North Head

North Head / Maungauika – A Day Trip Worth Every Step If you're staying in Auckland, a day trip to North Head in Devonport is a must. Just a quick and scenic 20-minute ferry ride (around $20 round trip) from the city, Devonport feels like a world away—and North Head is its crown jewel. This ancient volcanic cone offers a rich blend of natural beauty and layered history. Once a Māori pā site and later a strategic military outpost, North Head is now a peaceful historic reserve where you can explore hidden tunnels, old gun emplacements, and some of the only remaining disappearing guns in the world. Take your time wandering the walking tracks that loop around the headland, each turn revealing sweeping views of Rangitoto Island, the Hauraki Gulf, and Auckland’s skyline. It’s the kind of place where history meets nature in the most breathtaking way. Whether you’re a history buff, a casual hiker, or just after a perfect picnic spot with an unbeatable view, North Head delivers. Combine it with a relaxed day exploring Devonport’s cafes and beaches, and you’ve got one of the best low-key adventures you can have near Auckland

Like everyone has said, INCREDIBLE view. Well worth a visit. We went whilst my grandmother was at an appointment and it was a lovely little fund. Don’t have to be there that long to enjoy it. Not only was the view good but the tunnels and big gun were fun and interesting aswell

2024: Well worth checking out on a sunny day. The breathtaking 360° coastline views alone warrant the journey, but exploration of the old battery tunnels and remnants of World War II, gives insight into times past.

Great view of the city, good walk. Some areas of the fort and tunnels need more lighting, otherwise very nice.

A fun place to explore in the tunnels. Great that there is free access to everything. A number of helpful information boards around. Lovely scenic views. A number of car parks - lower and further up. Well worth the visit. Great for a free thing to do in Auckland.

Fun place to visit. The views are breathtaking. Kids have a lot of fun. Bunkers are great fun to see and kids love to explore such places. Only thing is that one needs to be a bit careful as it can get slightly dangerous. Perfect for a day out or a picnic.

A cool area to explore, family friendly. Heaps of history and awesome views - do remember to take a raincoat (I see lots of tourists get stuck!)

Fantastic views of Auckland city & one of the last hilltops you are actually able to easily access by car. Just beware that they do lock the park gates at a certain time & if your vehicle is trapped inside, you need to call a security firm to release you. Uncertain if they charge their victims, but it can be a bit of a wait. I've seen people trapped every time, so watch out.

Besides the hike up Mount Victoria just a few blocks away, the North Head Historic Reserve is a free active outdoor activity in Devonport. You can easily walk here along the beach from the ferry port, plus there's tons of free parking if driving. There is an office and many signs sharing the history of the place. The area is a mountain on the coast and offers spectacular views all around, including Devonport and Mount Victoria. You can also see the islands and further out to sea from here. There are winding paths all around, both rings around the mound plus stairs and paths going up to the top. They have clean restrooms at the top as well should you need. It's muddy here and many of the paths are just dirt, so be prepared with proper shoes. If you're exploring the Auckland area, an entire day can be well spent in Devonport. This is a not to be missed activity; Auckland is a beautiful city you can better appreciate from afar.

We took the 807 bus here from the ferry & followed the trails upward. Magnificent views were enjoyed all the way up. There were clean bathrooms, magnificent views of Auckland, beaches, sailboats, and hand gliders. Maori history dates back to here, 4 aboriginal villages were fortified at this site. It's an important icon for the Maori. I wandered into the south battery, through dark tunnels and ruins. These tunnels were built as a defense against the Russians in the 1880s. Initially it was armed with a 64 pound gun and disappearing gun was added in 1888. This massive gun recoiled into the gun pit after firing to reload safely out of enemy site. There's a complex tunnel system linking the gun pit with magazine storing ammunition, and observation post, gun crew quarters and the engine room. The navy museum is below us right on the harbor protecting Auckland.

Ahh North Head, so many good times. Situated in Devonport, it's right in the middle of great beaches, great restaurants and beautiful homes. North Head is a destination in it's own right though. When I was younger we used to take cardboard boxes and slide down the hills. I remember lots of laughing and lots of biddy-bids in my clothes. Then I went through a stage of heading up there with a couple of drinks and the car stereo. It was always a great way to spend a night. And now, I like to walk up there in the weekend, maybe run if I'm feeling good. Feeling puffed has its perks when you're on top of the world. Alternatively, I like to grab some fish and chips and spend the evening watching the sun set over Auckland city. You can see massive amounts of Auckland from the summit including Rangitoto Island, The Harbour bridge and the sea. Beautiful Auckland from a great vantage point.

An adventure waiting to happen, North Head Historic Reserve is a collection of old military tunnels, cannons and bunkers to explore. Back in the days when they thought New Zealand would be invaded by Russia in the late 1800s, they built this fortress, but it was never used. Much to my excitement, it's dark and spooky inside, either begging for a rendition of Phantom of the Opera, or a thrilling horror movie. Take care bouncing around the unpredictable terrain, but have plenty of fun finding new holes and caves, as well as learn a bit of NZ history. The cannons are a great photo opportunity, so be sure to climb up and take a few pictures with your daring friends. Close to the classy beach resort of Devonport, after your adventure, be sure to head down there and enjoy a well-deserved coffee.

This is a perfect activity rain or shine with kids. Take a torch and explore the tunnels. Beautiful vantage point from North Head back to the city and across to Rangitito.

Top of the tourist to-do list in Auckland. North Head boasts a view out to Rangitoto and over the Gulf on one side and back over Devonport across to Auckland City on the other. This once-was fortress has tunnels and bunkers to explore for the adventurous and many a picnic spot for the more relaxed at heart. If you're keen enough to walk all the way up and/or interested in the history of this mountain you'll come across a small building at the top that's been transformed into a small cinema which plays a short film on the story of North Head (or Maungaika as it was once known). It even has computer generated imaging of how the artillery would have worked and shows how Maungaika as it would have looked in the day - awesome!

Auckland's tangible war history is thankfully thin on the ground but there was a time when the threat of invation seemed very real and this place was built in the late 1800s to protect us from the Russians. Before that it was a significant site for Maori and you can see why - it affords the most amazing panoramic views of all that is wonderful about Auckland; the beaches, the harbour and the city skyline. And of course allows maximum visibility of any incoming enemy. The mountain is another of our ancient volcanic cones and is delightfully full of tunnels, dungeons and military relics. I'm not sure if you can still come here at night to freak yourself and your friends out but even during the day it can be foreboding. It's incredible that this is a free attraction because it's one of the best our city has to offer. You can even climb right to the top and watch a movie explaining its history, which is well worth doing if you have the time.I'm not sure if it's PC and it's probably a practice that will be shortly banned in the interests of preserving the site's archaeology, but watching kids slide down the bumpy slopes on bin bags or flattened cardboard boxes is just such fun. They actually get a bit of speed on and the facial expressions are classic. It's one of the many reasons our kids love coming here and I like the fact that it can be a really active day (if you want it to be) so everyone gets some fresh air and exercise. North Head truly is one of the best days out in Auckland.

Great historic walk with stunning views. I did it in 2.5 hours - that's walking and constantly stopping for photos. Do take a bottle of water with you. There is parking available at the base and closer to the summit.

North Head is one of those places that is endlessly interesting. For one my inner geologist never ceases to be amazed by the exposed layers of tephra on the seaward side - the history of the land literally in your face as you walk past. The war relics like the tunnels and cannons are equally interesting for the kid seeking adventure or the history buff. The contours speak of Maori habitation back in the pre-European times. The slopes make for perfect surfaces for sliding down on cardboard. Finally, the views to my eye are the best in Auckland - city on one side, sea on the other - gorgeous. So many wonderful memories here - endless childhood days mucking about in the tunnels and sliding down on cardboard (real estate signs are the best!), summers days spent up there with a pencil trying to capture the view on paper, my first time putting my arm around my girlfriend (there's a spot near one of the cannons that is "ours"). What a place.

A short walk or even shorter drive up to the summit that has cool underground tunnels for exploration as well as a scenic journey to the top. Stunning 360 views of Cheltenham beach behind the head, Waitemata Harbour, Auckland city skyline, Mount Victoria Reserve nearby and the Hauraki Gulf. Very cool secret pathway to secluded bays and Cheltenham Beach as well. First used by indigenous Maori for defence purposes then becoming a significant historical coastal defence site in New Zealand, it still retains its history with its military tunnels, disappearing gun, fortifications and old stone kitchen that plays a film about the summit complex. An enjoyable way to spend the day either to soak up the sun with gorgeous views and a picnic, play amongst the defences of the past military history or slide down the side of the head on cardboard boxes. North Head is a volcanic cone worth visiting. Definitely take your visiting oversea friends to show them the beauty in Auckland and it's surroundings.

I love this place and I'm always excited to take people here who have never been before. There are so many old war relics to discover (cannons, fortifications and such), and creepy, dark, cold bunkers which become a bit of a maze if you're not careful. I recommend bringing a torch so that you can see a little better in there. Not only can you become an archaeologist for a day, the views from the top of this lookout are fantastic out over the water. There are also a few tracks to walk around with nearby beaches and parks. Also if you're into fishing, there are some pretty cool spots along the rocks. I've never actually caught anything, but some of the places look as if they do have potential.

I have so many great memories of this place and right now I'm feeling a bit sad that it's been a while since I've been here so I'm making a mental note to return soon. The views from the top of North Head are amazing. These views alone make it worth the trip. It's such a special place to check out with friends, family, tourists or even just your special someone. You feel like you're somewhere a little bit unreal and you can soak in the views from every angle. Besides the scenery there are awesome things to stumble upon here! I remember being scared of exploring the tunnels when I was younger because war horror stories kept popping into my head and my imagination started running wild. Now I'm older I can just appreciate them all for what they are and how significant they are in our history. Man after writing this I really can't wait to return. I might pack a picnic and head over there right now.

Perched up in the corner of Devonport, the North Head Historic Reserve is worth visiting to appreciate its historical significance, and worth re-visiting as a great place to chill out on a sunny day. Today, the breathtaking view serves only as an aesthetic leisure, but this view was once an important military utility - the North Head Reserve was used as a strategic vantage point for early European soldiers. You can explore the tunnels which interconnect various military bunkers that are positioned around the reserve. You can also take a path down to a beautiful cove, secluded on one side by a cliff face, great place for a swim. If you go on a weekday you might get the whole place to yourself.