Wainuiomata Tunnels & Shafts

Wainuiomata has numerous tunnels. Some are known and others are buried or remain hidden to this day.

Waterwork Tunnels

Due to the topography of Wainuiomata coupled with being tasked as a source for the Wellington region’s water, the suburb has numerous tunnels. Some are hidden, while others are out in the open or signposted. Below is a non-exhaustive list of tunnels that you can visit today or have since been buried. The list is sorted in alphabetical order.

Black Creek / Dicks Tunnel

Constructed in the 1880s, this brick lined tunnel was abandoned around 1911. Its location is behind Bilderbeck Hall and the former Palliser Hotel. The tunnel was filled with gravel during the early 1970s and subsequently covered.

Colemans Tunnel

Built in the 1880s, this subterranean shaft and tunnel in Wainuiomata was abandoned by 1899. It is concealed today beneath dense forest cover and is known to few. Accessing the site requires navigating unmarked terrain as there is no established track.

Learn more →

Little Tunnel

Constructed during the 1920s, this tunnel runs parallel to the Orongorongo River. It was built concurrently with the Orongorongo Tunnel. It is still in service.

Orongorongo Tunnel

Constructed in the 1920s, this tunnel, situated between the Reservoir or Wainuiomata River and the Orongorongo River, is still functional. It houses a small railway inside and some pipes. The tunnel has restricted access but tours to the site allow visitors a look.

Wainuiomata Tunnel

Construction began in the 1930s, yet it wasn’t fully connected until the 1980s. Situated at Waiu Street in Wainuiomata, it emerges near the conclusion of Tunnel Grove at Seaview in Lower Hutt.

Waiwhetu Tunnel

This tunnel, constructed with brick lining during the 1880s, has since been sealed off with bricks. The entrance to this tunnel can be observed along the Beeline Mountain Bike Track on the Wainuiomata side, situated close to the terminus of Waiu Street.

Culverts and Creek / Stormwater Drains

Like any town or suburb, Wainuiomata has several navigable tunnels that divert rainwater and channel creeks underground. However, exploring these tunnels can be hazardous. The risks include flooding and sudden water surges, confined spaces with poor ventilation, slippery and uneven surfaces, low visibility and disorientation, exposure to contaminants, vermin, and potential structural issues.

Hair Street Creek Tunnel

For decades, the Hair Street Creek Tunnel has directed the flow of Hair Creek under The Village. It remains in use today, even with the recent housing developments nearby. The tunnel features various drains and pipes that feed into the main tunnel. The structure consists of two parts: a circular concrete pipe that transitions into a rectangular tunnel.

Learn more →

Wainuiomata Stream Culvert

A culvert channels the Wainuiomata Stream beneath Moores Valley Road. This location holds historical significance as the site of a former sawmill, which was part of the area’s early logging industry.