Tunnel Beach Track
Your Nature Guide
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Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Photos
Information
Tunnel Beach Track
2 km return | 1 hour return
A wild Otago coastline, a tunnel piercing the sandstone cliffs and crashing waves which foam like fireworks. On a sunshine and lollipops day the track is a great spot to explore. But it is most impressive in a south-west gale with big swells. Then the power of the nature’s sculpting forces can be realised and some sense of how the rock arches and offshore stacks are formed.
Walking Track
Timing
The track crosses private property and may be closed for lambing in spring.
The beaches through the tunnel can only be explored at low tide. Check times at http://www.metservice.com/marine-surf/tides/dunedin
Access
From St Clair follow Blackhead Road to where Tunnel Beach Road is signposted. Continue 300 m to the parking area.
Track
It is a steady and steep descent. Although the track is metalled, it is prone to slips and can be muddy. Once at the cliffs, use some common sense and don’t risk your life for a better photo. Follow the tunnel to the beach proper, which can be explored only at low tide.
Geology
The rock along this coastline is soft Caversham sandstone, an extensive thick sediment laid down around 20 million years ago. The sandstone was later overlain by other sediments. The Otago Peninsula is volcanic in origin and lava ejected around 12 million years ago covered the sandstone here. Fossils are also present in the stone, with species of brachiopod or echinoderm (sea urchin). Some of the cliff faces have vertical rusty streaks of iron rich veins.
When swells come from the south, fueled by intense winds, the sea can harness formidable power. The soft stone is eroded into caves and sea arches, which eventually collapse to form offshore stacks.
European History
Although difficult to verify factually, it is said the tunnel was built in the 1870s at the request of notable Dunedin resident John Cargill. He required a secluded place for his daughters to bathe with modesty, to safeguard their privacy from prying Victorian eyes.
Details
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Organisation |
DOC OtagoCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Coastal Otago ▷ Dunedin |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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4.0/5
Nice exit at Tunnel Beach.
Good spot for pictures!! The descent is rather easy but the reclimb is far more difficult for the novice.
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4.0/5
Well maintained track and a little gem in Dunedin.
Got there at low tide and spent a good while exploring. Would be cool to see why the tunnel was put there.
DS![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(241,5,203)" /><path d="m 150 724 Q 91 209 -424 150 Q 91 91 150 -424 Q 209 91 724 150 Q 209 209 150 724 z" fill="rgb(147,101,109)" /><path d="m 150 469 Q 282 18 -169 150 Q 282 282 150 -169 Q 18 282 469 150 Q 18 18 150 469 z" fill="rgb(108,154,146)" /><path d="m 150 273 Q 219 81 27 150 Q 219 219 150 27 Q 81 219 273 150 Q 81 81 150 273 z" fill="rgb(14,250,52)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
This is one of my favourite walks.
It is fast to the bottom and a slow return. The track is in great condition and we took an off road pram (with downhill breaking) down to the top of the tunnel stairs (this is a NO GO with a normal street pram). The views are amazing and enhanced on a sunny day. The stairs down the tunnel can be slippery but it is worth the walk. The edges (fenced) off should be respected as the geology is delicate. The track has no shade so wear sunscreen. It is a long hard walk back to the car but if I can do it pushing a pram you can walk it. Expect to spend longer at the bottom that you intend.
NS![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(124,124,127)" /><path d="m 150 684 Q 240 60 -384 150 Q 240 240 150 -384 Q 60 240 684 150 Q 60 60 150 684 z" fill="rgb(25,79,4)" /><path d="m 150 490 Q 147 153 -190 150 Q 147 147 150 -190 Q 153 147 490 150 Q 153 153 150 490 z" fill="rgb(230,176,251)" /><path d="m 150 305 Q 265 35 -5 150 Q 265 265 150 -5 Q 35 265 305 150 Q 35 35 150 305 z" fill="rgb(131,131,128)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Beautiful beach with stunning cliffs, although a tough walk back up the track and might be difficult if you were older with poor knees.
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4.0/5
Steep walk down (and back up!) but worth the views.
Beautiful beach and fun tunnel to walk through. Also, FREE!
AS![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(139,95,42)" /><path d="m 150 618 Q 246 54 -318 150 Q 246 246 150 -318 Q 54 246 618 150 Q 54 54 150 618 z" fill="rgb(229,145,55)" /><path d="m 150 367 Q 103 197 -67 150 Q 103 103 150 -67 Q 197 103 367 150 Q 197 197 150 367 z" fill="rgb(26,110,200)" /><path d="m 150 323 Q 255 45 -23 150 Q 255 255 150 -23 Q 45 255 323 150 Q 45 45 150 323 z" fill="rgb(116,160,213)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Is worth it if you are around the area.
Stunning rocks in the sea, cliffs and wavy sea.
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4.5/5
Short walk, there is a tunnel through the rock to go down the beach.
Beautiful cliffs and waves.
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4.5/5
Great walkway, beautiful coastline and also seals.
Great spot for taking pictures.
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(70,105,79)" /><path d="m 150 706 Q 58 242 -406 150 Q 58 58 150 -406 Q 242 58 706 150 Q 242 242 150 706 z" fill="rgb(1,23,71)" /><path d="m 150 353 Q 233 67 -53 150 Q 233 233 150 -53 Q 67 233 353 150 Q 67 67 150 353 z" fill="rgb(254,232,184)" /><path d="m 150 188 Q 161 139 112 150 Q 161 161 150 112 Q 139 161 188 150 Q 139 139 150 188 z" fill="rgb(185,150,176)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Nice exit at Tunnel Beach.
Good spot for pictures!! The descent is rather easy but the reclimb is far more difficult for the novice.
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4.0/5
Well maintained track and a little gem in Dunedin.
Got there at low tide and spent a good while exploring. Would be cool to see why the tunnel was put there.
DS -
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4.5/5
This is one of my favourite walks.
It is fast to the bottom and a slow return. The track is in great condition and we took an off road pram (with downhill breaking) down to the top of the tunnel stairs (this is a NO GO with a normal street pram). The views are amazing and enhanced on a sunny day. The stairs down the tunnel can be slippery but it is worth the walk. The edges (fenced) off should be respected as the geology is delicate. The track has no shade so wear sunscreen. It is a long hard walk back to the car but if I can do it pushing a pram you can walk it. Expect to spend longer at the bottom that you intend.
NS -
4.0/5
Beautiful beach with stunning cliffs, although a tough walk back up the track and might be difficult if you were older with poor knees.
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4.0/5
Steep walk down (and back up!) but worth the views.
Beautiful beach and fun tunnel to walk through. Also, FREE!
AS -
4.0/5
Is worth it if you are around the area.
Stunning rocks in the sea, cliffs and wavy sea.
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4.5/5
Short walk, there is a tunnel through the rock to go down the beach.
Beautiful cliffs and waves.
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4.5/5
Great walkway, beautiful coastline and also seals.
Great spot for taking pictures.
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5.0/5
A sometimes steep track to a beach, the end goes through a small tunnel.
Stunning views over a spectacular, rocky coastline. The walk takes one hour return. Not many people and it is a free attraction you must visit! One of the absolute highlights!
LF![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(58,163,21)" /><path d="m 150 650 Q 238 62 -350 150 Q 238 238 150 -350 Q 62 238 650 150 Q 62 62 150 650 z" fill="rgb(234,195,88)" /><path d="m 150 417 Q 168 132 -117 150 Q 168 168 150 -117 Q 132 168 417 150 Q 132 132 150 417 z" fill="rgb(21,60,167)" /><path d="m 150 203 Q 153 147 97 150 Q 153 153 150 97 Q 147 153 203 150 Q 147 147 150 203 z" fill="rgb(197,92,234)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
A nice and short walk with few tourists.
The view is beautiful and the tunnel access is fun. A good surprise close to Dunedin.
MB![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(45,233,203)" /><path d="m 150 712 Q 74 226 -412 150 Q 74 74 150 -412 Q 226 74 712 150 Q 226 226 150 712 z" fill="rgb(182,149,36)" /><path d="m 150 423 Q 74 226 -123 150 Q 74 74 150 -123 Q 226 74 423 150 Q 226 226 150 423 z" fill="rgb(73,106,219)" /><path d="m 150 218 Q 189 111 82 150 Q 189 189 150 82 Q 111 189 218 150 Q 111 111 150 218 z" fill="rgb(210,22,52)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Spectacular walk and location.
Check for high tide, though. Well worth the detour.
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3.5/5
We missed the turn because it was not signposted, but when we did get there it is easy to get to and amazing to look at.
Best when the beach is available.
EL![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(58,139,236)" /><path d="m 150 608 Q 266 34 -308 150 Q 266 266 150 -308 Q 34 266 608 150 Q 34 34 150 608 z" fill="rgb(250,25,82)" /><path d="m 150 445 Q 192 108 -145 150 Q 192 192 150 -145 Q 108 192 445 150 Q 108 108 150 445 z" fill="rgb(5,230,173)" /><path d="m 150 211 Q 202 98 89 150 Q 202 202 150 89 Q 98 202 211 150 Q 98 98 150 211 z" fill="rgb(197,116,19)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Steep one hour walk to "the tunnel" at first the track seems not that special (besides a nice view on the beach), when you pass the tunnel you will arrive in a lovely secluded bay.
Enjoy.
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5.0/5
Nice steep walk to secluded beach.
Bring lunch and have a nice day at the beach with only yourselves and no other visitors!
MG![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(24,249,167)" /><path d="m 150 748 Q 198 102 -448 150 Q 198 198 150 -448 Q 102 198 748 150 Q 102 102 150 748 z" fill="rgb(252,208,21)" /><path d="m 150 382 Q 258 42 -82 150 Q 258 258 150 -82 Q 42 258 382 150 Q 42 42 150 382 z" fill="rgb(3,47,234)" /><path d="m 150 281 Q 198 102 19 150 Q 198 198 150 19 Q 102 198 281 150 Q 102 102 150 281 z" fill="rgb(231,6,88)" /></svg>)
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