Auckland was a long way away and apparently equipped with aircraft that were either obsolescent or american. Claims of concealed tunnels, buried explosives and priceless planes have swirled around aucklands old north head army fort for decades. Featuring devonport, auckland cbd and takapuna beach, rangitoto island. Work is underway at maungauika north head in devonport to. 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. 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.
Its commanding views over the hauraki gulf and inner. Since butler released his first book, tunnel vision, in 2011 he says he has. Seriously, this is the place of my childhood dreams with so many tunnels and hidden rooms carved into the hillside. I remember seeing a lookout point on the seaward cliff of north head. Mount victoria and north head twin peaks of view mount. While official records state there is nothing in the sealed. Maintenance of maungauika north head tunnels underway scoop. Just across auckland harbour from the central business district, the historic suburb of devonport is full of charm and character. North head is a small strategic headland at the mouth of aucklands waitemata harbour.
Devonport north head tunnels 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. 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. 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 head historical reserve is considered to be the most significant historical coastal defence site in new zealand. Person seriously hurt after fall at north head, auckland. They seem to be looking for a way to bring auckland house prices down, maybe this is it. If you are going to devonport pack a torch and take the kids to north head at the end of devonport. North head waitemata harbour coastal defence engineering.
North head auckland, new zealand attractions lonely planet. We discovered the newly opened october 2010 torpedo bay museum and cafe at the base of north head. Support prebudget govt books reflect swift action to protect new. Devonport tunnels north head, auckland, new zealand. 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, a volcano with the most spectacular views over the city, inner harbour.
North headmaungauika to be predator free scoop news. There are still many military tunnels and bunkers to be explored. 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. A st john ambulance spokeswoman said the injured person was taken to auckland city hospital. North head is an old fortified settlement with an old disappearing gun, bunkers, and tunnels galore to explore. We set out with our water bottle and our camera, and not much else. In this documentary, philip alpers explores theories that a hidden tunnel network contains tonnes of decaying ammunition and two old boeing aeroplanes. Neither would appeal to airmen and maintenance staff trained on the latest raf technology and who had no prior experience with the auckland. Doc, ngati whatua orakei and auckland council are working together to make the whole. 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. Riddled with old military tunnels, auckland s north head has long been the focus of speculation.
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. 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. Archaeologist dave veart sets about finding the truth. The natural spring was used to supply the battery with water, and we learn there are 26 vents throughout the tunnel system. A tale of secret tunnels, buried aeroplanes and lost ammunition under north head has remained an urban myth for almost a century. Posts about north head auckland written by family matters nz. 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. We then walked down the track to the beach where they spent hours running round the rocks finding lots of sea life. North heads disappearing gun could be in for a makeover. Exploring old military tunnels in auckland march 29, 2016 by rhonda albom 64 comments north head historic reserve lies across the. A person has been seriously hurt in a fall at north head on aucklands north shore. It also gives tourists something to really do in the city if they cant stray too far from the cruise ship. The site was protected as part of hauraki gulf maritime park in 1972 and listed as.
In this documentary philip alpers explores theories that a. 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. You can also catch one of the regular ferries from downtown auckland to devonport wharf. Take a selfguided walk through tunnels and other features of the areas military history. North head historic reserve lies across the bay from auckland city, at the end of devonport. Alexander turnbull library, wellington, new zealand. Its spawned conspiracy theories, court cases and allegations of a. The north head tunnels paranormal nz haunted auckland. Maintenance of maungauika north head tunnels underway. Its riddled with tunnels, started at the end of the 19th century in response to the russian threat and extended during wwi and wwii. 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. Welcome to our facebook page to discuss some of aucklands forgotten military history and maybe even stumble upon a way into the.
There is a walk around the outside, down by the oceon, plus all the gun turrets to explore and the tunnels. 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. 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. 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. Riddled with old military tunnels, aucklands north head has long been the focus of speculation. 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.
Tie up those laces and walk the length of tamaki drive. North head historic reserve auckland central 2020 all you. Maungauikanorth head is located in devonport at the northern headland of the waitemata harbour. Beautiful sneery of north head tunnels in devonport on a sunny aucklands day.
Maungauika is a volcano forming a headland called north head at the east end of the waitemata harbour in auckland. 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. Work is underway at maungauika north head in devonport to maintain parts of the historic defence tunnels. The reserve is approximately 16 km from downtown auckland by car taking around 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
Why i love the albert park tunnels greater auckland. North head maungauika historic walk aa new zealand. Its unique as a young city, we have an extreme disadvantage in that we dont have many landmark selling points. Its one of the first places we tend to take visitors to enjoy the expansive panoramic views of the city and the surrounding waters. North head was a maori pa and is still a fortress of sorts, with the navy maintaining a presence.
This is the type of project that makes auckland stand out from the crowd. North head is a first step along the path to a predator free devonport and then a pest free auckland. Visitors can view a visual film history of north head showing at the old stone kitchen built in 1885. North head is full of history and gorgeous views of cheltenham beach, waitemata harbour, auckland city, mount victoria reserve and the hauraki gulf. Explore defences that were placed on the headland to protect auckland from. Core testing is also scheduled to help determine the future programme of general upkeep. Making the announcement today at the historic doc managed reserve, ms barry says the initial target is rats.
Hi, im william, follow me as i show you around new zealand in my beautiful stealth camping van. Ok, ok, so we know you may get a little fomo, but head to auckland airport and watch the planes landing and taking off. The north head tunnels, north shore 25th november 2012 north head is a small strategic headland at the mouth of aucklands waitemata harbour. 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. The mystery of north head rnzn communicators association. Join me as i explore the old military tunnels of north head, auckland new zealand. And your camera to capture the wonderful views overlooking the hauraki gulf. The views across auckland are spectacular kids werent impressed. Ruffell north head in the 1870s before the bulding of the fort. North head has the better public tunnels, but i am certainly interested to venture deeper if it is possible. Travel to the top of 2 of aucklands volcanoes for stunning 360 degree views.
North head historic reserve is an enjoyable and scenic 20 minute walk from devonport ferry terminal. Are there explosives buried beneath aucklands north head. North head historic reserve in auckland my guide auckland. North head the tunnels, guns, searchlights and defences that were placed here to protect auckland from attack. 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. Some of the tunnels were so dark, and not for the faint of heart, especially when exploring on your own.
The walk is an opportunity to enjoy views of the hauraki gulf and the auckland skyline. The other thing to do while you are here is to walk to maungauika or north head. The work includes reinforcing some of the original iron struts within the concrete structures and giving additional strength to lintels above doorways. Maungauika is the maori name, maunga means mountain so the name means mountain of uika. The 10 best north head historic reserve maungauika tours. Map of north head walks department of conservation. North head holds a military tunnel complex, gun emplacements and fortifications and is well signposted with numbered descriptions and orange markers. Kiwi vanman, exploring the lost tunnels of north head. 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.
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