Tunnel Beach Walkway. Dunedin | New Zealand

Elisa
Feb 2, 2020
1 min read

On our way to Dunedin, we stopped by Tunnel Beach. It is a beach with sea-carved sandstone cliffs, rock arches and man-made tunnel. It is definitely best visited at low tide, so check the tide times before you come.

Following the fenced track downhill we saw the rocky coastline. It is 2 km long, easy walk.

At the end of the track we found the handcarved rock tunnel that gives Tunnel Beach it's name. In the 1870’s John Cargill, a son of Captain William Cargill, excavated a tunnel down to a secluded beach so that the Cargill families could bathe in privacy. The passage still allows access to a sheltered beach at the base of the cliffs.

You can see fossils as you descend through the pioneers' hand-carved tunnel.

We climbed down the stairs and ended up right at the beach. It was a grey day, but this little beach inlet surrounded by huge rock cliffs looked amazing.

You are actually not allowed to walk on the part where the water carved the cave, but we saw people still doing it. It looked safe, but I am not too sure about the stability of the shore.

Also in the next picture you can clearly see my uncomfortable pose, as I stepped in a puddle just seconds before it was taken... sh*t happens. :D