Walking: if you relish a good walk, you’ll love the climb to picturesque North Head and neighbouring Mt Victoria. The views of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf and Auckland city are breathtaking. North Head contains an extensive collection of military tunnels which are fun to explore, but you will need to take your flashlight if you intend exploring. Cycling: cyclists can enjoy the Takapuna cycle path starting in the Devonport area, and located on a side street off Lake Road. Devonport village will delight you and apart from its numerous cafés and shops, has several art galleries which you’ll enjoy browsing through. Devonport houses quite an arty community and you’ll find a range of fabulous pieces ranging from glass art, ceramics, paintings, sculptures and jewellery. As you take a pleasurable stroll around the village with its beautifully renovated Victorian villas make the most of your choice of the many outdoor cafés, or pick up some delicious brioches and tasty snacks from the Stone Oven Bakery and have a picnic in Devonport’s adjacent park – the kids will love the playground. Take a ferry ride: one of the most easy and relaxing ways to enjoy Auckland’s beautiful harbour is taking the ferry from Devonport into the city. The ferries depart every 30 minutes and the journey only takes 15 minutes. You can go into the city for the day and have a look around, take in some shopping, and then take the ferry from Quay Street back to Devonport. Masonic Tavern: established in 1866 the Masonic Tavern is Devonport's only original tavern. It offers traditional Kiwi fare, and great fish and chips, from Wednesday through Sunday. You can eat indoors or outside and sample some of the 17 New Zealand beers on tap. There’s live music every weekend, and this spot features some of the best harbour views in Auckland. Sample the local cuisine: there something for everyone in Devonport and this includes traditional Kiwi cuisine, Thai, Malaysian, Indian, Japanese, and Italian. Takapuna: take a 10 minute drive to nearby Takapuna, a delightful beachside city which includes good shopping, a stunning beach, and a multitude of cafés and restaurants. Takapuna also has a lively local outdoor market on Sundays, from 6.30 am to 12 noon in the Central Car Park between Lake Road and Anzac Street. Museums Devonport Museum: in 1978 half the old Presbyterian Church was moved to Mt Cambria Reserve and became the Devonport Museum. The Museum houses records and photographs of early Devonport and offers a comprehensive display of items that have been in daily, domestic and social use over the past century. It’s located on 31A Vauxhall Road and is open Saturday and Sunday, 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Naval Museum: the Navy museum houses a collection of memorabilia relating to New Zealand's naval heritage. It is a celebration of the Navy in New Zealand, although the main emphasis is on the Royal New Zealand navy. Amongst the treasures on display are medals and uniforms, as well as a large collection of photographs depicting the Navy through the years. The museum is open daily between 10.00 am and 4.30 pm. Beaches and Reserves Devonport Beach is only minutes away from the Wharf and is a lovely place to sit back and enjoy the spectacular views of Devonport scenery as well as viewing Sky-city and various Auckland shore areas. Cheltenham Beach is only one mile away from the ferry terminal and can be seen from the top of North head. Strolling along King Edward Parade you will pass the Devonport Yacht Club, the Masonic Tavern and the cricket green. There’s a fully licensed restaurant on Cheltenham beach, and at the northern end, at Vauxhall Road, there are shops, takeaway and cafés located nearby. Torpedo Bay is a small bay found just before North Head. It was named after the naval torpedo boat housed here in the early 1920s. French explorer Dumont d'Urville landed at Torpedo Bay in 1827 and the memorial to the arrival of the Tainui canoe from Hawaiki about 1300 AD can also be found there. This is an excellent bay to swim at during high tides and a popular place to launch boats. Windsor Reserve is the site of the formation of the New Zealand squadron of the Royal Navy in 1862. The 1924 War Memorial is adjacent to the Library. Outside the Devonport library is a memorial statue dedicated to the grateful remembrance of the men of Devonport who gave their lives in the Great World War 1914-1918. Mt Cambria Reserve is an attractively landscaped garden in the remains of Mt Cambria volcano which was quarried for scoria from 1883 to 1985. This beautiful reserve is located next to the Devonport Museum on 31A Vauxhall Rd. It’s an ideal location for walks, runs, and picnics with friends and family. Narrow Neck Beach is situated on the outskirts of Devonport, this smaller beach features a boat ramp for launching small craft, and is popular with sailing enthusiasts and locals alike. With parking close by, a children’s playground, on site barbecue facilities, and a small shop, Narrow Neck is the perfect destination for family picnics. Narrow Neck is 5 minutes drive from central Devonport by car or bus. The bus 813 can be taken from outside the ferry terminal.