The history

The Lindsay tunnel was once part of a water race that was approximately 10 kilometres long. It was built by the Harding family of Mount Vernon in the 1870’s

The water race was tunneled through the limestone rock to enable a gravity fed water system from the Waipawa Mate stream around to the Mount Vernon homestead.

When Mount Vernon station was subdivided in 1905 the water race became obsolete, but the tunnel remains intact today. It is approximately 200 metres long and for the main part is clean and dry.

Going by bike or on foot is straight forward

The bike trail begins at the SH2 bridge section of the trails on the northern side of Waipukurau - there is open ground there that at Lindsay Road and is okay for parking. This trail will take you all the way up to Lindsay Bush Reserve and you can then bike further to the tunnel track and entrance - the Lindsay Road carpark to the tunnel is approximately 5.5km. The trail is limestone all of the way and the track to the entrance has been recently upgrade to make access easier.

Getting there by car

Lindsay Road is off State Highway 2 just before Waipukurau (north of the bridge). Drive along Lindsay Road and then turn into Scenic Road which takes you to Lindsay Bush Reserve. You must park in the bush carpark - no vehicles along the limestone.

It’s an easy walk along the limestone stopbank - 7 or 8 minutes. This is also part of the bike trail, so vehicles are prohibited on the limestone. There is an short walk from the end of the limestone to the tunnel entrance.

The height of the tunnel would be roughly 1.5 metres at the entrance gradually getting smaller and the far end would be roughly 1 metre.  So adults need to walk with a stooped head and shoulders.

You can exit the tunnel at the end - but there is a barrier outside that stops visitors from walking on the farmland. You must return by walking back through the tunnel. Access to the farm is prohibited.