Devonport’s Village and Volcanic Peaks: A Wheelchair-Friendly Tour

Devonport, with its mix of maritime heritage and volcanic landscapes, is one of New Zealand’s most charming seaside villages. On this wheelchair-friendly tour, you’ll explore a historical naval community where Māori pā sites, colonial architecture, and working shipyards tell the story of Auckland’s seafaring past.

Starting at the Devonport Ferry Terminal beneath the mural of Tāwhirimātea, the Māori weather god, you’ll follow paved paths along Queen’s Parade. You’ll stroll down streets lined with Victorian villas and Edwardian cottages, and wind through the village centre. There, you’ll pass the century-old Vic Devonport theatre, Devonport Library, and the Depot Devonport artspace before reaching Devonport Domain’s cricket grounds.

Along the way, you’ll discover why this nuclear-free community became a haven for artists and activists. You’ll also learn about the Tainui waka landing site, and understand how volcanic cones shaped both Māori settlement and colonial defence. The tour ends at Windsor Reserve and Devonport Beach, where the Alison Clock marks time and views stretch across Waitematā Harbour to Auckland’s Sky Tower.

On this 75-minute walking tour, you’ll have the chance to:

• Walk past the giant Devonport Naval Base HMNZS Philomel, home to the iconic Calliope Dock, and the operational heart of the Royal New Zealand Navy
• Discover the remnants of the Bear Wall, all that remains of Devonport’s failed 1880s pleasure garden
• Explore historical Anne Street, home to one of New Zealand’s highest concentrations of preserved Victorian and Edwardian mansions
• Learn about the Tainui waka landing site at Torpedo Bay, where Polynesian voyagers first arrived around 1350, establishing the settlements that became modern Devonport
• See Old Albert, the massive 1893 Moreton Bay fig tree
• Stand beside the ”Untidy Soldier” war memorial, uniquely depicting a Kiwi soldier with unbuttoned tunic and untied bootlaces in a moment of reflection
• Enjoy Devonport Chocolates’ handcrafted treats

By the end of this tour, you’ll have experienced the village where ferries have connected communities for over 160 years, making it Auckland’s most accessible maritime heritage destination.