Mount Victoria (Takarunga) is a small volcanic cone behind Devonport village on the North Shore — only 87 metres tall but offering one of the best panoramic views of Auckland, with the downtown CBD, the Harbour Bridge, the Waitematā, and the outer islands all visible from the summit. The cone was a pre-European Māori pā, and the terracing visible on the upper slopes marks the original fortifications.
The summit is reached by a 10-minute walk from Kerr Street car park, or by driving directly to the top via a narrow single-lane road. The red-roofed signal station at the summit is a preserved 19th-century semaphore post that used to signal the arrival of ships to downtown Auckland before the advent of the telegraph. Takarunga is paired with North Head (Maungauika) — a second small cone at the tip of Devonport — to provide a complete North Shore viewing circuit in about 90 minutes.
Verified Facts
Takarunga is 87 metres tall
The cone was a pre-European Māori pā
The summit signal station is a preserved 19th-century semaphore post
Takarunga and Maungauika are both Devonport volcanic cones
Get walking directions
Kerr Street, Devonport
