March 14, 2023
Continuing our climbs of Auckland’s volcanic peaks, we caught the ferry over to Devonport where we summited Mt. Victoria, named for the British Queen. Its Maori name is Takarunga, meaning “The Hill Standing Above”. An important pa (fortified village) once occupied its slopes. In 1841, a signal station was constructed on its peak to better facilitate traffic to the Port of Auckland and in 1895, a gun fort was added. The fort was in use until after World War II and the signal station is still active.
Like many of Auckland’s volcanic peaks, Mt. Victoria is the home of a water reservoir that was dug into the top. It is only visible by the vents that sit above it and resemble a field of cartoon mushrooms.
With its commanding views of the surrounding harbour, it is easy to see why Mt. Victoria was chosen as a place to build a signal station and fort.
The walk down the mountain is very pretty, through the shady trees.
Perched about halfway up the mountain is a beautiful old villa that was built in 1898, to house the signalman. Today, the Michael King Writer’s Center offers up residence in the home, along with a stipend, to up to fifteen writers a year, enabling them to retreat to the home and work on writing projects. Michael King is perhaps New Zealand’s best known historian. He wrote over thirty books on New Zealand topics, including the bestselling Penguin History of New Zealand. Tragically, he died in 2004, at the peak of his career, in a car crash.
This beautiful old Citroen is the classic car of the day.
Mal and Lauren 