The waterview tunnel is a key piece of the western ring route, a 48km motorway route through the west of auckland, connecting manukau, the city, west auckland and the north shore. Devonport north head tunnels auckland, new zealand. While official records state there is nothing in the sealed. The north head tunnels, north shore 25th november 2012 north head is a small strategic headland at the mouth of aucklands waitemata harbour. Featuring devonport, auckland cbd and takapuna beach, rangitoto island. North head historic reserve auckland central 2020 all you. The other thing to do while you are here is to walk to maungauika or north head. Maintenance of maungauika north head tunnels underway scoop. Since butler released his first book, tunnel vision, in 2011 he says he has. There are still many military tunnels and bunkers to be explored. North head has the better public tunnels, but i am certainly interested to venture deeper if it is possible. A person has been seriously hurt in a fall at north head on aucklands north shore. Why i love the albert park tunnels greater auckland.
Support prebudget govt books reflect swift action to protect new. Riddled with old military tunnels, auckland s north head has long been the focus of speculation. North head, a volcano with the most spectacular views over the city, inner harbour. Its unique as a young city, we have an extreme disadvantage in that we dont have many landmark selling points. The story i contributed, the caverns of the unnamed one, commences in presentday auckland, with the discovery of a mysterious unidentified man, washed up on the shores of rangitoto island. North head maungauika historic walk aa new zealand. The views across auckland are spectacular kids werent impressed.
We discovered the newly opened october 2010 torpedo bay museum and cafe at the base of north head. Core testing is also scheduled to help determine the future programme of general upkeep. We set out with our water bottle and our camera, and not much else. Welcome to our facebook page to discuss some of aucklands forgotten military history and maybe even stumble upon a way into the. Ruffell north head in the 1870s before the bulding of the fort. They seem to be looking for a way to bring auckland house prices down, maybe this is it. North head holds a military tunnel complex, gun emplacements and fortifications and is well signposted with numbered descriptions and orange markers. And your camera to capture the wonderful views overlooking the hauraki gulf. North head waitemata harbour coastal defence engineering. Doc, ngati whatua orakei and auckland council are working together to make the whole.
North head was formed during a series of volcanic eruptions around 50,000 years ago making it one of the older volcanic cones in auckland. The 10 best north head historic reserve maungauika tours. Posts about north head auckland written by family matters nz. Work is underway at maungauika north head in devonport to maintain parts of the historic defence tunnels. North head is a small strategic headland at the mouth of aucklands waitemata harbour.
Its commanding views over the hauraki gulf and inner harbour have made it an important lookout and defence site for centuries, first for early maori inhabitants and later for european settlers. Known for its sweeping views over the harbour and the hauraki gulf, since 1885 the head was used by the military as a coastal defence installation, which left a network of accessible old bunkers and tunnels as its legacy, forming part of. North headmaungauika to be predator free scoop news. It also gives tourists something to really do in the city if they cant stray too far from the cruise ship.
Seriously, this is the place of my childhood dreams with so many tunnels and hidden rooms carved into the hillside. Explore defences that were placed on the headland to protect auckland from. Alexander turnbull library, wellington, new zealand. Maungauikanorth head is located in devonport at the northern headland of the waitemata harbour. Maintenance of maungauika north head tunnels underway. Mount victoria and north head twin peaks of view mount. The walk is an opportunity to enjoy views of the hauraki gulf and the auckland skyline. North head is an old fortified settlement with an old disappearing gun, bunkers, and tunnels galore to explore. Join me as i explore the old military tunnels of north head, auckland new zealand.
If you do head out to north head be sure to bring a torch with you to explore the tunnels and batteries. North head was a maori pa and is still a fortress of sorts, with the navy maintaining a presence. Stay on trackget your detailed guide and map an005 north head devonport over at our walks store and our book store one of 12 walks featured in our books volcanoes and coastal part 1. North head historic reserve in auckland my guide auckland. With very little planned, weve decided to take our small boys on an expedition to north head, a former gun emplacement and observation post, which has, you guessed it, tunnels. 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. North head historic reserve is an enjoyable and scenic 20 minute walk from devonport ferry terminal. If you are going to devonport pack a torch and take the kids to north head at the end of devonport. Person seriously hurt after fall at north head, auckland. Its commanding views over the hauraki gulf and inner. Enjoy a picnic with picturesque views of the hauraki gulf and auckland harbour, explore with a selfguided walk and see the disappearing gun, one of a few remaining in the world.
Map of north head walks department of conservation. Its one of the first places we tend to take visitors to enjoy the expansive panoramic views of the city and the surrounding waters. Making the announcement today at the historic doc managed reserve, ms barry says the initial target is rats. As the tale unfolds, the reader is taken back to 1950s auckland and we find out what transpires when secondhand book dealer, frank woodburn, comes across a. Some of the tunnels were so dark, and not for the faint of heart, especially when exploring on your own. As a young country, new zealand is somewhat lacking in good urban myths and folklore tales but aucklands iconic north head historic reserve has always been shrouded in mystery. A st john ambulance spokeswoman said the injured person was taken to auckland city hospital. North head historic reserve lies across the bay from auckland city, at the end of devonport. North head auckland, new zealand attractions lonely planet. Conservation minister maggie barry says maungauikanorth head on aucklands north shore devonport peninsula is to become predator free, a first step towards a predator free auckland. North head is one of the oldest of approximately 50 volcanic cones in the auckland volcanic field having been formed over 50,000 years ago in a series of great volcanic explosions. There are a couple of tunnels you can still walk through but alas, most of the interesting tunnels have been closed off buy the short sighted ness of the devonport city council north head at 65m and mt victoria at 81m are two of the smallest volcanic mountains in auckland. Tie up those laces and walk the length of tamaki drive.
Hi, im william, follow me as i show you around new zealand in my beautiful stealth camping van. North head the tunnels, guns, searchlights and defences that were placed here to protect auckland from attack. Archaeologist dave veart sets about finding the truth. Are there explosives buried beneath aucklands north head. There is a walk around the outside, down by the oceon, plus all the gun turrets to explore and the tunnels. Just across auckland harbour from the central business district, the historic suburb of devonport is full of charm and character. Neither would appeal to airmen and maintenance staff trained on the latest raf technology and who had no prior experience with the auckland.
I once lived at the base of north head and locals considered the story of the two aircraft being hidden under the mound as fantasy. We then walked down the track to the beach where they spent hours running round the rocks finding lots of sea life. You can also catch one of the regular ferries from downtown auckland to devonport wharf. A tale of secret tunnels, buried aeroplanes and lost ammunition under north head has remained an urban myth for almost a century. Maungauika is a volcano forming a headland called north head at the east end of the waitemata harbour in auckland. Ok, ok, so we know you may get a little fomo, but head to auckland airport and watch the planes landing and taking off. North head historical reserve is considered to be the most significant historical coastal defence site in new zealand. North head is a first step along the path to a predator free devonport and then a pest free auckland. In this documentary philip alpers explores theories that a. The site was protected as part of hauraki gulf maritime park in 1972 and listed as. North head is full of history and gorgeous views of cheltenham beach, waitemata harbour, auckland city, mount victoria reserve and the hauraki gulf. The natural spring was used to supply the battery with water, and we learn there are 26 vents throughout the tunnel system. This is the type of project that makes auckland stand out from the crowd.
Kiwi vanman, exploring the lost tunnels of north head. The north head tunnels paranormal nz haunted auckland. Visitors can view a visual film history of north head showing at the old stone kitchen built in 1885. Much of the equipment was state of the art in its day, but some never became fully operational, and the guns never fired a shot in anger.
I remember seeing a lookout point on the seaward cliff of north head. Its spawned conspiracy theories, court cases and allegations of a. The work includes reinforcing some of the original iron struts within the concrete structures and giving additional strength to lintels above doorways. This school imported the first two aircraft ever built by boeing, and after the school was sold to the government at the time, martin traces what happened to these aircraft, as being pulled apart and stored in the tunnels at the famed fort cautley, north head, auckland, new zealand. Take a selfguided walk through tunnels and other features of the areas military history. Its commanding views over the hauraki gulf and inner harbour have made it an important lookout and defence site for centuries, first for early maori inhabitants and later for european. In this documentary, philip alpers explores theories that a hidden tunnel network contains tonnes of decaying ammunition and two old boeing aeroplanes.
Would be good to try and map the tunnels, and use some decent powered torchessearch lights to illuminate things. Beautiful sneery of north head tunnels in devonport on a sunny aucklands day. Its riddled with tunnels, started at the end of the 19th century in response to the russian threat and extended during wwi and wwii. Known for its sweeping views over the harbour and the hauraki gulf, since 1885 the head was mainly used by the military as a coastal defence installation, which left a network of accessible old bunkers and tunnels as its legacy, forming part of the attraction. Devonport tunnels north head, auckland, new zealand. Riddled with old military tunnels, aucklands north head has long been the focus of speculation. The reserve is approximately 16 km from downtown auckland by car taking around 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. The mystery of north head rnzn communicators association.
Work is underway at maungauika north head in devonport to. Travel to the top of 2 of aucklands volcanoes for stunning 360 degree views. Exploring old military tunnels in auckland march 29, 2016 by rhonda albom 64 comments north head historic reserve lies across the. Rumours have circulated for a hundred years that they have been stored in tunnels under north head on aucklands north shore but extensive searches over the years have come up with nothing. North head if you think its nice, go there twice 19092016 posted in auckland, auckland day trips tagged auckland, beach, devonport, exploring, historical, library, new zealand, north head, torpedo bay, travel, tunnels, used books, viewpoints leave a comment. North heads disappearing gun could be in for a makeover.
Maungauika is the maori name, maunga means mountain so the name means mountain of uika. Auckland was a long way away and apparently equipped with aircraft that were either obsolescent or american. Top 12 places for kids to play, explore and have fun on a family day out out in devonport and cheltenham on the north shore in auckland. Claims of concealed tunnels, buried explosives and priceless planes have swirled around aucklands old north head army fort for decades.
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