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chevron_leftAuckland - Waiheke Island - Warkworth Deals

The Underworld - NZ’s largest WWII Subterranean Fortress

5.0

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Journey into the Underworld... experience an engineering and architectural marvel hidden in plain sight with 1.2km of subterranean tunnels, passages and chambers!

Highlights

Descend deep underground through a Fortress dug by hand to defend New Zealand
Explore 1.2kms of passages, tunnels and chambers
Guided tour - learn about WWII and this heritage-listed fortress

Fort Stony Batter is a WWII Coastal Defence Fortress located at the Eastern end of Waiheke Island. The location was chosen for its strategic advantage of an uninterrupted view of the Hauraki Gulf and shipping approach to Auckland city.

Commissioned in 1942 under absolute secrecy, the complex comprises 1.2km’s of subterranean passages, chambers and stairwells all tunnelled by hand. The fortress was designed to take direct enemy bombardment and is in a very high state of preservation. This is an Architectural and Engineering marvel.

Classified: Heritage 1 listed “Monument of national significance”.

Itinerary

Entrance passage, Large Magazine Chamber, Gun Turret, Grand Stairs to UnderWorld, Engine Room, Command Bunker and exit to subtropical forest.

Adult $30.00 (Aged 18+)

Youth $10.00 (Aged 13-17 years)

Child $0.00 (Free with paying Adult)

Family $90.00 (2x Adults + up to 3 Children aged 5-11 years)

What's included

Heritage tour guide, torches, fun...

Duration

Allow approximately 1 hour for the whole experience

Location

Stony Batter Tunnels
Man o War Road
Waiheke Island

Child Friendly

This experience welcomes families with children.

Notes

Family Pass: 2 Adults and up to 3 Children (aged 5-11 years). Full value of up to $90 if tickets purchased separately - discounts are shown from this rate.
Infants: Infants aged under 5 years go FREE.
Although tickets are booked for a specific time we accommodate changes without penalty. You are free to shift the time or day to suit your schedule up to 30 days from the original booking.
Tickets are valid up to 30 days from booking date. No rebooking necessary.
Hours:
Friday - Sunday: 11:00-3:00
Getting Here:
By Car - Take Waiheke Road out from Onetangi, left into Man o War road, 1st left Stony Batter Road - approx. 20/25-minute drive on country roads. There is a parking area adjacent to a walkway that crosses private farmland to reach the Stony Batter Historic Reserve - you will have a 1km (15-min walk) from the farm road to the reserve.
Taxi - get a taxi to Stony Batter Road and walk across the farm to the reserve.

Available Bookings from 13 Jul to 26 Jul 2025

All prices are shown in NZD ($)

Change Dates

11AM

12PM

1PM

2PM

Sun 13 Jul

Mon 14 Jul

Tue 15 Jul

Wed 16 Jul

Thu 17 Jul

Fri 18 Jul

Sat 19 Jul

Sun 20 Jul

Mon 21 Jul

Tue 22 Jul

Wed 23 Jul

Thu 24 Jul

Fri 25 Jul

Sat 26 Jul

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

Adult$30.00
Youth$10.00
Child Free of Charge
Family$75.00

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Authenticated ReviewsAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme

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5.0

5 reviews

The Underworld - NZ’s largest WWII Subterranean Fortress

Showing all 5 authenticated Bookme reviews

lynetter1 from New Zealand wrote on 17 March 2025

Best Tour on the Island

A magical surprise hosted by the best tour guide ever - Isaac, your a superstar!

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Jenny Read from New Zealand wrote on 12 November 2023

Waiheke tunnels

Highly recommended. Need good walking shoes - around 25 mins walk to tunnels and around 35 mins back to the car park. Definitely worth doing.

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Karen from New Zealand wrote on 03 February 2023

Stony Batter Underworld

An awesome experience would highly recommend. Our tour guide was very informative and got to see some extras as only ones on the tour.

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emmac64 from New Zealand wrote on 30 December 2022

Amazing :)

Absolutely amazing. Definitely worth the money. They are doing an amazing job doing up all of the tunnels and chambers :) Just incase you've prebooked - The road to the place is 30mins long on gravel. There is about a 15min walk to the reception for the tunnel tour. 100% needs to be on your too list!!!

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Gill Williams from New Zealand wrote on 18 February 2022

I wish I was a Waihekian

Great history. Great guide. Beautiful setting. Only negative is the signage to get there and the walking time from the car park is underestimated. Allow 25 mins to walk there.

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Bookme Help Terms & Conditions Operators

10:00 a.m.Thursday 13 July

Adult Aged 18+

Youth Aged 13-17 years

Child Free with paying Adult

Family 2x Adults + up to 3 Children aged 5-11 years

^*This option must be made together with another price type.

When you see the Qualmark logo, your activity of choice is endorsed by New Zealand Tourism's official quality assurance organisation and backed by leaders in the industry. It's your trusted guide to iconic activities and experiences that are awarded for their exceptionally high level of quality, safety and sustainability.

Qualmark Gold

This award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand. It denotes exceptional customer experiences at the heart of everything the company does. This business is leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world class sustainable visitor destination.

Qualmark Silver

This award is evidence of a sophisticated tourism business that consistently exceeds visitor expectations. Their proactive leadership and management ensure the business's focus on continuously improving their economic, social and environmental performance to create genuine, constantly evolving and sustainable tourism experiences.

Qualmark Bronze

The Qualmark Bronze award recognizes a business that operates with a high level of professionalism, is mindful of its environmental impact, and is dedicated to putting customers first.