Last updated October 2026
North Head, or Maungauika, is the volcanic headland at the entrance to the Waitematā Harbour in Devonport. You can fish off the rock ledges on its eastern side, facing Rangitoto, reached by the Coastal Track around its base.
Anglers report kingfish on those ledges over summer, snapper on a low incoming tide and the odd kahawai, though most snapper here are small. It is an easy walk from the Devonport ferry, but the ledges sit beside a busy channel and the track below the cliffs has closed after slips, so check before you go.
North Head at a Glance
- Location
- 18 Takarunga Road, Devonport, at the mouth of the Waitematā Harbour
- Water
- Waitematā Harbour entrance and Rangitoto Channel (sea)
- Main species
- Kingfish in summer; snapper (mostly small) and kahawai
- Best time
- Very early morning, before the boat traffic; low incoming tide for snapper
- Access
- Coastal Track around the base; gates are locked after slips
- Gates
- Pedestrian gate 6am to 10pm, vehicle gate 6am to 8pm (Tūpuna Maunga Authority)
- Getting there
- Ferry to Devonport, then about 15 minutes’ walk to Cheltenham Road
- Watch for
- Snags and weed close in, passing boats, slips below the cliffs
- Tide port
- Auckland (LINZ standard port)
- Cost
- Free
- Low 5:31 am 0.7 m
- High 12:01 pm 3.0 m
- Low 5:56 pm 0.9 m
Best times today: around 5:31 am, 12:01 pm and 5:56 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 4:57 am and 5:22 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Auckland tides ›
Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ). Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
The Background
Maungauika means the mountain of Uika, after ancestors who lived here about 800 years ago; the main pā was on nearby Takarunga (Mt Victoria).
European visitors in the 1850s described a settlement at its foot with gardens and places for processing fish. Archaeologists working at its base, where the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum now stands, found one of the oldest Māori occupation sites in Tāmaki Makaurau.
The headland was fortified in 1885, when New Zealand feared a Russian invasion, and between 1888 and 1914 prisoners dug many of its tunnels. It was once known as Fort Cautley, and the defence forces finally left in the 1990s. Bring a torch if you want to explore the tunnels.
Ownership was returned to the 13 iwi and hapū of Tāmaki Makaurau under 2014 settlement legislation, and since January 2019 the Tūpuna Maunga Authority has run the reserve instead of the Department of Conservation. Its layered volcanic tuff forms shore platforms around the southern, eastern and northern sides of the headland, which is where anglers stand.
How to Fish North Head
Where and when
DOC’s advice is to fish off the rocks on the eastern side of the reserve, reached by the Coastal Track. The ledges facing Rangitoto are the ones that hold kingfish over summer.
Local anglers say the water off the ledges is fairly shallow, around 2 to 3 metres, with weed and snags close in, and that a good current runs when the tide is moving. One regular’s best spot is a little past the cave area where most people fish. Go very early in the morning, before the constant boat traffic starts.
What to catch and what to use
- Kingfish: over summer on the ledges facing Rangitoto. Live bait is the usual method.
- Snapper: best on a low incoming tide, on piper or live bait. Expect plenty of small fish over summer and autumn, with the odd legal one.
- Kahawai: taken now and then off the rocks.
What to bring
Spare rigs and sinkers for the snags, a long-handled landing net, and a lifejacket. One angler reports no snags beyond about 30 m out, so a long cast gets you clear of the weed. If the ledges are closed or crowded, Cheltenham Beach next door and the Torpedo Bay and Devonport wharves are listed as other local fishing spots.
Getting There and Facilities
- Ferry: Devonport ferries run from downtown Auckland as part of the Auckland Transport network. From the Devonport terminal it is about a 15 minute walk to Cheltenham Road, the start of the path to Maungauika.
- Car: the summit road is reached from Takarunga Road. The vehicle gate is open 6am to 8pm and the pedestrian gate 6am to 10pm (Tūpuna Maunga Authority). Auckland Council lists shorter winter hours, so allow for gates closing earlier in winter.
- Paths: the main path suits a buggy, but the Coastal Track and the ledges are rough going.
- Dogs: on a leash and under control.
- Park rules: smokefree, no fires, and take your rubbish home if there are no bins.
Rules and Safety
- Sea fishing here follows MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec rules (Auckland East). No licence is needed.
- Shellfish gathering is banned at Cheltenham Beach, right next to North Head.
- North Head is outside the Rangitoto and Motutapu High Protection Area, where all recreational fishing has been banned since 25 October 2025. If you fish the channel by boat, check the boundary first: see our Rangitoto Channel fishing guide.
- The cliff above the Coastal Track collapsed in July 2019 and again in July 2020, closing the track. The Tūpuna Maunga Authority has since scaled the rock face and put gates in the most slip-prone places, which are locked when slips happen. The area is prone to slips after rain: obey any closure and never go past a locked gate.
- Boats pass close to the ledges all day, so keep an eye on your line and on the water’s edge.
- Wear a lifejacket on the rocks. Water Safety New Zealand says none of the seven people who drowned fishing from land in 2024 was wearing one.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Top Catch Takapuna, 50 Barrys Point Road, Takapuna: bait and tackle, open from 6am at weekends.
Helpful Resources
Tūpuna Maunga Authority: Maungauika: gate times, rules and history of the reserve.
DOC: Maungauika / North Head Historic Reserve: where to fish and how to reach the eastern rocks.
MPI Auckland and Kermadec fishing rules: current limits and closures, including the Cheltenham Beach shellfish ban.
Common Questions
Can you fish at North Head?
Yes. DOC says you can fish off the rocks on the eastern side of the reserve, reached by the Coastal Track around the base of the headland.
What can you catch at North Head?
Kingfish over summer on the ledges facing Rangitoto, snapper on a low incoming tide (mostly small) and the odd kahawai.
Is the Coastal Track open?
It has closed after cliff collapses in 2019 and 2020, and gates in the slip-prone sections are locked whenever slips happen. Check the signs and the Tūpuna Maunga Authority before you go.
How do I get to North Head by ferry?
Take the Devonport ferry from downtown Auckland, then walk about 15 minutes to Cheltenham Road and the path to Maungauika.
When is the best time to fish?
Very early in the morning, before the boat traffic builds. Anglers report snapper on a low incoming tide.
Is North Head in the Rangitoto high protection area?
No. The high protection area is around Rangitoto and Motutapu islands, across the channel. Fishing inside it is banned.
Can I collect shellfish nearby?
Not at Cheltenham Beach, next to North Head, where shellfish gathering is banned.
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