Panorama taken from Tunnel Beach near Dunedin. This amazing little beach is really only accessible at low tide, which is when this image was taken. It was early in the morning on a clear, cloudless day in spring 2008.

Tunnel Beach - Dunedin visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Tunnel Beach' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Otago.

Tunnel Beach is about 7km from the center of Dunedin, about half way between St Clair Park and Blackead. The beach is named after the tunnel that leads up through one of the cliffs to the top of a headland. This tunnel was created in the 1870s by workmen employed by John Cargill, a son of Captain William Cargill. This provided his family with, effectively, a private beach to enjoy.

Tunnel Beach is one of the easiest walks around Dunedin. The path to Tunnel Beach descends from Tunnel Beach Road through some fields and down a steep slope to the Tunnel Beach Headland (which has a large sea arch). From here narrow, dark and unlit steps descend through a tunnel in the headland to the beach.

From Dunedin follow signs for St Clair Park on Middleton Road. This becomes Blackhead Road. About 2.5km past St Clair Park is Tunnel Beach road, an unsealed track. Follow this to the end and park. Walk down the path to Tunnel Beach from here. A round trip takes about an hour.