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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -46.41759, 169.69432. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- 360 m return via same track
- Walking time
- 15 mins return via same track
- Track grade
- Easiest
- Location
- Catlins coastal area
- Dog access
- Dogs on a leash only. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
Take a short, scenic walk through the historic reserve to explore the world’s southernmost railway tunnel.
This DOC directory entry covers Historic Railway Tunnel Walk in Otago, within Catlins coastal area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 360 m return via same track
- Walking time: 15 mins return via same track
- DOC grade: Easiest
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Dog access
Dogs on a leash only. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The walk follows the fence line down to the old railway formation, which leads to the 250-metre tunnel. Walk through to follow the tracks to a picnic area overlooking the local farmland and scenery.
Getting there
The carpark and track entrance are signposted on SH92, the Southern Scenic Route. It's 5 km north of Owaka.
History and culture
Tunnel Hill was built as a part of the Catlins River Branch railway which formed a part of New Zealand’s national rail network. It was built mainly to provide access to timber for logging companies. The railway was built in sections between 1879 and 1915 with the majority closing in 1971, including the Tunnel Hill section.
This historic reserve preserves a tunnel on the old Catlins River Railway. The line’s construction, using handmade local bricks, began at Balclutha in 1879. This tunnel section was completed in 1896 and the line reached Owaka a year later.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is published in DOC's official route gallery with an explicit reuse licence. Its original caption and credit are retained; it does not establish current track conditions.
