Walk 53, 16 Nov 2020
Maungauika/North Head is located in Devonport. This historic defence was placed on the northern headland of the Waitemata Harbour in 1885 to protect Auckland from a feared Russian invasion.
The explosion of Mount Tarawera in 1886 was initially thought to be the beginning of a Russian bombardment.
The underground tunnels and the oldest buildings on the summit, a cookhouse and barracks, still remain from this period.
First protected as a reserve in 1972 when it was included in the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park, the North Head Historic Reserve was managed by the Department of Conservation.
DOC no longer administers the reserve. Ownership of Maungauika/North Head Historic Reserve has transferred to Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau (the Tāmaki Collective) as part of Treaty Settlement negotiations.
Walk: Auckland 9
Links
Maungauika/North Head Historic Reserve
Self guided walk: North Head’s Self Guided Walk introduces you to a complex of tunnels, guns, searchlight emplacements and otherfortifications. These date from the late 1800s up to the time of the Second World War during which time North Head was a major military installation.
The numbers on the map in this brochure correspond to numbered markers on the track. Approximate walking time is one hour.
The AA: North Head Maungauika Historic Walk
Auckland Underground: Missing planes mystery in North Head bunkers
Maungauika means “hill of Uika.” Te Uika was from the Tainui waka. Source: Auckland: The people of the ocean
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