North Head tunnels?

[Forest]

Didn't some folks survey the place with a ground-penetrating radar a few years ago?

IIRC they didn't find anything.

[Delerium]

There are tunnels and emplacements on motu tapu... thats just across the causeway from rangitoto.

[Swoop]

Didn't some folks survey the place with a ground-penetrating radar a few years ago?
IIRC they didn't find anything.

Quite correct, their equipment "didn't find anything".

First time I've heard about a tunnel to Rangitoto. Sounds like BUMF to me.

[Ixion]

Mr Roller mentions HMNZS Tamaki. This is now at Narrow Neck on the mainland, but until recent years (1960s ??) was out on Motahi Island (or Motatap, not sure which - I think it was the one you can walk to from Rangitoto) . Possibly, either confusion between the two Tamakis has introduced Rangitoto, or there really WAS a tunnel to the original Tamaki, in which case an extenssion to Rangitoto would have been trivial

Given the importance of the original Tamaki, tunnel access from Devonport would have made obvious logistics sense. Hell of a tunnel, but. Still, never pays to underestimate what the Navy can do when it makes up its mind.

(I thought there might have been a shore station named "HM(NZ)S Rangitoto" but I can find no record of one)

[Forest]

There's no chance of a tunnel to Rangitoto.

Remember that power tunnel under Grafton than Mercury built in the late 90's? It was 9.2km long and cost over $120 million.

[Ixion]

They didn't have the Navy on the job ! Or an unlimited supply of noddies.

Got to admit it sounds a bit ambitious though. None the less, I wouldn't put anything past the Senior Service, silly buggers just don't know when something's impossible, and just go and do it.

[PrincessBandit]

That could be where my virginity is.

That lost??!!!

[SixPackBack]

There's no chance of a tunnel to Rangitoto.

Remember that power tunnel under Grafton than Mercury built in the late 90's? It was 9.2km long and cost over $120 million.

Would tend to agree however truth is often stranger than fiction..........

Dusted the missus off and scooted up north head on Saturday and one natural feature that had me thinking was the volcanic strata, in several places large natural holes appear in the side of what looks like man made tunnels. kinda got me thinking that the original European inhabitants may have stumbled upon natural tunnels that they then took advantage of.

Also obvious when you start digging around that a lack of information about the existing tunnels begs more questions than answers. For instance many tunnels end blocked off and virtually all have at best a rudimentary explanation of there use. DOC Internet site also glazes over the 'tunnel legend'???

I am planning to spend a bit more time at north head photographing and mapping. While it is just as likely that 'what you see is what you get' my earliest recollection of life in NZ [early 70's] included some very convincing conversations with old boys that I personally find hard to ignore.

[PrincessBandit]

Problem with a lot of those places is they reek of wee and highly suspect bits of discarded rubbish.....eewwwww

[Eddieb]

This has always fascinated me as well.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/docume...-june-2002.pdf is DOC's self guided walk map of North Head with overlays of the tunnels and a concise history of each area use.

If I was local I'd have be keen for some exploring.

[Disco Dan]

What no talk of the HUGE bunkers underneath the Auckland University Epsom campus?? Hmm...

[Toaster]

Yep, went through the tunnels back in 1990 when I was in the Navy (soap collector).

I know nothing, admit nothing and you will have to get me drunk to find out the truth.

[Ixion]

This has always fascinated me as well.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/docume...-june-2002.pdf is DOC's self guided walk map of North Head with overlays of the tunnels and a concise history of each area use.

If I was local I'd have be keen for some exploring.

I am entirely certain that the tunnels shown there (I've actually been through those a few years ago - that disappearing gun is an interesting item, though the buggers have buggered it up. And Mrs Ixion forbade me to dismantle the mechanism. Bugger) are just a VERY small part of the whole complex.

For one thing, they are pretty much on one level. The big tunnel complex I remember had at least 4 levels. We went up one level and down two. But there may well have been more. Also, there are none of the steel doors I remember. And they are simply not extensive enough.

We walked for at least half an hour in one direction. Admitted in the dark except for a couple of candles (and a small torch which went flat). And the same back. And we certainly didn't reach the end - just the end of our faith in our leader to be able to navigate back again!

Also, logistically, no-one would be silly enough to put in batteries like that and not make provision for communication between them, and with commanding officers. They would hardly have sent runners around the outside during a bombardment!

Not enough space for stores, or ammo, or workshops , or sleeping quarters, in what is open nowdays, either. And no provision for medical or wounded evacuation.

[curious george]

FFS sake you lot! i have to spoil a good story, but I don't think there is anything there that's undiscovered.
Go and have a look for yourselves!
There ain't nothing there except a few measly tunnels to frighten 5 year olds.
Go on, grab a torch and have a look.
I'm looking at north head and Mt Vic right now, and I ain't seen anything like it.
But now, as for fuel tanks, don't buy a property anywhere the Navy base.
Big ones underground thar...

[Mikkel]

Awesome thread... Nothing like dark cavernous tunnels to send the imagination of a young boy (or older man) tripping!

I loved this little "VR" tour of a Abandoned Missile Silo. Enjoy!

The university in Denmark where I took my M.Sc. has en extensive network of underground tunnels. These are of course off limits for students and other unauthorised personnel. Many were the rumours and stories about what was down there. Never got to explore the entire lot - should have had a serious go at it after I graduated

Went on a caving trip with some mates about a year ago - that was awesome! If you don't suffer from either claustrophobia or fear of getting yourself wet, cold and mucky I can warmly recommend going caving. It is wicked fun and squeezing yourself through dark and moist nooks and crannies far below the earth has a weird primal appeal

Conspiracy theory or otherwise?...The Devonport North Head tunnels have been the subject of conjecture and discussion for many years, many of the older generation [many now deceased] have talked openly about huge caverns containing aircraft and an armoury.
Have any of the older boys/girls on KB seen these tunnels?

Where are these tunnels exactly - near Auckland or?

That could be where my virginity is.

Unlikely, I heard that it had been lost at sea...

I'd love to do a mission through there one day. There are bunkers and gun emplacements by Lyttletyon Harbour iirc.

Seconded!

I dunno about bunkers on Banks Peninsula - but there are certainly old gun emplacements. They are neither hidden nor very exciting though. Not unlikely that they would make a good camping shelter if one should be so inclined.