Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Street art in Cartagena.
Colombia • 10 days, 9 nights
Colombia Discovery: Coffee, Art & Music
from
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The intaglio leaves a subtle impression on the land along Riverside Drive in Fort Atkinson.
Panther Intaglio
Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey
The wall commemorating 11,908 Jewish victims of the Shoah from Frankfurt.
Börneplatz Memorial
Entrance to the munitions area of the lower part of the bunker
Simserhof
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The sign declares this the number-one gumbo shop in town.
Gumbo Hut Shioya
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
USDA and Washington State agriculture officials tagged this Asian giant hornet. Sept. 10, 2021.
What Ever Happened to the Murder Hornets?
about 5 hours ago
The exterior of the Hall of Records.
Atlas Obscura Mailbag: Urban Exploration, Illegal Carvings, and Repeat Vacations
2 days ago
Biosphere 2 campus (2016)
Biosphere 2: How Volunteers Survived for 2 Years in an Airtight Habitat
3 days ago
Places like Forest Grove linger on the edge of wilderness and civilization.
Listening for Echoes of the Forest Grove Sound
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All New Zealand Auckland Stony Batter Historic Reserve
AO Edited

Stony Batter Historic Reserve

Large World War II gun emplacements and tunnel systems remain hidden near a remote end of Waiheke Island.

Auckland, New Zealand

Added By
Arthur
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Stony Batter Historic Reserve   Chris Gilson
Stony Batter Historic Reserve   Chris Gilson
Stony Batter Historic Reserve  
Stony Batter Historic Reserve  
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Hidden past vineyards and hilly fields, this location is often missed or completely disregarded. Not far from the popular town of Onetangi, a short drive down the remote gravelly roads of the Eastern part of the island takes visitors to the aptly named, Stony Batter Historic Reserve.

As visitors walk in from the small car-park, they are greeted by large, volcanic boulders on each side before reaching the open-field battery. The area is complete with panoramic views of the surrounding islands.

Due to its relatively remote location, the site is often quiet and has an open-air nature that allows for free exploration of the gun emplacements and tunnels. It's an awesome place to view World War II ruins.

Surrounded by a scenic reserve, Stony Batter is a unique and special location for any history buff, nature lover, or avid explorer, and is not to be missed by anyone passing through Waiheke. 

Related Tags

World War Ii History & Culture Ruins Military

Know Before You Go

The road there can be dusty and gravelly, so take care on the drive up.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Wild New Zealand: Exploring the North & South Islands

Stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and rich Māori culture.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Yuva

Edited By

jonathancarey

  • jonathancarey

Published

January 26, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Stony Batter Historic Reserve
Auckland, 1971
New Zealand
-36.762328, 175.172929

Nearby Places

Abandoned WWII Structures of Motutapu Island

Auckland, New Zealand

miles away

Browns Island

Auckland, New Zealand

miles away

Driving Creek Railway

Coromandel, New Zealand

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Auckland

Auckland

New Zealand

Places 10
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Abandoned WWII Structures of Motutapu Island

Auckland, New Zealand

miles away

Browns Island

Auckland, New Zealand

miles away

Driving Creek Railway

Coromandel, New Zealand

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Auckland

Auckland

New Zealand

Places 10
Stories 2

Related Places

  • Old and new churches side by side.

    Berlin, Germany

    Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

    An imperial church bombed to ruins during WWII now stands as a jagged memorial.

  • The water tank

    Oxford, England

    Slade Camp

    A lost World War II military camp and post-war suburb swallowed by the woods.

  • Forest ruins of a church that used to be part of Miedzianka

    Miedzianka, Poland

    The Disappeared City of Miedzianka

    This formerly-prosperous Silesian mining town was completely demolished in the late 1960s and early 1970s as an attempt to cover up a secret Soviet uranium mine.

  • Carnbooth Anti Aircraft Battery

    Glasgow, Scotland

    Carnbooth Anti-Aircraft Battery

    This former World War II artillery defense site was built to guard the industrial city of Glasgow.

  • There are four original barracks still standing at Heart Mountain.

    Powell, Wyoming

    Heart Mountain Relocation Center

    An unusual geological feature towers over the remains of a dark episode in United States history.

  • Kurth Kiln

    Gembrook, Australia

    Kurth Kiln

    This kiln was erected to produce charcoal for gas producer units during World War II.

  • De Brandgrens (The Blaze Boundary)

    Rotterdam, Netherlands

    De Brandgrens (The Blaze Boundary)

    These lights mark the area of Rotterdam that was bombed and burned in 1940.

  • Lough Neagh Torpedo Test Platform

    Antrim, Northern Ireland

    Lough Neagh Torpedo Test Platform

    This former World War II torpedo testing location is now an important nesting site for migratory birds.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.