Devonport

is a great day trip from Auckland central!

Originally known as Flagstaff, when the flag was raised in 1840, the harbour was excellent for ships, and our Royal New Zealand Navy is based here in Devonport as it was renamed in 1888

You will find a good range of cafes and eating places.I would recommend

• The Stone Oven Cafe and Bakery has takeaway bakery items and meals
• Mecca - which has an interesting glass insert in the floor, and a courtyard at the back
• Manuka
- on the main street, which has excellent pizzas
• Ice It is a bit out of the way along Church St, but it is a pleasant stroll.

• The Devonport Deli is very good.

Cafes and Restaurants

• Devonport Chocolates has decadent handmade chocolates that have won awards.......try the lemon- They are devine!
• Pyrenees Delicatessen is at 87 Vauxhall Rd and well worth seeking out if you have time.They have delicious bread, meats, cheeses etc

Arts and Crafts and Second Hand Book Shops

• Art of this World across the road from the wharf, has a great variety of art and craft works from small to large.
• Art by the Sea on the corner of Church St and Marine Parade is also a wonderful gallery and has some lovely pieces.
• Peter Raos Glass Gallery - has limited edition pieces.
• Flagstaff Gallery has a revolving selection of excellent artworks.

There is an excellent second hand bookshop in the main street, and antique shops, and other shops good to browse.

Parks and Beaches and Museums

• North HeadYou can walk along the waterfront from the ferry.............enjoy the craft shops opposite the clock tower.Carry on to the end, then up the mountain. Or catch a tour bus that runs from the ferry between 10.00am and 3.00pm each day.If you go to the left (facing up) you will find the path that takes you around the edge of the mountain. You can go into the tunnels, from this path. There is a stone kitchen recently turned into a small theatre where you can see a film of the history of the area.The views are beautiful both on the walk and the 360 degree panorama from the top.
• Mt Victoriahas a different view.
Windsor Park - a small park right by the ferry, with a library, and huge shady Moreton Fig trees.
• Mt Cambria Park is along Church St.Combine a walk with lunch at Ice It and if it is Saturday or Sunday afternoon, visit the Devonport Museum open 2-4pm in weekends by Mt Cambria.
• Ngataringa Walkway stretches from Ngataringa Bay to Narrow Neck Beach.

MUSEUMS

• Navy Museum - Recently opened the Navy Museum is found just outside the wire fence of the Naval Base. Go left from the wharf.It has all the naval memorabilia on display.
• The Stone Kitchen - a historic building on North Head it has recently been converted into a small theatre where you can see a film of the history of the area.
• Devonport Museum - by Mt Cambria.Open Sat-Sun- 2-4.00p.m.

  BEACHES

  The loveliest beaches are Cheltenham and Narrow Neck.Safe for swimming with lovely white sand they are popular family beaches. There is a small beach at Torpedo Bay at the end of King Edward parade.Close to the shopping centre and wharf, Devonport Beach is also good for swimming. Stanley Bay is a small beach on the city side at Stanley Point.

  Getting Around

  All transport is focused on the wharf.Here you catch the ferries, while buses and tours leave from outside the ferry building.

  FERRIES

  The Fullers Ferries provide a regular service between the city. You can also catch ferries here to Waiheke Island.They are not as frequent as from the city.

  BUSES

  You can catch buses from outside the ferry building to Takapuna. From here you can change buses to other North Shore destinations.You can also bus into the city.

  SIGHTSEEING

  You can get around quite easily on foot. The Clydesdale Horse drawn cart is a pleasant way to see the town and learn something of the history of this interesting suburb.There are also bus tours up North head that start from the wharf...........they meet the ferries on arrival.

  The tourist information centre is across the road from the wharf in Windsor Park.

  

  Accommodation

  Devonport features several B&B's which are mostly old historic houses, homestays, or for some real luxury, the Esplanade Hotel directly opposite the wharf.
  
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