Takarunga

PĀ

Takarunga means ‘hill standing above’, which is in reference to its height above adjacent Takararo / Mt Cambria.  Sadly, Takararo was completely leveled by quarrying and is now the flat park known as Cambria Reserve.

Takarunga was an important Māori pā site for many years with terracing and kūmara pits still visible.  

The tihi (summit) sits at 66 meters high. 

RECENT HISTORY

European settlers named the Maunga Mt Victoria, after Queen Victoria.  Another early European name for the Maunga was Flagstaff Hill, after a signal station for the Port of Auckland was sited on the summit in 1841. 

Takarunga has been a public reserve since 1880.

Takarunga was used for military purposes until after the second world war.  There is a a muzzle-loader gun fort from 1885.

There is also a buried reservoir at the top of the Maunga which is marked by the colourful ‘mushroom’ vents.

GEOLOGY

The cone of Takarunga was formed by fire-fountaining of frothy scoria from the central crater.  Lava from the southern base of the volcano flowed out to create a stretch basalt rock which reaches to the Devonport foreshore.

During the eruption, the south side of the crater was breached by lava flows. Scoria from the top of Takarunga was carried down the mountain in these lava flows and came to rest near the south end of modern-day Church St. This small mound would become known as Duders Hill, until it was quarried away in the early twentieth century.

The dark rocks on the Devonport foreshore between Torpedo Bay and Devonport Wharf are the southern lava flows from Takarunga.  

VEHICLE-FREE TIHI 

The tihi (summit) and the summit road at Takarunga were permanently closed to all private motor vehicles including motorbikes and scooters in March 2018. 

To Mana Whenua, the tihi of a Maunga holds great spiritual and cultural significance and has always been a place to be treated with respect and reverence. Honouring these values alongside creating an enhanced experience for pedestrians is at the heart of the Authority’s decision to make the tihi vehicle-free.

People who have limited mobility and are unable to walk to the tihi, and their drivers of people, can obtain an access code on the day of their visit to open the barrier arm at the summit road entrance.

Call 09 379 1340 to request a vehicle access code.

VISITOR ACCESS

Access to the tihi (summit) will continue during construction unless signposted. The health and safety of visitors is important, therefore, please follow the instructions of onsite construction staff and the temporary signage in place.

PARKING

Visitor car parks are inside the Kerr Street entrance to the Maunga.

Parking time limits are enforced to give all visitors equal parking opportunity.

Main entrance gate opening times

Summer: 7am-8.30pm
Winter: 7am-7pm

Times align with daylight-savings.

LOCATION

16 Kerr Street, Devonport, Auckland.