street
in downtown Auckland every 20 - 40 minutes. Self drive via the harbour bridge
and Takapuna, the trip takes around 20 minutes, bus or taxi.
Note that daily ferries depart Devonport for Waiheke Island
at 9.00 & 11.00am and 1.00pm. Please confirm with
Fullers Ferries Ph 09 367 9111 (Free Phone 0800 385 5377), or the
Stagecoach bus service which connects with all ferries on 09 366 6400.
Devonport History
Around 40,000 years ago Devonport consisted of three islands of volcanic origin,
Mount Victoria, North Head and between them Mount Cambria (which has now largely quarried
away and built over).
The earliest evidence for (Maori) settlement dates from the mid-1300s (roughly
during the same time as the landing of the Tainui waka which is commemorated by
a stone memorial on the foreshore). The last remaining significant Maori
settlement in the area, on North Head, was wiped out by rival tribes in the
1790s.
On the southern shore, to the west of the centre of Devonport is the deep
water anchorage for the Royal Navy and where the present Devonport Naval Base. William Hobson, then the Governor of New Zealand, considered the sandspit-protected area a better choice for a naval installation than the
shallower Tamaki waters on the southern side of the harbour. Devonport
during European settlement was under forest and slowly cleared for agriculture
and the population slowly increased achieved Borough status in 1886 and was incorporated into North Shore City in
1989.
The first ferry services to Auckland city began in the 1840s with open
sailing cutters operated by local seamen running passengers to the foot of Queen
Street Auckland's main road to paddle steamer ferries in 1860 and evolving into
the modern ferries of today.
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