Mount Victoria Reserve

Located smack in the middle of the suburb of Devonport, Mount Victoria Reserve offers the best view of Auckland you’ll find on the city’s north shore. Although only standing 280 feet in height, the panoramic view from the hill’s summit looks directly back at the city skyline and gazes down on the streets of Devonport.

Reaching the summit only requires a 20-minute walk, and it’s a great way to work up a midday appetite for one of the suburb’s popular cafés. While there is also a road which leads towards the top, most visitors opt for a semi-steep trail which climbs its way through a grassy field. Towards the summit, an old cannon remains perched on the hill and is a reminder of the area’s naval past. There are also structures which look curiously similar to large, painted mushrooms, although they are actually air vents for a water plant which is located beneath the hill.

On a clear day, the view from the summit of Mount Victoria stretches east towards the island of Waiheke, and across the waters of Waitemata Harbor the Auckland skyline dominates a landscape you’d expect to find on a postcard. While most Devonport visitors spend the day perusing the shops and restaurants, climbing to the top of Mount Victoria Reserve is a refreshing addition to a day on the north shore.