On the Cheap: Auckland - Devonport
Auckland on the Cheap #3: Devonport
Time to destination from Auckland CBD: 20 minutes driving, traffic dependent/ferry
Cost: Roughly $20
For a fun day out, jump on the ferry to Devonport. The ferry is $11.50 return for adults, they generally operate every half hour and all points of interest can be accessed by foot. Devonport offers some amazing views of city and has a great cafe scene. Check out some of these spots:
Famous in Auckland for it's painted mushrooms, and at 83m the mountain is the North Shore's largest volcano. It offers awesome views of the city, the North Shore and Rangitoto Island, and takes 10-20 minutes to climb up.
From Mt Victoria, head over to Northhead. Slightly smaller than it's neighbour, Mt Victoria, this old defense force dates back to the 1800s, and was built to protect Auckland from potential attacks. It has a maze of undergrounds tunnels that are open to the public to explore, and gun emplacements.
After all that mountain climbing, you should be ready for a swim! Cheltenham beach is Devonport's nicest beach, lined with stunning old villas, and can be seen from the top of Northhead.
Stanley Bay/Devonport Waterfront
Lastly, walk back along to the Devonport waterfront towards the ferry terminal. On a clear night, the sunset over Auckland is stunning, and the best place to watch this is either from just outside the ferry terminal, or while on the ferry. The walk between Devonport and Stanley Bay is really nice, and there is a ferry terminal in Stanley Bay, so don't worry if you walk too far! The Stanley Bay - Auckland ferry only operators Monday to Friday, so keep this in mind if you're heading over in the weekend. If you're into bombs (New Zealand form of cliff/wharf jumping), much sure you check out the wharf, and you'll be entering a local bomb competition before you know it! Chur!
Enjoy :)
Sunset over Auckland city, taken in Devonport
