Mount Victoria, Auckland

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Mount Victoria as seen from the south on the Waitemata Harbour, the Devonport ferry terminal in the middle distance.

Disappearing gun at the summit of Mount Victoria.

Mount Victoria is the highest volcano on Auckland's North Shore but rises to a mere 87 m. It erupted some 20,000 years ago, and its lava flows now line much of Devonport's waterfront. An important pa once occupied its slopes, and some of the pa's earthworks can still be seen.

Named after Queen Victoria, the hill provides panoramic views of Auckland's Waitemata Harbour and the inner Hauraki Gulf. Over the years the peak and upper slopes have housed a signal station for shipping, artillery emplacements and various concrete army bunkers, some from as early as the 1870s. One bunker now serves as the venue for the Devonport Folk Club. The local Tennis Club is also located on the slopes of Mt Victoria.

[edit] References

Ewen Cameron, Bruce Hayward and Graeme Murdoch (1997). A Field Guide to Auckland: Exploring the Region's Natural and Historic Heritage. Godwit Publishing Ltd, Auckland. ISBN 1-86962-014-3.
Lloyd Homer, Phil Moore and Les Kermode (2000). Lava and Strata: A guide to the volcanoes and rock formations of Auckland. Landscape Publications Ltd, Wellington in association with the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Lower Hutt. ISBN 0-908800-02-9.
Ernest J. Searle, revised by Ronald D. Mayhill (1981). City of Volcanoes: A geology of Auckland. Longman Paul Ltd, Auckland. ISBN 0-582-71784-1.