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Tunnel Campsite

Tunnel Campsite sits on the grassy flats beside Pararaha Stream in the Waitākere Ranges Regional Park, west of Auckland.

The site is reached via a combination of tracks — including Gibbons, Muir, and Pararaha Tracks — the last of which involves steep terrain and a roped rock-face crossing.

A hexagonal cooking shelter serves as a welcome base, and a bio-composting toilet with paper provided is on site. Water is available from the stream but must be boiled before drinking.

The campsite takes its name from the nearby tunnel at Tunnel Point, a remnant of the valley's logging era.

A visible tramway embankment marks the approach, and just beyond the tunnel sits an old boiler left behind by workers when it proved too large to pass through.

From the campsite, the Pararaha Stream is easily accessible for exploration, and the surrounding landscape features dramatic steep-sided volcanic cliffs and regenerating native forest.


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