Visit devonport auckland, south island, new zealand. If the tunnels were the secret weapon of the viet cong, the tunnel rats were the unsung heroes of the american forces. Stunning beaches, miltary history, boutique shops and local events. Tunnels book 1 mass market paperback february 1, 2009. New members are always welcome to join the association. By 1909 devonport was a naval base, with a deepwater anchorage at stanley bay. Take a selfguided walk through tunnels and other features of the areas.
Our language collections consist of books, music cds, and magazines in more than 30 languages. From 1944, it was then used as naval storage for depth charges. Doing devonport in auckland taking the ferry catching the fullers ferry to devonport is one of the nicest days outings you can have in auckland. This meant that most of the battery was underground. The reserve is approximately 16 km from downtown auckland by car taking around 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. At the end of the nineteenth century, maunga uika now known by the unimaginative name of north head was fortified all over again. After the european settlement of tamaki makaurauauckland in the 1840s, maungauikanorth head became the first pilot station guiding ships into the harbour. The entrance we used to other tunnels was from a lower gun pit which still had the gun in place. However, the mazelike series of tunnels have frequent exits so there is no worry of. At devonport library, we have books in the following languages. Aerial oblique view of antiaircraft gun positions on the corner of trig road and spedding road. Whangaparaoa tunnels national museum of the royal new. Just across auckland harbour from the central business district, the historic suburb of devonport is full of charm and character.
Its easily accessible by foot and the walk typically takes around 1020 minutes depending on how many times you stop and admire the views. Listen to devonport s audio walking tour, or find the best places to sleep and dine in devonport. We explored some creepy tunnels at north head i love creepy things. Prior to 1824, it was called plymouth dock, as it was the site of hmnb devonport. No davenports, but plenty of places to rest your derriere and delve into a good book. It includes artificial chambers but excludes new zealand caves and new zealand mines. If you are going to devonport pack a torch and take the kids to north head at the end of devonport.
When we walked around north head we missed out on seeing the many tunnels and gun placements because we did not know they were there. Devonport is best suited for walkers who have some time to wander up to the old gun emplacements on an extinct volcano mt victoria. Davenport sounds a lot like devonport this is what i was reminiscing about as we strolled through the town of devonport. Devonport dockyard deep air raid shelter cann tunnel. You can then take a walk through the tunnels and bunkers to get up close to the disappearing gun installed on north headmaungauika in 1887. Welcome to the devonport field gun association website. Bookmark is situated in historic devonport, just a short 10 minute ferry ride from downtown auckland. The adjacent naval base was the main focus of devonport for many decades. The western entrance to the tunnels underneath the gun is near number 7 on the map. The site is designed to provide a focal point for members of the association. Its in devonport at the mouth of the waitemata harbour. I am 80 years old now and remember war years in devonport and the little bag of rubber we wore around our necks to bite on. How do i prebook my ferry trip or tour online to avoid ticket queues.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Devonport vlog haunted tunnels and sunburnt youtube. Browse boutique shops and relax at one of devonport s casualcool cafes and restaurants. And, that further gas testing at the summit gun pit location was required because the toxic and explosive gas toluene and naphalene gas discovered during the 199294 doc investigation had not been retested since that time. In a new bbc history magazine book 100 places that made britain, david musgrove asked historians to nominate key sites in britains story. Spending a day exploring the tunnels and having a picnic is strongly advised. Our selfguides take you around north head so that you do not miss out on the fun bits. The grassy slopes of the hill offer numerous picnic spots with widespread views over the city, harbour and islands of the hauraki gulf. Seriously, this is the place of my childhood dreams with so many tunnels and hidden rooms carved into the hillside.
See the complete tunnels series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. The volcanic cone offers incredible 360 degree views over the hauraki gulf and across to the city. If the tunnels were deep enough, then there was no need for any bursterslab. From quirky shops to great cafes, lovely walks along the beaches or up one of the three volcanic cones including gun implacements and tunnels on northhead devonport is a great spot, especially if you catch the ferry to get there. The north head historic reserve is open from 6am 10pm seven days, with the vehicle gates open from 6am 6pm and is located within easy walking distance of the devonport high street and ferry terminal. North head guided tour explore the north head tunnels. Torpedo bay navy museum devonport, auckland paranormal nz. In their 1985 book, the tunnels of cu chi, bbc reporters tom mangold and john penycate told the story of the american tunnel rats, a saga they learned about for the first time from the viet cong, who admired the tunnel rats as the best soldiers among the american forces. When grace and i set out for devonport this morning we did not realize that the wine and food festival was today. Welcome to bookmark, purveyors of quality secondhand, used and rare books. Coastal fortifications were constructed in new zealand in two main waves. You can also catch one of the regular ferries from downtown auckland to devonport wharf. For anyone who isnt familiar with a davenport, its what my grandma used to call a sofa.
Mount victoria lookout walk visit devonport, auckland. Suitable for most ages and levels of fitness and mobility, designed with flat shoes or running shoes in mind. On north head, explore military tunnels, bunkers and gun emplacements before. North head maungauika historic walk aa new zealand. Military facilities were extended during both world wars, and a maze of tunnels built beneath north head. Maungauika is a volcano forming a headland called north head at the east end of the waitemata harbour in auckland, new zealand, in the suburb of devonport. The eastern entrance to the tunnels beneath the gun is down by the historic tennis court flat area to the left of the gun when looking out to sea. Disappearing gun at north head historic reserve in devonport. A historical highlight of the installation is the large disappearing gun, one of a few remaining in the world. Mount victoria is one of devonport s famous landmarks. Maungauikanorth head is located in devonport at the northern headland of the waitemata harbour. The devonport field gun crew can trace its history back to the first inter command.
Torpedo bay itself is a site of exceptional significance, having been a key part of aucklands early defence system as well as having been continuously occupied by new zealand military forces since 1880. Mountain views were great and tunnels around gun turrets most interesting. In this extract, writer and historian james holland puts forward dover war tunnels in kent. There are several vantage points and great views of auckland city across the channel, great for photography. Tunnels and bunkers were dug into the mountain and huge guns imported from britain were installed.
On foot from the devonport wharf, mount victoria can be reached by following devonport s high street, victoria road. This is a link page for railway, road and waterway tunnels, including hydroelectric intakes and tailraces and gun battery tunnels. North head holds a military tunnel complex, gun emplacements and fortifications and is well signposted with numbered descriptions and orange markers. Bookmark quality secondhand and antiquarian books bought. Enjoyed this informative one hour tour around devonport and close environs with leader a steve who share very interesting knowledge of area and history being a long term resident and house owner. Torpedo bay, on the shores of the waitemata harbour in devonport, is now the home of the navy museum. The old gun emplacements and underground connecting tunnels are restored and open for you to explore bring a torch. The latest association news and events are posted here. Devonport remains the home of the new zealand navy. All that could be seen on the surface were the emplacements for the 9. Devonport, northhead and tunnels devonport, auckland. North head is an old fortified settlement with an old disappearing gun, bunkers, and tunnels galore to explore. The north shore te ara encyclopedia of new zealand.
It was in the 1880s when the russian scare came about that maungauikanorth head became the main military defence for auckland. In the mid1880s gun emplacements were built to ward off a feared invasion from russia. Getting there maungauikanorth head is located in devonport at the northern headland of the waitemata harbour. Visit the victorian village of devonport aa new zealand. Only 12 minutes from the bustling auckland city, devonport is a great spot to admire the. This club gets their thrills by hunting humans in the tunnel systems located under new york city amongst the homeless population. This time, the hill was driven with a honeycomb of tunnels housing bunkers, barracks, magazines and gun emplacements. The manhattan hunt club tells the story of a young man who is falsely accused of a heinous crime and finds himself in the clutches of an affluent club who have dangerous plans for him.
Ferries, the occasional ship and a steady stream of pleasure. Devonport tunnels north head, auckland, new zealand. Look out for the complex of tunnels, guns including a disappearing gun from 1886 and other fortifications. Devonport explorer tours auckland 2020 all you need to. They typically included gun emplacements, pill boxes, fire control or observation. We visited recently and enjoyed climbing the hillsides, walking through the maze of the military tunnels, examining the cannons and gun encasements, and we learned about the history through a free 20minute movie in the old stone kitchen. North head tunnel system under the south battery area, devonport, auckland, 2006. It has stunning views over the hauraki gulf and inner harbour. Devonport field gun crew royal tournament 1984 devonport field gun crew on. Take the first left once you enter the tunnel here. At devonport, in 1864, a separate, purposebuilt steam yard was opened on a selfcontained site at keyham, just to the north of morice yard and a tunnel was built linking the new yard with the old. The eastern entrance to the tunnels beneath the gun is down by the historic tennis. There is a walk around the outside, down by the oceon, plus all the gun turrets to explore and the tunnels.
Make your way to pier 1, ferry terminal at 99 quay st. Explore the underground tunnels, gun emplacements and fortifications at north head is a must. The book tunnel vision refocused covers this topic background in detail. We make our way back to our base on devonport wharf riding uphill and down dale through the back streets of the village to admire the victorian. This is a category containing media related to the historical town of devonport. Welcome to our facebook page to discuss some of aucklands forgotten military history and maybe even stumble upon a way into the.