Tunnel Beach

We've been meaning to visit Tunnel Beach for a long time and finally got there on Easter Sunday. Tunnel Beach is situated on the southern coast on the edge of Dunedin, in fact, just opposite the Green Island village, between St Clair and Blackhead.

From the car park it is a 20 minute stroll down to the beach, but coming back the climb up the hill is very steep and takes around 40 minutes. However, it was well worth the effort and we enjoyed the outing very much.

The tunnel itself is man-made, commissioned by John Cargill in the 1870s to provide access for his family to the lovely secluded beach.

As we approached the beach we found it odd to see pigeons everywhere, rather than the expected seagulls. Once we got down on the beach we could see why - the cliff face provides wonderfull sheltered pockets where the pigeons have made their nests.

The slideshow gives a taste of the spectacular wind- and sea-eroded sandstone formations.