A fortress hidden in plain sight
Descend 60 Metres underground into one of New Zealand’s best-kept WWII secrets - Stony BatterTunnels
New Zealand’s largest WWII coastal fortress, 1.2km of hand-carved tunnels, quarried in total secrecy in 1943 to defend Auckland from invasion, and preserved almost exactly as they were left at war’s end.
Today, expert local guides lead you through gun turrets, engine rooms, and chambers before bringing you back up to spectacular coastal views over the Hauraki Gulf to the Coromandel Peninsula. A Category 1 heritage listing Stony Batter stands as one of the country’s most extraordinary defence structures, and an engineering achievement of historical significance for both its unique construction method and exceptional state of preservation.
Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Man O’ War Vineyards are proud to take on the role of kaitiaki - guardians of the Stony Batter Tunnels.
Stony Batter TunnelsBook a Tour
Opening Hours
From Wednesday 2nd September
Wednesday – Sunday
From Labour Weekend - 7 Days.
-
From Wednesday 2nd September | Wednesday – Sunday. From Labour Weekend - 7 Days.
10.30am
12.00pm
2.00pm
Tours - approximately 1 hour
-
0-5 years | FREE
Adult: 16 and over | $35
6-15 years (Maximum of 4 children per paying adult) | $15
Family - 2 adults 2 kids | $90
Exclusive Tour (up to 14pax) | $450
-
Stony Batter is at the remote eastern end of Waiheke, roughly 35–50 minutes drive from Matiatia Ferry Terminal. The final stretch is unsealed and relatively so best to allow extra time.
A car or the Eastern Explorer hop-on-hop-off bus* are your main options; there’s no regular public transport to the site.
*Note this does not operate year -round – please check Fullers Website for details.
-
From the car park, it;s about 1km (roughly 15–20 minutes) along a farm road to the visitor centre and tunnel entrance — uneven underfoot, with some incline, and you’ll likely share the path with grazing sheep. Wear proper closed-toe walking shoes.
-
Expect steep staircases, low lighting in places, and enclosed spaces - manageable for most fitness levels but worth knowing if you’re not keen on confined spaces.
-
Sturdy shoes, water, a jacket (it’s breezy and cool underground and exposed on the headland), and a camera — the surrounding views over the Hauraki Gulf are genuinely spectacular.
-
Make a day of it and pair your visit with lunch or a wine tasting at Man O’ War Vineyards. Feeling adventurous? Explore more of Waiheke’s eastern end with Forest Flight - an epic zipline journey through ancient Kauri forest, ending just steps from Man O’ War’sTasting Room & Restaurant.
Frequently Asked
Questions
-
Guided tours are temporarily paused while we prepare the site and visitors centred site for this new chapter. The reserve itself, gun emplacements, walking tracks, and views, remains open to the public. Tours of the Stony Batter Tunnels are bookable from September 2, 2026.
-
About 1km each way from the car park, roughly 15–20 minutes at an easy pace. The road is unsealed and uneven, with a gentle but sustained incline in parts.
-
No. For safety reasons, the tunnels are only accessible as part of a guided tour. The Historic Reserve, walking tracks, and gun emplacement sites above ground, however, are open to explore without a booking.
-
Approximately 1 hour.
-
Closed-toe walking shoes or sneakers, non-negotiable. The path crosses working farmland (expect sheep and the odd patch of mud or droppings) and the tunnel floors and staircases aren’t suited to sandals or jandals.
-
Yes – it’s a very family-friendly activity – the storytelling and the scale of the tunnels are a hit with children too. Carriers are a better bet for very young children.
-
The walk in has some incline and uneven ground, and the tunnels include staircases and enclosed sections. If you’re not comfortable with confined, dimly lit spaces or extended walking on uneven terrain, the gun emplacements and reserve walking tracks (no tunnel access) can still be enjoyed without going underground.
-
Bookings are highly recommended, especially on the weekend and over summer. Walk ups a welcome but there may be a wait for the next available tour.
-
Yes. The Historic Reserve, walking tracks, and the gun emplacement sites above ground are accessible without booking a guided tour, and several visitors have enjoyed the walk and views on this basis alone. The tunnels themselves, however, are only accessible as part of a guided tour for safety reasons.
-
Built between 1943 and 1948 in total wartime secrecy, Stony Batter was a coastal defence battery designed to protect Auckland from naval attack during WWII. Its 9.2-inch guns, the largest ever operated by the NZ military, were fired only once, in a 1951 test, and the site was decommissioned and stripped of its guns by the early 1960s. The tunnels sat
largely forgotten for decades before restoration work brought them back to life.
