Last updated October 2026
Torpedo Bay Wharf runs out into the Waitematā Harbour from in front of the Navy Museum on King Edward Parade, Devonport, at the foot of Maungauika (North Head).
Devonport’s community guide names it as one of the suburb’s three popular fishing spots, and family guides describe it as a quiet wharf to fish with children, with a playground and café right beside it. Anglers catch kahawai, jack mackerel, piper and sprats here, with the odd snapper or kingfish. It is an easy waterfront walk from the Devonport ferry.
At a Glance
- Location
- King Edward Parade, Devonport, in front of the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum
- Water
- Waitematā Harbour, near the entrance (sea)
- Main species
- Kahawai, jack mackerel, sprats, piper, parore and John Dory; the odd snapper and kingfish
- Best time
- Summer; early morning or evening on hot days, when jumpers are fewer
- Suits
- Families and beginners
- Getting there
- Devonport ferry from downtown Auckland, then a walk east along King Edward Parade
- Nearby
- Navy Museum, Torpedo Bay café and a playground
- Tide port
- Auckland (LINZ standard port)
- Rules
- MPI Auckland and Kermadec (Auckland East); no licence needed for sea fishing
- Cost
- Free
- Low 1:01 am 0.7 m
- High 7:26 am 3.1 m
- Low 1:22 pm 0.8 m
- High 7:37 pm 3.1 m
Best times today: around 1:01 am, 7:26 am, 1:22 pm and 7:37 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 12:21 am and 11:58 am (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Auckland tides ›
Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
More About Torpedo Bay Wharf
Navy Museum histories record that Kupe landed here and named the place Te Hau Kapua, cloud carried along by wind, and that his descendant Uika gave his name to the hill above, Maungauika.
The people of Te Hau Kapua left the bay overnight by waka in 1863, after war broke out in the Waikato. The bay has also been called Haukapua and Pilots Bay.
The English name comes from the submarine mining station built on a small piece of land at the south-west base of North Head, at a time when sea mines were called torpedoes. Its buildings date from 1896, when they were built to control mines across the harbour mouth.
The wharf was rebuilt in the 1920s, and in 1963 the navy’s sail training whalers were moored alongside it. The navy took over the site in 1958, and the National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy moved here in 2010.
Today the wharf is a place to watch the harbour traffic. Ferries, yachts and launches pass close by on their way in and out of the Waitematā, and the beach beside it is popular for a swim when the tide is in. In summer teenagers jump off the wharf, which is allowed here but not at the Devonport ferry wharf.
How to Fish Torpedo Bay Wharf
Where and when
The wharf runs straight out from the shore to a small platform at the end. The platform gives the most room to cast and keeps you away from swimmers near the beach. Summer is the main season, when snapper move into the inner harbour.
In summer the wharf also draws jumpers, so on hot days fish in the early morning or the evening, and look over the edge before you cast. Boats pass close to the end of the wharf, so keep your line in sight.
What to catch and what to use
- Kahawai: small metal lures, or a strip of fresh bait.
- Jack mackerel, sprats and piper: a sabiki or other small-hook rig, with a little bread or berley to bring them in. Good fun for children, and useful as fresh bait.
- Parore and John Dory: both turn up around the piles of the inner-harbour wharves.
- Snapper and kingfish: the odd one. Fish a fresh bait on the bottom for snapper. A kingfish needs heavier gear than most people bring to a wharf.
What to bring
A drop net or long-handled landing net, small hooks for baitfish, and lifejackets for young children. Bring your bait with you.
Getting There and Facilities
- Ferry: Devonport ferries run from downtown Auckland. From the Devonport terminal it is a scenic walk east along King Edward Parade to Torpedo Bay. Bikes travel free on the ferry, and you can buy an AT HOP card from the vending machine at the terminal.
- Bus: the 814 links Devonport with Takapuna.
- Parking: the Torpedo Bay café advertises free parking at the museum.
- Navy Museum: open 10am to 5pm every day except Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Entry is free for New Zealand residents.
- Food and play: the Torpedo Bay café is at the museum, and the museum overlooks a nautical-themed playground.
- Nearby fishing: the rock ledges around the headland are covered in our North Head fishing guide.
Rules and Safety
- MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec rules cover the wharf, under the Auckland East limits. Fishing in the sea needs no licence.
- If you head out by boat, check DOC’s map of the Rangitoto and Motutapu High Protection Area first. Nothing may be taken inside it.
- Watch for people jumping in summer, and never cast while someone is in the water below you.
- Put young children in lifejackets on the wharf.
- Following heavy rain, see what Safeswim says about harbour water quality before you swim or eat any shellfish from the bay.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Top Catch Takapuna, 50 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna: the closest specialist bait and tackle shop, opening at 6am on Saturday and Sunday.
Where to Learn More
MPI Auckland and Kermadec fishing rules: size limits, daily limits and closures for Auckland East.
National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy: About Torpedo Bay: the history of the bay and visitor information for the museum.
DOC: Rangitoto and Motutapu maps and boundaries: where the High Protection Area starts, for anyone fishing by boat.
Common Questions
Where is Torpedo Bay Wharf?
On King Edward Parade, Devonport, in front of the Navy Museum and below Maungauika (North Head).
What can you catch at Torpedo Bay Wharf?
Kahawai, jack mackerel, sprats, piper, parore and John Dory, with the odd snapper or kingfish.
How do I get there without a car?
Take the Devonport ferry from downtown Auckland and walk east along King Edward Parade to Torpedo Bay.
Is Torpedo Bay Wharf good for children?
Yes. Family guides rate it as a quiet wharf to fish with kids, and there is a playground and café beside the museum. Keep young children in lifejackets.
Do I need a fishing licence?
No. Fishing off a sea wharf in New Zealand is licence free. Check MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec rules for Auckland East limits.
Is wharf jumping allowed at Torpedo Bay?
Yes, it is popular with teenagers in summer. Fish early or late on hot days, and look before you cast.
Is this the same as fishing at North Head?
No. North Head fishing is off the rock ledges around the headland. Torpedo Bay Wharf is the public wharf in front of the Navy Museum.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ).