Devonport

On Tuesday, I set off to explore more of Auckland. My travel guidebook recommended a trip to Devonport, a small community across the small harbor from the city centre. I had seen Devonport from the Sky Tower and it looked intriguing. I walked through the center of the city to the reach the ferry dock. I arrived just as the ferry was about to leave and was able to quickly buy a ticket and have the dock hand who was just closing the gate keep it open for me to slip through and onto the ferry.

The narrow harbor only took ten minutes to cross by ferry and we were soon pulling aside the dock. I walked through the quaint downtown shopping area to the base of Mount Victoria, a hill that was once a dormant volcano. Grand Victorian houses line the base and there are a few houses on the side of the hill. I walked up the road going up the slope and soon reached the top. From there, I had a great view of Devonport below me and Auckland city centre across the harbor. I sat on the wind swept hill for a while taking in the view and also taking a few pictures.

I found a walking trail down the other side of the mountain that led out into the streets of Devonport. I wound my way through residential streets until I reached Cheltenham Beach. It is a tidal beach and the tide was out, so it was a bit barren. I walked along the beach past expensive looking homes lining the shore.

At the end of the beach was the base of North Head, another extinct volcano at the north end of Devonport. The NZ military took over North Head in the 19th Century and used its commanding views of the harbor as its base and to place large guns to protect Auckland. I climbed up the beach trail up the back side of the hill. There were a few different trails ringing the hill and I walked a few of them passing gun placement fortifications. At the top of the mountain there was a fantastic view of Auckland and its surrounds. I spent a long time sitting and walking around the top. Eventually, I walked own the hill and back into town.

Back in Devonport, I found a cafe and had a great lunch. Very full I walked back to the ferry dock and caught the next ferry back to the city centre. I walked down Queen Street and decided to take a break and see the Bourne Ultimatum at the movies. Afterwards, I grabbed some dinner and then headed back to the hostel to organize pictures.

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