In this documentary philip alpers explores theories that a hidden tunnel network contains tonnes of decaying ammunition and two old boeing airplanes. Exploring devon port tunnels at north head, auckland, new. Some of the tunnels were so dark, and not for the faint of heart, especially when exploring on your own. Head out to the muriwai to visit the gannet colony and the gorgeous blacksand surf beach. The 10 best north head historic reserve maungauika tours. North head guided tour explore the north head tunnels. It was in the 1880s when the russian scare came about that maungauikanorth head became the main military defence for auckland. Claims of concealed tunnels, buried explosives and priceless planes have surrounded aucklands old north head. There is deteriorating ammunition in the sealed tunnels beneath north head. Explore defences that were placed on the headland to protect auckland from. Maungauika north head historic reserve, waitemata harbour, devonport what. It was formed over 50,000 years ago in a series of great volcanic explosions.
North head historic reserve maungauika auckland tickets. Take a selfguided walk through tunnels and other features of the areas military history. The summit loop takes you past two movie theatres where you can watch some short films courtesy of doc see map below. North head wwii tunnels tour north head sanctuary, manly. Welcome to our facebook page to discuss some of aucklands forgotten military history and maybe even stumble upon a way into the. North head is a small strategic headland at the mouth of aucklands waitemata harbour. Start your search for the best priced hotel rooms on like we do when we book hotels. The tunnels were used from 1885 by the coastal defense force, but have now been left for locals and visitors to explore at their leisure. After the european settlement of tamaki makaurauauckland in the 1840s, maungauikanorth head became the first pilot station guiding ships into the harbour.
North head is full of history and gorgeous views of cheltenham beach, waitemata harbour, auckland city, mount victoria reserve and the hauraki gulf. The combination of harbour and city views, victorian style homes and fabulous cafes makes it an enjoyable place to visit. North head holds a military tunnel complex, gun emplacements and fortifications and is well signposted with numbered descriptions and orange markers. Archeologist dave veart sets about finding the truth. Dont miss out on great deals for things to do on your trip to auckland. Things to do in auckland 11 top attractions and activities. North head is an old fortified settlement with an old disappearing gun, bunkers, and tunnels galore to explore. If you are feeling fit, a short hike to the summit you will reward you with incredible 360degree views of auckland city and the hauraki gulf a perfect opportunity for a group photo. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Visitors can view a visual film history of north head showing at the old stone kitchen built in 1885.
Entrance to one of the tunnels at north head historic reserve in. 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. This in itself was a major breakthrough as it reversed docs 1992 position that no tunnels exist at maungauikanorth head other than those you can see today. Devonport is one of our favourite places to walks in auckland. Haunted auckland visits the north head tunnels to photographically document these historic fortifications. The navy position that sealed tunnels exist was also confirmed by commodore auckland commodore hunter in 1989 when he admitted there are sealed tunnels at north head to the devonport borough council. A victorian seaside village only a short ferry ride from downtown auckland, devonport is the perfect place to head for a day by the beach. The mystery of north head riddled with old military tunnels, aucklands north head has long been the focus of speculation. And your camera to capture the wonderful views overlooking the hauraki gulf. There are two rooms, one room has 3 windows a single window head height for ordering. The north head historic reserve is new zealands most important military base and coastline security.
The thread about planes in barns brought up the age old north head mystery and i thought it might be interesting to start a thread about this. The views across auckland are spectacular kids werent impressed. The mystery of north head riddled with old military tunnels, aucklands. Just across auckland harbour from the central business district, the historic suburb of devonport is full of charm and character. We discovered the newly opened october 2010 torpedo bay museum and cafe at the base of north head. Walk through abandoned ww2 tunnel auckland youtube. See all 12 north head historic reserve tours on tripadvisor. Should you wish, a ferry will take you from aucklands cbd to devonport. While youre there your guide will give you an informative tour about the historic features of north head including military tunnels and historic gun emplacements. Reserve your spot today and pay when youre ready for thousands of tours on viator.
Great for exploring military installations and tunnels. Book your tickets online for north head historic reserve, auckland central. Start north battery the tunnel entrances on your right lead into the north battery a battery is where guns are sited. Maungauikanorth head is located in devonport at the northern headland of the waitemata harbour. The north head tunnels, north shore 25th november 2012. The reserve is approximately 16 km from downtown auckland by car taking around 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. 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. Maintenance of maungauika north head tunnels underway scoop.
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. Hidden in plain sight, ive been wanting to check these tunnels out since i was a kid since hearing about them but never been able to due to being blocked off, and had been over to north head. Hop on a 12 minute ferry ride to devonport and explore the abandoned tunnels and fortifications of north head. This gun battery was one of three military forts on north head. North head historical reserve is considered to be the most significant historical coastal defence site in new zealand. Devonport tunnels 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. After the european settlement of tamaki makaurau auckland in the 1840s, maungauika north head became the first pilot station guiding ships into the harbour. B significantly, the tunnel vision ground penetrating radar and photographic evidence has now been accepted by doc as credible evidence of sealed tunnels at maungauikanorth head. Manmade military structures are 129 years old as a young country, new zealand is somewhat lacking in good urban.
A guided tour riding a segway to north head, one of aucklands most treasured historic reserves with both maori and european history. Strategic headland used as a defence port from the late 1800s until after wwii age. 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. Tunnels is a subterranean fiction novel by british authors roderick gordon and brian williams. Its commanding views over the hauraki gulf and inner. Claims of concealed tunnels, buried explosives and priceless planes have surrounded auckland s old north head. With cosy cafes and bookshops, sheltered waters and white sand at devonport and cheltenham beaches, and dark tunnels and fantastic harbour views from the fortified north head, there is so much to do in and. If you love military history, exploring the old military tunnels and bunker in north head is a must during the time you have in auckland. You can also catch one of the regular ferries from downtown auckland to devonport wharf. In the co joining room, shells would be placed on a rack, and loaded into a vertical lift system to the surface to be loaded into the gun.
We recommend booking north head historic reserve tours ahead of time to secure your spot. The north head tunnels paranormal nz haunted auckland. The rnzn maintains the tunnels as part of its responsibility for the site. North head historic reserver offers panoramic views of auckland and the surrounding. There was a conspiracy to keep the sealed tunnels and deteriorating explosives secret. The walk is an opportunity to enjoy views of the hauraki gulf and the auckland skyline. The man responsible for closing the tunnels says theres nothing there. 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 historic reserve is an enjoyable and scenic 20 minute walk from devonport ferry terminal. Ii mountings were transferred from north head to a position located on a spur running down to huroa point. The disappearance of the first boeing aircraft was the focus of my initial investigation. Whangaparaoa tunnels national museum of the royal new.
The ultimate locals guide to auckland nomadasaurus. A series of loop tracks introduce you to the military history of north head maungauika the tunnels, guns, searchlights and defences that were placed on the headland to protect auckland from feared russian invasions. The story follows will burrows, a 14yearold archaeologist, who stumbles upon an underground civilization called the colony. Although the attack never eventuated, north head became the jewel of aucklands coastal defence system and the centre for the control of all of new zealands coastal defences until 1957. Or could there really be two boeing aircraft hidden in the tunnels under aucklands north head. My dad was 17 at the end of the war and he told me the story when i was a nipper, and to be honest its intrigued me ever since. Take a moment to soak up spectacular views of auckland harbour and the city.
Welcome to our facebook page to discuss some of aucklands forgotten military history. Below, we outline that top devonport attractions that we enjoyed on our day trip from auckland. From finedining to cheap eats, auckland has it all. Even today, the military tunnels, gun emplacements and. We have put together three one hour loop walks starting from the devonport ferry terminal. Sometimes it can feel a bit creepy but going with friends is a lot of fun. Seriously, this is the place of my childhood dreams with so many tunnels and hidden rooms carved into the hillside. If you do head out to north head be sure to bring a torch with you to explore the tunnels and batteries. Website for martin butlers book about the north head tunnels. Check out the best tours and activities to experience north head historic reserve maungauika. It was in the 1880s when the russian scare came about that maungauika north head became the main military defence for auckland.
Enjoy a picnic with picturesque views of the hauraki gulf and auckland harbour, explore with a selfguided walk and see the disappearing gun, one of a few remaining in the world. The site was protected as part of hauraki gulf maritime park in 1972 and listed as. Since butler released his first book, tunnel vision, in 2011 he says he has. North head historic reserve lies across the bay from auckland city, at the end of devonport. Maungauika is a volcano forming a headland called north head at the east end of the waitemata harbour in auckland. It was initially selfpublished as the highfield mole in 2005, and rereleased as tunnels by chicken house in 2007. Coastal life north head is a superb example of new. With its large network of gun emplacements and underground tunnels, north fort at north head sanctuary, manly played a major role in sydneys coastal defence system during world war ii. Come and join us as we explore the north head tunnels at devon port, auckland, new zealand.
North head maungauika historic walk aa new zealand. North head historic reserve auckland central 2020 all. Ruffell volcanic origins north head is one of the oldest of the approximately 50 cones in the auckland volcanic field. North head historic reserve, auckland ticket price. Aucklands restaurant, cafe and bar scene has really taken off and now has a food scene to rival any international city. North head historic reserve in auckland my guide auckland. A seaside north shore suburb that you can find by travelling only ten minutes by boat from downtown auckland. For sea views while you dine, head to the viaduct harbour area in downtown auckland or go over the crossing bridge to the wynyard quarter restaurant area and silo park. A bottom knee height window for ammunition and above is another head height window, for propellant charges for the magazines. To early maori this strategic viewpoint was known as maungauika, and looking out over aucklands harbor and the islands of the hauraki gulf, the summit of this. The 360 degree views of auckland city and the hauraki gulf from the summit are spectacular. Tunnels and bunkers were dug into the mountain and huge guns imported from britain were installed. After your swim, youll head up the walking track from cheltenham beach to the summit of north head.
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