A Guide To Devonport - A Historic 'Seaside Village' Minutes From Auckland
- Helen
- Feb 19, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 4, 2019
Located a 12 minute ferry ride from central Auckland, with views back to the city skyline is the historic village of Devonport.
This charming seaside location, dating from the 1800s, is popular with many visitors to Auckland and on visiting it is easy to understand why.
Devonport offers a relaxed atmosphere with pretty Victorian style buildings to admire, boutiques and galleries to peruse, cafes and restaurants to enjoy, alongside a beautiful and historic coastline and volcanic sites to explore.
Having spent time on a house-sit for several weeks that was just a short distance from Devonport, it soon turned into a favourite spot of mine to visit for a morning or an afternoon and I came to know it well.
Therefore, if you want to prepare for a trip to Devonport please read on and I will share all I discovered and can recommend to do in this attractive, well appointed village.
A Complete Guide To Devonport
Getting to Devonport
If you are travelling to Devonport from Auckland city then your best transport option is the ferry as they run regularly from Auckland's ferry terminal and take just 12 minutes.
By car, if this is your preferred means of transport, Devonport is a very short distance from the north side of the Harbour Bridge with good sign-postings to the village.
There is free parking available centrally, although with some timing restrictions.
For ferry information see www.fullers.co.nz
What To Do In Devonport
Once you reach Devonport, the difficulty is deciding what to see and do first!
There are many options...
- Shopping
Within the centre of Devonport, Lower Victoria Road has been a commercial shopping area since the 1860s.
Today Devonport is said to offer one of the best collections of Victorian and Edwardian commercial buildings in Auckland.
The shops here are historic, largely boutique and independent, with a variety of goods on offer.
If you enjoy perusing higher end boutique shops, gift stores and specialist retailers then Devonport will more than please you.
If you happen to be staying longer in Devonport, or want somewhere to buy some picnic goods for the beach, then there is also a good supermarket located just off Victoria Road.
- Arts
Devonport is renowned for being a location that lures artists and others with a creative flair!
Perhaps, not surprising given the beauty and tranquillity of the surroundings here that artists, writers, potters and other craftsmen reside in Devonport, drawing inspiration from their environment.
Devonport hosts an annual Devonport Arts Festival, but outside this time you will still find local art galleries and shops, alongside some public murals providing a genuine feel for the local arts scene.
- Torpedo Bay Navy Museum
The national museum of the New Zealand navy is found in Devonport.
Devonport itself has strong naval connections and was named after the Devonport naval base in England.
The museum houses collections that tell the story of New Zealand's naval history, which include examples of weapons, medals, art, personal relics, naval instruments and clothing, photos, maps and much more.
Free to visit and fun for kids to learn and explore (as well as adults!) the museum is worth a bit of your time.
- Mount Victoria
Auckland has almost 50 volcanic sites dotted around the region and Mount Victoria, in the heart of Devonport is the highest on the north shore.
The mount here is known to have been used as an important 'pa' or village dwelling by Maori people and some evidence of this still remains to be seen.
In Maori the site here is called Takarunga.
Following the European settlers arrival, Mount Victoria was developed into an important military lookout point.
A short walk from the centre of Devonport will take you to the top of Mount Victoria (approximately 15-20 minutes), with plenty of time to stop, catch your breath and admire the views as you go!
From the summit you will be rewarded with stunning 360 degree views across Auckland - from the city skyline, the bay and surrounding islands and to the north of this beautiful region.
- The Victoria Theatre / Cinema & Devonport Gelato
Following your epic journey up Mount Victoria(!), on your way back down into the main part of Devonport, take time to admire The Victoria Theatre Cinema at the top of Victoria Road.
The cinema here is the oldest purpose-built cinema still standing and operating in the southern hemisphere, built as it was in 1912.
A beautiful old fashioned building and small cinema venue that shows current day films alongside occasional special live performances.
Also located within the cinema but facing onto the street is Devonport Gelato - a very popular spot and one you might like to sample. Making the best Italian Gelato from New Zealand ingredients, the frequently found queues here speak for themselves!
- Devonport Chocolates
Devonport might be famous for it's naval history, volcanic look-outs, great arts and old cinema but forget all that... what any chocolate lover needs to know is that Devonport is also home to it's very own boutique chocolate maker - Devonport Chocolates!
Forget your Cadbury's or Mars... the chocolate made in Devonport is the real deal, luxury product you feel you shouldn't quite splash out on for yourself but really, really should!
Family owned and run, Devonport Chocolates set out 25 years ago to make chocolates true to the traditions of Europe's very best chocolatiers, while bringing in flavours and ingredients from the Pacific. The results are stunning to look at and delicious!
Visit Devonport Chocolates tucked just off Lower Victoria Road and you can see their products being hand crafted through a window in their store.
- North Head or Maungauika
Had your fill of gelato and chocolate? Time to visit North Head!
North Head, or Maungauika to give it it's Maori title, is another volcanic formation - this one forming a northern headland into Waitemata Harbour.
Forming part of a historic reserve, the site here is considered the most significant historical coastal defence site in New Zealand.
There are walks around the headland you can undertake depending on your time and energy level and around the site are military tunnels, bunkers and gun cannons to explore.
From the top of North Head you will also be rewarded with fantastic 360 degree views - back to the city, Devonport, the coastline to the north and out into the harbour and surrounding outlying islands.
- Beaches
If you want to appreciate safe, family friendly, white sandy beaches that are just a stones throw from Auckland city then Devonport's beaches are there to be enjoyed.
Devonport Beach itself is always popular, located as it is in the heart of Devonport, close to the shops and amenities and offering safe swimming with the views back to the city.
Travel a bit further around the coast from Devonport to the other side of North Head and you will find Cheltenham Beach - a beautiful long white sandy beach, great for solitude or family fun.
To read more about Cheltenham Beach and Auckland's other best beaches, check out my earlier post here.
Eating & Drinking In Devonport
Devonport offers over 50 eating and drinking establishments, giving you plenty of options if you want to wine, dine, afternoon tea or simply refresh!
Like much of New Zealand, the cafe culture in Devonport is strong and you will not struggle to find a great place to serve you a flat white or afternoon tea.
Fish and chip shops are available if you want to sit by the sea while munching on some traditional fare or sit down restaurants offer a range of cuisines from around the world.
For those looking for a bar, these too are to be enjoyed, including traditional pubs, alongside more contemporary options.
Whatever your desire, Devonport will not see you going hungry or thirsty!
Overall, Devonport is a village so close to Auckland city that it would be a crime to miss it. Offering plenty to see, do and explore you can easily spend as much or as little time here as you choose and not grow bored.
The village was certainly a favourite spot of mine to enjoy and a beautiful escape from city life.
**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**
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