Destination's Journey

Category: Tunnel

  • Fort Scratchley Newcastle

    Fort Scratchley Newcastle

    Fort Scratchley Newcastle

    No longer used by the military, Fort Scratchley is now a memorial to the servicemen and women who served there. During World War Two, the Japanese submarine I-21 attempted to shell Newcastle and the BHP Steel Works. Fortunately most of the shells missed or failed to explode with no-one hurt and only minor damage caused. Fort Scratcheley returned fire but failed to hit the submarine. In doing so, it became the only Australian fort to fire on an enemy ship.

    Regularly fired by volunteers, two of the original guns are still in place. Most of the original buildings and tunnels are intact and can be viewed, with guided tours of the tunnels also available.

    Now a heritage site, the fort’s buildings and guns from World War Two are still intact. Still operational, the guns are fired each day by volunteers. The upperworks and buildings are free to walk around, but a tour of the tunnels require a ticket as it is a guided tour.

    As well as the fortifications, the views over Newcastle and the nearby beaches are fantastic.

    Fort Exterior Displays

    On entering the fort, you are free to enter all areas apart from the underground tunnels. As the tunnel tours are timed, we booked one and then went exploring the remainder of the fort. At the top of the hill, the 6-inch guns that fired on the I-21 can be seen and you are able to get close to them.

    Older muzzle loading guns have been returned to the fort and re-sited where they used to be. The size of the 80-pound cannon really has to be seen to understand how massive it is.

    Outside wall of Fort Scratchley
    Outside wall of Fort Scratchley
    The fort's buildings on the upper level Fort Scratchley
    The fort’s buildings on the upper level
    80 Pound muzzle Loading cannon over looking the harbour Fort Scratchley
    80 Pound muzzle Loading cannon over looking the harbour
    6-inch Nark VII guns Fort Scratchley
    6-inch Nark VII guns
    View over Nobbys Beach to the Harbour entrance
    View over Nobbys Beach to the Harbour entrance

    Display Rooms

    Rooms that used to house soldiers now serve as display rooms showing the history of the fort. A full room is dedicated to Sir Peter Scratcheley who the fort is named after. Another room has a model of the I-21 and some of the shells fired that night.

    Display of Sir Peter Scratchley
    Display of Sir Peter Scratchley
    Weapons display Fort Scratchley
    Weapons display
    Uniform Display Fort Scratchley
    Uniform Display
    Women's uniform display
    Women’s uniform display
    Star shell fired by I-21 on 8 June 1942
    Star shell fired by I-21 on 8 June 1942
    Model of the Japanese submarine I-21 Fort Scratchley
    Model of the Japanese submarine I-21
    The fort's gaol
    The fort’s gaol

    The Tunnels

    The highlight of the trip was the tunnel tour which takes you under the fort and into its working areas. The guide was great and full of information about the fort’s past and how it worked. From the magazines that used to store the fort’s ammunition to the gun emplacements it was a comprehensive tour. We were able to get close to most of the guns to get a detailed look.

    One of the tunnels, a safety light and stairs leading out
    One of the tunnels, a safety light and stairs leading out
    One of the fort's tunnels Fort Scratchley
    One of the fort’s tunnels
    Nordenfelt 1 1/2 inch gun
    Nordenfelt 1 1/2 inch gun
    The disappearing gun's pit. Now covered
    The disappearing gun’s pit. Now covered
    80 pounder muzzle loading cannon Fort Scratchley
    80 pounder muzzle loading cannon
    Shells in the magazine Fort Scratchley
    Shells in the magazine
    8 Inch breach loading gun
    8 Inch breach loading gun
    How the disappearing guns worked Fort Scratchley
    How the disappearing guns worked

    What Did We Think?

    This was a great place to visit, because it’s full of local history and amazingly restored guns and displays. Well worth the visit.

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

  • Box Vale Walking Track Tunnel

    Box Vale Walking Track and Tunnel

    Only a ten-minute drive from the centre of Mittagong, the Box Vale Walking Track and Tunnel is an amazing bush walk. Not only do you get to see Australian bush, but a rail cutting and old, disused tunnel.

    There are two easily accessible places to start the walk. The first is closer to Mittagong but around 3 to 5 hours for the return trip. The second is closer, with a 4km return walk, taking about 30 to 45 minutes each way.

    We chose the second option and parked near a locked gate at the start of a fire trail.

    Box Vale Walking Track Parking Area
    Box Vale Walking Track Parking Area

    The Fire Trail Section

    Maintained to ensure access for firefighting, the fire trail is an easy walk. Not far along the trail, look out for a sign on the right-hand side. This is where the Box Vale Walking Track diverges. It is narrow and overgrown, so easy to miss.

    Box Vale Walking Track and Tunnel
    Start of the Track

    Trail to the Tunnel

    Once you see the post with an arrow, follow the tack into the bush. There is no official sign here, so someone has written “tunnel” on it with an arrow. From this point, the vegetation changes for that found on the fire trail. It becomes denser with more ferns and undergrowth.

    Not long after crossing a bridge over a small creek, you arrive at the tramway cutting.

    Sign Post on the Fire Trail
    Sign Post on the Fire Trail Leading to the Tunnel
    Bridge on the Box Vale Walking Track Parking Area
    Bridge on the Box Vale Walking Track

    Tramway Rail Cutting

    This former railway line was used to transport coal from the Nattai Region to the main southern line at Mittagong. Although the rail lines are long gone, the cuttings remain and form a great part of the walk. This section of the walk can become extremely muddy, so wear good waterproof boots.

    The scenery here is great, while the overgrown walls of the cuttings give the area a surreal feeling.

    Cutting for the old tramway Box Vale Walking Track and Tunnel
    Cutting for the old tramway
    Cutting for the old tramway on the Box Vale Walking Track and Tunnel
    Cutting for the old tramway
    Fallen Tree in the tramway cutting
    Fallen Tree in the tramway cutting

    Box Vale Tunnel

    The highlight of the walk is the 84m Box Vale Tunnel. Once again, good walking boots are required as the floor can be wet and muddy, as well as slippery. Walking through the tunnel was fun, because it was very atmospheric.

    Tunnel Entrance
    Tunnel Entrance
    Tunnel Entrance
    Tunnel Entrance
    Box Vale Tunnel
    Box Vale Tunnel
    Inside the tunnel Box Vale Walking Track and Tunnel
    Inside the tunnel

    What Did We Think of the Box Vale Walking Track and Tunnel?

    The old tramway cutting and tunnel added something different because of the way they are overgrown. The otherworldly feel from the overgrown areas was fun to walk through as well as take photos. Apart from a few areas to get around boulders, the walk was easy because it was mainly flat.

    To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

  • Derby Tin Mining Tunnel Tasmania

    Derby Tin Mining Tunnel Tasmania

    Derby Tin Mining Tunnel

    Originally a tin mining district, Derby is now a haven for mountain bike riders, with an established series of bike trails in the district. A remnant of the mining history has been incorporated into the bike and walking trails, making an excellent addition to the usual Australian bush you usually go through. The old Derby tin mining tunnel is easy to walk through, but bring a torch, so that you can see.

    Getting There

    Located in north-east Tasmania, Derby is 90 minutes from Launceston and three and a half hours from Hobart. We travelled here from the Bay of Fires, only an hour away, stopping on the way at Paris Dam Wall.

    Bike Tracks

    The town is surrounded by bike tracks, which attract people from all over Australia. Generally, the tracks are dual use, biking/riding, but check before setting out and be polite to other users. We only walked to the tunnel and found the bike riders to be polite and friendly, but we always moved off the track to let them through.

    The tracks wind through Tasmanian temperate rainforest making them magical to walk through.

    • Track Through the Trees
      Track Through the Trees
    • Walking / Bike Track Derby
      Walking / Bike Track
    • Walking Track
      Walking / Bike Track

    The Tunnel

    The tunnel was one of several used to move waste from mines to the river, but is the only one now accessible. During our visit, the lights were not working, but we had a torch, so walking was not a problem. Without light, the tunnel would be pitch dark and dangerous.

    While walking, keep an ear out for bikes, so that you can keep out of their way. You will hear them a long way off and they will see your light. Several groups passed us as we walked, with no problems.

    Good footwear is essential as the floor is uneven in places and can be wet.

    At 600m long, it does not take long to walk through before entering daylight again.

    • Entrance to the Tunnel
      Entrance to the Tunnel
    • Tin Tunnel
      Tin Tunnel
    • Tin Tunnel
      Light to the Outside of the Tin Tunnel
    • Exit From the Tunnel
      Exit From the Tunnel

    What Did We Think

    This was a really fun walk and something different to the usual bush walks we do. The tunnel was easy to walk through using a light and wearing good walking shoes.

    To read other posts about Tasmania, click here.

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