Tatare Tunnels

Tatare Tunnels are a historic water-tunnel system cut roughly 500 m through the side of Tatare Gorge, near Franz Josef/Waiau. It’s an unusual stop if you’re curious about mining and early engineering; the public route turns around just inside the far end of the first tunnel, before damaged wooden structures farther on.

The return route begins at the end of Cowan Street in Franz Josef and is 3.6 km, about 1 hour 20 minutes. It shares its first five minutes with Callery Gorge Walk, follows an old 4WD road, then drops to a view into Tatare Gorge before a steep, narrow climb to the tunnel. The walk is rated easy to intermediate, but expect a rougher finish than that label may suggest. Bring a torch and raincoat; water can reach ankle depth, so wear shoes you don’t mind getting wet. Dogs aren’t allowed.

Miners drove about 500 m of tunnel to carry water from Tatare Gorge to the Waiho terrace. Gold didn’t cover the mining costs, but Franz Josef was established on the operation site. From 1911, sluice pipes supplied the Graham Hotel; high-pressure water turned a Pelton wheel that powered a sawmill by day and town lights at night. The tunnel water ran a small hydro station in the gorge from 1938 until a slip destroyed it in 1982.

Visitors repeatedly report glowworms inside the tunnel. The passage is dark and the floor can be wet, so keep a torch for footing and don’t count on glowworms being visible.