A rare opportunity for the public to visit the Devonport Naval Base takes place on Saturday, 24 March, when the Base will hold a free Open Day from 10am to 4pm.

The Open Day allows the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) to demonstrate how its ships and sailors advance New Zealand's interests from the sea.

Visitors will be able to tour several of the RNZN’s ships, talk to the personnel who crew them, and see the state-of-the-art technology on board.

There will be Seasprite helicopter displays – over water and on land – as well as marquee displays set up by trades, training, recruiting and other groups from around the base, and the Navy Band will perform.

There will also be a food court with refreshments and activities and entertainment for children.

The Navy Museum, at Torpedo Bay in Devonport, will be part of the Open Day and will host an interactive exhibition with model ship maker Graham Beeson. There will also be “mini-moments in time” tours navigating the RNZN history through the museum’s ship models.

Free shuttle buses will take visitors from the Base to the Navy Museum and return.

The last Open Day at the base, in 2014, attracted more than 10,000 people, with many using the extra Devonport and Stanley Point ferry sailings to travel across from the Auckland CBD.

Public access is via the base’s main Queen’s Parade Gate and the Stanley Point Gate.

Limited parking will be available at the Ngataringa Sports Field, with a walk through sign-posted to the Stanley Point Gate.

For more information on the Open Day go to the Navy’s Facebook page @NZNavy which will have updated event news.

ENDS

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