Auckland's History

Maungauika, also known as North Head, is a volcanic cone rising fifty meters above the entrance to Waitematā Harbour. The hill is marked by a network of grass-covered mounds, concrete gun emplacements, and dark tunnel entrances that…

The Torpedo Bay Navy Museum is marked by its location within a series of nineteenth-century brick buildings originally constructed in eighteen ninety-six to control naval mines at the mouth of the Waitematā Harbour. This site, known as…

Bastion Point, or Takaparawhau, is a prominent coastal headland overlooking the Waitematā Harbour. It is easily recognized by the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial, an Art Deco mausoleum featuring a large reflecting pool, tall columns, and…

Kinder House is a two-story residence constructed from grey volcanic scoria stone, recognizable by its diamond-paned windows and Gothic Revival design. Built in eighteen fifty-seven, the building sits on a prominent corner in Parnell.…

The Auckland War Memorial Museum is unmistakable for its massive, neo-classical facade, which features a prominent colonnade of stone pillars designed to mirror the ancient Parthenon in Athens. Perched atop Pukekawa, a dormant volcanic…

The Auckland Town Hall occupies a triangular wedge of land where Queen Street bends. Designed by Melbourne architects J. J. and E. J. Clark and opened in nineteen eleven, the building features a high clock tower and an exterior of pale…

Highwic is a timber mansion defined by its steep gables, ornate bargeboards, and pointed-arch detailing, all hallmarks of the Carpenter Gothic architectural style. Built in eighteen sixty-two, it stands out for its design, which was…

Acacia Cottage is a modest, single-story timber house distinguished by the veranda stretching across its front. Built in eighteen forty-one, it holds the title of the oldest surviving residential building in Auckland. It originally stood…