Skip to main content

The Karangahake Gorge Railway Tunnel


Lovely Summer's day - the old Karangahake Gorge conservation site, and this part of it which is the railway tunnel loop runs for about 45 minutes. Very cold inside, walls running with dripping water here and there but at over 100 years old what more can be expected?


But it all wasn't well back in the day it was being used by miners according to the 1904 issue of the Evening Post. In fact accidents were still happening 4 years later. There is talk today though of mining starting up again in this area, I hope it doesn't happen as it's such a lovely place to explore.


The railway tracks were apparently removed in 1981, much easier to walk through without them and the whole length of the tunnel is well lit up. A very popular place to explore not just for hikers but also for cyclists.
Labels:

Comments

Billy Blue Eyes said…
Great it can still be used, many here are bricked up for bats to live in
9 August 2017 at 19:20
William Kendall said…
A ghost story or two there, perhaps?
13 August 2017 at 03:27
carol l mck said…
Fascinating post and awesome photography ~ ^_^
14 August 2017 at 02:57
Graham Edwards said…
Good heavens above! I've never even heard of this. I wish I had have. I'd have loved to explore.
16 August 2017 at 08:15
Amypie71 said…
It's definitely worth checking out - a very historical area :-)
16 August 2017 at 11:26
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Grace Brothers

  We have 2 new chickens, both black ladies. If any of you are familiar with British comedy tv shows you will recognize the names we have given them. This one is named Miss Brahms. And this one is named Mrs Slocombe. At the moment we have them in a temporary shelter next to the Special Patrol Group that we've had for the last 9 months just so they can get to know each other before we intigrate the black ones in with the brown ones. These ones give us a white coloured egg whereas the brown shavers give us brown coloured eggs. Linking up with  Tuesday Treasures ,  Happy Tuesdays  and   Wordless Wednesday .
15 comments
Read more

Auckland Metropolis Museum

In amongt the modern new highrise buildings in Auckland City is this smaller vintage building that is currently for sale (I'd buy it if I had the money).   My research found that:  "It was designed by English-born architect Charles Towle and erected in the early 1930s as the Church of Christ, Scientist, the building's Graeco-Roman facade has towering columns that frame its impressive entranceway, with three ornate timber doors decorated with leadlight inserts providing access to the expansive foyer. Arched ceilings dominate the former congregational high stud space beyond the foyer and numerous picturesque windows provide a light, airy feel and an ambience many office buildings lack. The building housed congregational and Sunday school services for 70 years until it was sold and converted into office space in 2003. A significant refurbishment was also carried out with care taken to ensure that the building's distinctive character remained intact. Special architectural ...
16 comments
Read more

Westland Explorer's Monument

  In the nearby town of Hokitka (half an hour away) is the cemetery with this monument near the entranceway. It commemorates 4 men who lost their lives between 1863 and 1866 ; George Dobson - road engineer, murdered in 1866 Charlton Howitt - explorer, drowned in Lake Brunner 1863 Charles Townsend - drowned at Greymouth (probably in the Grey River) 1863 Henry Whitcombe - surveyor, drowned in the Taramakau River in 1863 Construction of the memorial started 1868 and the railings were added in 1869. Linking up with  Mosaic Monday .
11 comments
Read more