About 15 minutes walk from the Manse, Mt Victoria is a must-do in Devonport if only for the fantastic views of Devonport, the harbour and Auckland City.
At 87m high, Mt Victoria – also known as Takurunga – is the highest volcano on the North Shore. Mt Victoria was named after Queen Victoria and Takurunga is maori for “hill standing above”. There was once a maori pa sitting on its slopes.
Now the slopes are home to Devonport Primary School, a water reservoir, a tennis court, a cemetery, a folk club housed in a bunker and a scenic lookout. What was once a signal mans cottage is now the Michael King Writers Centre, where local and visiting writers can stay and draw inspiration from the beautiful surroundings.