Devonport

This historic seaside suburb is easily accessible by a 10 minute ferry journey from Auckland. From the ferry terminus you can walk to Mt Victoria or North Head to get panoramic harbour views. Devonport is a seaside suburb with historic origins, known for friendly small village atmosphere. The charming village has an outlookover the harbour and gulf, the best views being from the twin volcanoes, North Head and Mount Victoria, both of which are well worth the walk.

You can picnic under the Pohutakawa trees in the Windsor reserve opposite the Ferry Terminal. The main street, Victoria Road, has numerous cafés and small restaurants. Food and night-life is mostly in keeping with the heritage of English traditions such as Fish and Chips, Pub meals and European style food being the main choices. Prices are moderate and the ambience is more likely to be charming and warm than lively. Residents of Devonport have the good fortune to live in an 'urban village'; a walkable place not dominated by the car. While it is suffering from 'gentrification' and the loss of the range of shops which would allow it to approach being a sustainable community, it being as the website says, 'easier to take a bikram yoga class than to buy a hammer on the neighbourhood’s main thoroughfare" it retains a village identity in which most essentials of life (and art) are easily accessible.

Image with thanks to Te Papa:

Ferry Boat leaving Victoria Wharf, Devonport, circa 1909, Devonport, by Muir & Moodie studio. Te Papa (O.019315

Waterfront Villas by Barry Ross Smith

Devonport by Bill MacCormick