List of tunnels in New Zealand facts for kids
Tunnels are underground passages built for many reasons. In New Zealand, tunnels help with things like making electricity, managing water, defending the country, and moving people and goods. This list explores different types of tunnels found across New Zealand. It includes man-made underground spaces but not natural caves or mining tunnels.
Contents
Tunnels for Making Electricity
These tunnels are important for hydroelectric power stations, which use water to create electricity.
- Manapouri Power Station
- This power station has a huge underground room, 111 meters long, 18 meters wide, and 34 meters high.
- It also has a long road tunnel, 2040 meters long, for access.
- Manapouri tailrace
- This power station uses two long tunnels to release water back into the lake.
- The first tunnel, built between 1964 and 1968, is 9817 meters long. It was made using drills and explosives.
- The second tunnel, finished in 2002, is 9829 meters long. It was built with a special tunnel boring machine, which is safer.
- Tongariro Power Scheme
- This big project includes many canals and ten tunnels.
- The longest one, the Moawhango-Tongariro Tunnel, is 19.2 kilometers long. It is the longest tunnel in New Zealand.
Tunnels for Wastewater
These tunnels help carry wastewater away from homes and businesses.
- Central Interceptor
- This is a large tunnel, 16.2 kilometers long and 4.5 meters wide.
- It runs from Point Erin to the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant in Auckland.
- This tunnel is currently being built and is expected to be finished in 2026.
- There are also two smaller connecting tunnels, 4.3 kilometers long in total.
Tunnels for Military Use
These tunnels were built for defense, often as part of gun batteries or storage areas.
- North Head tunnels, Auckland
- Whangaparaoa Navy Camp, two sets of tunnels, Auckland
- Stony Batter, Waiheke Island, Auckland
- Wrights Hill Fortress, Wellington
- Cracroft Caverns – an underground chamber in Christchurch
- Godley Head, Christchurch
- Cashin Quay – a large network of tunnels in the hillside near Lyttelton
- Taiaroa Head and Harington Point, Dunedin
Tunnels for Air Raid Shelters
Some tunnels were built to protect people during air raids in wartime.
- Albert Park tunnels, Albert Park Volcano, Albert Park, Auckland
- These tunnels were built to keep civilians safe if there was an air raid.
Tunnels for Transportation
These tunnels help people and goods travel across New Zealand.
Rail Tunnels
New Zealand has many railway tunnels, helping trains cross mountains and difficult terrain.
Longest Bored Rail Tunnels
Here are some of the longest railway tunnels in New Zealand, from longest to shortest.
- Kaimai
- This tunnel is 8879 meters long.
- It opened on September 12, 1978.
- It is near Apata on the East Coast Main Trunk line to Tauranga.
- This is the longest rail tunnel in New Zealand.
- Rimutaka
- This tunnel is 8798 meters long.
- It opened on November 3, 1955.
- It connects Upper Hutt (Wellington) and Featherston (Wairarapa).
- It replaced an old mountain railway called the Rimutaka Incline.
- This is the longest tunnel in New Zealand that carries regular passenger trains.
- Otira
- This tunnel is 8566 meters long.
- It opened in 1923.
- It is located between Arthur's Pass and Otira in the Southern Alps.
- It is part of the transalpine Midland line.
- Tawa No 2
- This tunnel is 4324 meters long.
- It opened in 1935 for goods trains and 1937 for all trains.
- It is the longest double-track tunnel in New Zealand.
- It runs between Ngauranga (Wellington) and Glenside (Tawa).
- Tikiwhata
- Lyttelton
- This tunnel is 2596 meters long.
- It opened on December 9, 1867.
- It connects Heathcote Valley (Christchurch) and Lyttelton.
- Turakina
Shortest Bored Rail Tunnels
Some rail tunnels are very short.
- One tunnel is 39.83 meters long. It opened in 1906 between Staircase and Avoca on the Midland line.
- Another tunnel is 42.05 meters long. It opened in 1891 near Woodville. Part of it was opened up to daylight in 2008.
Other Rail Tunnels
- Purewa Tunnel, an 800-meter tunnel on the Eastern Line in Auckland.
- Poro-O-Tarao Tunnel, a 1,272-meter tunnel on the North Island Main Trunk line.
Disused Rail Tunnels
Many old rail tunnels are no longer used by trains. Some have become popular walkways or cycle paths.
- On the Wairarapa line before the Rimutaka Tunnel opened in 1955:
- Mangaroa – 152 meters long, now part of a walkway at Tunnel Gully.
- Summit – 584 meters long, and three shorter tunnels (Pakuratahi, Siberia, Prices) are on the Rimutaka Rail Trail.
- Okaihau – This tunnel is on a never-opened railway extension. It is now part of the Opua to Horeke Cycleway.
- Karangahake – 1100 meters long, in the Karangahake Gorge. It closed in 1978 and is now a walkway and cycle path, part of the Hauraki Rail Trail.
- Poro-O-Tarao Tunnel – 1071 meters long, replaced by a new tunnel in 1980.
- Three tunnels on the Otago Central Rail Trail (an old railway line) are between 152 and 229 meters long. All are open to the public.
- Three tunnels on the former Roxburgh Branch are between 226 and 443 meters long. These are also part of a rail trail with public access.
- Spooners Range Tunnel – 1352 meters long, on the closed Nelson Section. It is the longest disused rail tunnel in New Zealand and is open to the public as a walkway.
Road Tunnels
Road tunnels help cars and trucks travel through mountains or under cities.
Road Tunnels on State Highways
- Arras Tunnel – on SH 1 under the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington. It opened in 2014. It is named after a town in France where New Zealand soldiers dug tunnels during World War I.
- Awakino Gorge Tunnel – on SH 3. This single-lane tunnel was permanently closed in 2021 and replaced by new bridges.
- Homer Tunnel – on SH 94 between Hollyford Valley and Milford Sound. It is 1200 meters long and opened in 1954.
- Johnstone's Hill Tunnels – twin tunnels on SH 1 near Puhoi. They are 340 meters long and opened in 2009.
- Lyttelton road tunnel – on SH 74 under the Port Hills in Christchurch. It is 1900 meters long and opened in 1964.
- Moki Tunnel – on SH 43. It is about 200 meters long and is a single lane.
- Mount Victoria Tunnel – on SH 1 under Mount Victoria in Wellington. It is 623 meters long and opened in 1931.
- Terrace Motorway Tunnel – on SH 1 under The Terrace in Wellington. It is 460 meters long and opened in 1978.
- Victoria Park Tunnel – on SH 1 in central Auckland. It is 440 meters long and opened in 2011.
- Waterview Tunnel – on SH20 in central Auckland. At 2,400 meters, it is the longest road tunnel in New Zealand. It opened in 2017 as part of the Waterview Connection.
Road Tunnels on Other Roads
Many other roads, especially in rural areas, have tunnels.
- Okaihau, a short tunnel north of Okaihau, is now part of the Opua to Horeke Cycleway.
- In rural Taranaki, there are many single-lane tunnels. These include:
- Huinga Tunnel, near the village of Huinga.
- Kiwi Road tunnels, on Kiwi Road and Moki Road.
- Makahu Tunnel on Brewer Road.
- Matau Tunnel on Mangaoapa Road.
- Okau Tunnel, about 100 meters long, which is unusual because it is right next to a bridge.
- Uruti Tunnel on Uruti Road. It is about 200 meters long and took seven years to build, opening in 1923.
- In Wellington, there are several tunnels:
- Hataitai bus tunnel – 388 meters long, opened in 1907 as a tram tunnel.
- Karori tunnel – 74 meters long, opened in 1900.
- Moa Point tunnel – under the safety zone at Wellington International Airport.
- Northland tunnel – 90 meters long, opened in 1927.
- Seatoun tunnel – 144 meters long, opened in 1907.
Proposed or Planned Tunnels
New tunnels are always being planned or built to improve travel and services.
Road Tunnels
- Kaimai road tunnel – A new tunnel through the Kaimai Range has been suggested. It would make travel easier between the Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
- Wainuiomata Tunnel, part of a proposed road link near Wellington. It was eventually built as a utility tunnel.
Rail Tunnels
- Auckland City Rail Link, Auckland. These are two 3.5-kilometer rail tunnels being built under the Auckland CBD. Construction started in 2016 and is expected to be finished in 2025.
Mixed Use Tunnels
- Second Harbour Crossing in Auckland. This is likely to be a tunnel that could include the Victoria Park Tunnel. Plans now focus on building a rail tunnel first to help with train capacity.
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List of tunnels in New Zealand Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.