I walked through the Hair Stream Storm Water Pipe and captured photographs along the way.
Approximately 50 years ago, my brother, a couple of other kids, and I, ventured through the stormwater pipe that channels Hair Stream beneath The Village. Today presented the perfect opportunity to repeat this adventure. My childhood exploration of this tunnel occurred in total darkness and wading through the stream, thus getting my shoes wet. Fifty years on, equipped with a smartphone to capture photos and illuminate the way, the experience was of course easier. Additionally, my trusty pair of hiking boots ensured my feet remained dry throughout the journey. Nevertheless, it still required a touch of recklessness to venture into the tunnel. I did inform others of my whereabouts in case of a significant earthquake or flood. However, considering that I had completed the walk more than five decades ago, I had never heard about any incident between then and now, so it seemed unlikely anything bad would happen. Perhaps driving the car to Wainuiomata was a more dangerous endeavour.
In the early hours of the morning, I kicked off my day with a coffee stop at the BP gas station. From there, I drove to the Louise Bilderbeck Hall car park and parked my vehicle. I embarked on my journey by following the grass strip leading to Hair Stream, eventually reaching the point where a water pipe crosses over the stream. With my phone in hand, I activated the flashlight feature to illuminate my path and then entered. Luckily, the water level in the stream was low, allowing me to navigate forward by placing my feet on the curved walls above the waterline. As I snapped my first photo, I found myself needing to use the flash, prompting me to switch off the torch. It was then that the true extent of the darkness enveloping the tunnel became apparent—aside from the initial light source, ahead lay nothing but pitch-black darkness.
The circular tunnel transitioned into a rectangular corridor, albeit slightly obstructed by an abandoned Woolworths shopping cart. Navigating through this new segment, I remained vigilant of overhead pipes while illuminating my surroundings with my phone’s flashlight. Water pipes emptied into the tunnel and ahead of me I could see light coming from the ceiling, which revealed itself to be a drain. Through its grate, I glimpsed a shop on Main Road in The Village.
Approaching the tunnel’s end, I eventually emerged, intending to return to my car. However, fenced-off sides of the creek necessitated a detour downstream until reaching public land. As I ventured along the creek’s edge, a vigilant dog’s incessant barking and uncertainty about the distance ahead prompted me to retreat back into the tunnel. En route, I spotted a previously overlooked manhole cover and took a photo, but later focused on navigating with my phone’s torchlight, refraining from frequent photo stops. (Later when looking at the photos, I spotted about 5 spider on the underside of that manhole cover. See photo to the right and zoom in.)
I exited the tunnel and returned to the car. The day was just beginning. I had a lot of other things planned like photograph The Village and also the Coast Road. The weather was good, I had time up my sleeve, and no other commitments until evening.
A point to consider regarding the photo collection below: these images were captured with a flash. If you intend to undertake this walk yourself, keep in mind that the surroundings are completely dark.
Now for a little bit of history. It was the Pollard family who piped the stream, so building could be started on the shops at The Village. Alfred John Pollard (1895 – 1965) resided in Wainuiomata and was known as an earthworks contractor and developer. He was the proprietor of A. J. Pollards and Sons Ltd, undertaking significant road construction and upkeep projects in Wainuiomata from the 1950s to the 1980s.
