List of tunnels in Australia

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Outbound lanes of CityLink, inside the Burnley Tunnel, Melbourne 2010

This is a list of tunnels in Australia which includes any road, railway, waterway or other form of tunnel, anywhere in the country.

NameImageLocaleCarriesTypeLengthNotes
mft
Acton TunnelActon, Australian Capital TerritoryCarries Parkes Way under a hillRoad190623Three levels, with the upper two being used for car parking and storage by the Australian National University

New South Wales

NameImageLocaleCarriesTypeLength[1]Notes
mft
Airport railway lineWolli Creek to CentralEast Hills railway lineRail10,00033,000
Bilson TunnelKosciuszko National ParkSkitubeRail3,30010,800
Blue Cow TunnelKosciuszko National ParkSkitubeRail2,6008,500
Ardglen TunnelUpper Hunter ShireMain Northern railway lineRail4881,601[2]
Airport TunnelMascotGeneral Holmes DriveRoad5501,800Two in-line dual tunnels that carry runways for Sydney Airport[3]
Avon Tunnel Dombarton to Avon Maldon - Dombarton railway line Rail 4,00013,000 A planned single track tunnel. Only a few metres at each end were evacuated. 150.7372°, -34.4451° [4]
Balmain CollieryBelow Sydney HarbourCoal mine
Belmore TunnelBlue MountainsMain Western railway lineRailUsed by Zig Zag tourist railway on the Lithgow Zig Zag
Bethungra SpiralBethungraMain Southern railway lineRail205673Two tunnels
Border TunnelRichmond ValleyNorth Coast lineRail1,1603,810On the border between New South Wales and Queensland[5]
Box Vale tunnelMittagongBox Vale rail lineunlined tunnel through final spur
Bullio Tunnel (Wombeyan Caves Rd Tunnel)Nattai National ParkWombeyan Caves RoadRoad2272
Busby's BoreFrom Centennial Parklands to Hyde ParkSydney water supplyWater3,60011,800Built from 1827 to 1837 and remains in limited use[6]
Bylong Rail TunnelBylongSandy Hollow to Maryvale Line, No 3 of 5Rail1,9756,480At the time of its construction, it was the longest rail tunnel[citation needed]
Boronia TunnelsCowanMain North lineRail1,3134,3081-4 in use, 5 deviated; double track; longest tunnel is 602 metres (1,975 ft)
Bungendore - Queanbeyan railBombala lineRailBrooks Bank tunnel and two Pine Range tunnels
Carcoar TunnelCarcoarBlayney–Demondrille railway lineRail281922No longer in use
City CircleSydney central business districtSydney underground railwaysRail5,00016,000Estimate of tunnel length from Central to Circular Quay and return. Two tunnels
Clarence TunnelClarence, Blue MountainsMain Western lineRail4931,617Replaced by Ten Tunnels Deviation; used by Zig Zag tourist railway
Colinton rail tunnelColintonBombala lineRail161528No longer in use
Cooks River TunnelBetween Sydney Airport and TempeM5 Motorway RoadUnder Cooks River
Cougal SpiralRichmond ValleyNorth Coast lineRail3691,211Two tunnels (See also Border Tunnel)
Cross City TunnelSydney central business districtCross City TunnelRoad2,1006,900Two tunnels[7]
Cudgen Road TunnelTweed ValleyPacific Motorway Road134440Twin tunnels; opened in 2002[8]
Devonshire Street TunnelSydney central business districtRailway Square to Surry HillsPedestrian300980[9]
Dorrigo railway lineDorrigoDorrigo railway lineRailTwo tunnels of unknown length between Glenreagh and Timber Top
Eastern Distributor TunnelBetween Woolloomooloo and Surry HillsEastern Distributor Road1,7005,600Completed in 2000; tolled on exit, northbound only; unique 'piggyback' design with three lanes, northbound, stacked on top of three lanes, southbound[10][11]
Eastern Suburbs railway lineSydneyEastern Suburbs railway lineRailErskineville to Bondi Junction
Epping to Chatswood railway lineSydneyMetro North West & Bankstown LineRail13,00043,000
Fernleigh TunnelRailRail trail-cycleway
Gib tunnelbetween Mittagong & BowralMain South lineRail5161,693Two tunnels; original single-track line now replaced; and one double-track line adjacent
Glenbrook Tunnel (1892)GlenbrookMain Western Line (since deviated)Heritage6342,080
Glenbrook Tunnel (1913)Between Lapstone and GlenbrookMain Western lineRail283928Double-track line, in use
Glowworm Tunnel Rd TunnelWollemi National ParkGlowworm Tunnel RoadRoad160520
Helensburgh Tunnels including the
Helensburgh Glow Worm, Lilyvale and Otford tunnels		Illawarra escarpmentIllawarra railway lineRail3,25710,686Seven disused tunnels; previous use between 1884 and 1920[12][13][14]
plus
Seven in use dual line tunnels plus one single tunnel
Kings Cross TunnelKings CrossRoad274899
Lane Cove TunnelLane CoveM2 Motorway Road3,60011,800
Long IslandHawkesbury River stationMain North lineRail263863Two tunnels; one Disused single track tunnel used for storage and a Double track, in use, adjacent
Malaita PointKatoombaRailthrough post of a coal mine
MarrangarooLithgowMain Western lineRail9743,196Former single-track line; since deviated as double-track line, in use. Only double-track line length shown
Merewether BluffMerewetherRailDisused, Australia's first two railway tunnels, 1861 & 1862, privately operated[15]
M4 East TunnelBetween Haberfield and HomebushM4 Motorway Road5,50018,000Dual tunnels[16]
M4-M5 Link (WestConnex)Between Haberfield and St PetersM4/M5 /Road9,20030,200Australia's longest road tunnel[16]
M5 East TunnelBetween Beverly Hills and ArncliffeM5 Motorway Road
M8 MotorwayBetween Beverly Hills and St PetersM8 Motorway Road9,00030,000
Moore Park TunnelMoore ParkCBD and South East Light RailLight railfrom Eastern Distributor to Anzac Parade
Mount AlexandraMittagongFitzroy Iron Worksshort tunnel on horse drawn tramway replacement
Mount RennieKatoombaNarrow NeckRail3951,296Disused; previous use shale transport
Mullet Creek TunnelNorth of the Hawkesbury River in Wondabyne, Central CoastMain North lineRail4561,496Double track, in use, from the Hawkesbury Bridge Platform and Jct (end Hawkesbury Bridge deviation)
New Main TunnelPictonMain South lineRail183600Double track, in use, between Picton station and Redback tunnel
Newnes Glowworm TunnelBetween Newnes and LithgowNewnes railway lineRail1,3204,330Rail use between 1907 and 1932; converted to pedestrian and tourism use[17]
NorthConnexBetween Pennant Hills and WahroongaPacific Motorway /Hills MotorwayRoad9,00030,000Opened 31 October 2020[18]
Old Main TunnelPictonMain South lineRail181594Disused; previous use between 1867 and 1919
Pyrmont and Glebe Railway TunnelsBetween Pyrmont and GlebeInner West Light RailLight rail1,5004,900Two double-track tunnels; completed in 1922; estimated length[19]
Redbank TunnelTahmoorMain South lineRail181594Double-track, in use;[20] deviated, filled in[21]
Red Hill TunnelsCoffs HarbourNorth Coast lineRail9553,133Five tunnels, opened in 1922
St Helena TunnelEwingsdale, near Byron Bay, Tweed ValleyPacific HighwayRoad4341,424Opened 18 December 2015[22]
StockringtonMaitlandRichmond Vale railway line3 tunnels
Sydney Harbour TunnelBetween Woolloomooloo and North Sydney under Sydney HarbourSydney Harbour Tunnel Road2,8009,200[23]
Sydney Harbour railway electricity tunnelBetween Birchgrove and GreenwichBelow Sydney HarbourPower supply5401,760Approximate distance[24][25]
Sydney Metro NorthwestBetween Bella Vista and Epping stationsMetro North West & Bankstown LineRail15,50050,900Opened May 2019[26]
Sydney Metro City & SouthwestBetween Chatswood and Sydenham stations in SydneyRail15,50050,900Opened in August 2024 becoming Australia's longest tunnel.
Tank Stream tunnelBetween Hyde Park and Circular Quay;
Sydney central business district		Tank StreamStorm water7002,300Estimate of remnants of 1860s tunnel[27]
Ten Tunnels DeviationBlue MountainsMain Western lineRail2,8229,259Replaced the Lithgow Zig Zag; ten tunnels of ranging in length from 70 to 825 metres (230 to 2,707 ft)[28]
Tickhole TunnelBetween Cardiff and Kotara stations;
Newcastle		Main North lineRail3701,210Dual tunnels ranging in length from 165 to 205 metres (541 to 673 ft)[29][30][31][32]
Tugun Bypass TunnelTweed HeadsGold Coast AirportRoad3341,096[33]
Upper Nepean SchemeCampbelltownWaterTwo tunnels
Woy Woy TunnelBetween Wondabyne and Woy Woy stations, Central CoastMain North lineRail1,6905,544Opened 15 August 1887; double track[34]
Wynyard WalkSydney central business districtWynyardPedestrian180590[35]

Queensland

NameImageLocaleCarriesTypeLengthNotes
mft
Airport LinkBetween Bowen Hills and Toombul;
Brisbane		Airport Link Road6,70022,000Australia's longest road tunnel (at the time)[36]
Boolboonda TunnelMount Perry
Boolboonda, Bundaberg Region		Bundaberg to Mount Perry railway lineRail heritage192630[37]
Border TunnelRichmond Gap, connecting New South Wales and QueenslandNSW North Coast lineRail1,6005,200On the border between New South Wales and Queensland (see New South Wales section above)
Cherry Gully TunnelSouthern Downs RegionWarwick - Stanthorpe LineRail272892Comprises two single-track tunnels[38]
Clem Jones TunnelBetween Woolloongabba and Bowen Hills, BrisbaneClem Jones Tunnel Road4,80015,700Two parallel tubes under the Brisbane River[39]
Cross River RailFrom Dutton Park rail to Boggo Road busway stations in BrisbaneRail5,90019,400Two bored tunnels under construction with one complete in 2021 but not operational[40]
Dalveen TunnelDalveen, Southern Downs RegionWarwick to Wallangarra railway lineRail140460single line rail tunnel[41]
Dularcha Railway TunnelMooloolah, Sunshine Coast RegionNorth Coast lineRail100330Disused line[42]
Eastern BuswayDutton Park, BrisbaneAnnerley RoadRoad, busway6402,100Built under Boggo Road Gaol[43]
George Bridges TunnelNundah, BrisbaneSandgate RoadRoad285935[44]
Inner City Bypass tunnelBreakfast Creek, BrisbaneInner City Bypass Road3501,150[45]
Lahey's Canungra Tramway TunnelCanungra, Gold CoastPedestrians onlyRail heritage91299c. 1900[46]
Legacy WayToowong and Kelvin Grove, BrisbaneLinking the Western Freeway with the Inner City BypassRoad4,60015,100Two bored tunnels carrying two motorway grade lanes of traffic in each direction[47]
Leopard Street TunnelBrisbaneStormwaterc. 1890
Main Range tunnelsMain RangeMain LineRail8862,907A series of nine single-track or double-track tunnels that date from c. 1866
Many Peaks - Monto loop lineBoyne ValleyGladstone to Monto railway lineRail heritage7302,400Six tunnels on a disused railway line
Muntapa rail tunnelCooyar, Toowoomba RegionCooyar railway lineRail heritage280920[48]
Victoria TunnelGrandchesterMain LineRail5371,762[49]
Yimbun Railway Tunnel Harlin, Somerset RegionBrisbane Valley railway lineRail100330Completed in 1910; line closed in 1993[50]

South Australia

NameImageLocaleCarriesTypeLengthNotes
mft
Ambleside TunnelVerdunMain South LineRail172564[51] Tunnel 9[52]
Barossa Reservoir supply tunnelWilliamstownBetween South Para River and South Para ReservoirWater2,0006,600
Clarendon Weir to Happy Valley Reservoir Tunnelsouth of Adelaide city centreWater5,00016,000[53]
Dowds Hill TunnelEast of PeterboroughCrystal Brook-Broken Hill railway line under Wilmington–Ucolta RoadRail95312[54]
Echo TunnelBelair National Park, BelairFootpath and creek under Main South LinePedestrian
Eden Hills TunnelsEden HillsBelair railway lineRail156512Tunnel 3 constructed 1880s[55]
Main South Line1565121920[56]
Former Coromandel TunnelBlackwoodMain South LineRailTunnel 4, converted to a cutting and bridge when track duplicated 1920[52]
Former Pinera TunnelBelairMain South LineRailTunnel 5, converted to a cutting and bridge when track duplicated 1920[52]
Former Sleeps Hill TunnelsPanoramaPrevious alignment of Main South LineRail170560Tunnels 1 and 2, 1880s–1920[57][58]
3601,180
Heysen TunnelsMount Lofty RangesSouth Eastern FreewayRoad5001,600[59]
Long Gully TunnelBelairMain South LineRail304997[55] Tunnel 7[52]
Murray Bridge TunnelMurray BridgeMain South LineRail80260[60]
National Park TunnelBelairMain South LineRail193633[55] Tunnel 6[52]
O-Bahn Busway City access tunnelAdelaide Park Lands6702,200Opened 2017[61]
Sleeps Hill TunnelPanoramaMain South LineRail7382,421[55] Replaced Tunnels 1 and 2 in 1920
Tod River Reservoir worksWater
Torrens Gorge TunnelWater
Upper Sturt TunnelUpper SturtMain South LineRail199653[51] Tunnel 8[52]

Tasmania

NameImageLocaleCarriesTypeLengthNotes
mft
Argent TunnelNear Melba Flats / Zeehan, West CoastEmu Bay Railway (Melba line)Rail5081,666Documented on the Emu Bay Railway by 1900; historic photo shows the north portal and self-acting tramway. Coordinates recorded in Australian place-name data. [62][63][64][65]
Bellerive–Sorell railway tunnel (Tunnel Hill)Meehan Range (Mount Rumney / Cambridge), ClarenceFormer Bellerive–Sorell railwayRail (disused)165541Built 1891; heritage-listed; part used for mushroom cultivation and tours (Tunnel Hill Mushrooms). No general public access through-route.[66][67][68][69]
Derby TunnelDerbyMining tailings / water diversion worksMining (disused; now walk/ride-through)19th-century tunnel associated with tin-mining works on the Cascade River; incorporated into local trails and interpreted at the Schoolhouse Museum.[70][71]
Duck Reach Supply TunnelLauncestonDeadmans Hollow → Duck Reach PS (historic)Water8502,7901895 tunnel through dolerite for Australia’s first commercial hydro scheme (closed 1955).[72]
Gordon Tailrace TunnelSouthwestGordon PS (underground) → Gordon RiverWater1,6005,200Fed from Lake Gordon via ~137 metres (449 ft) vertical shaft.[73]
John Butters Headrace TunnelWest Coast Range (King–Yolande scheme)Crotty Dam (Lake Burbury) → John Butters PS (underground)Water6,50021,300Plus 500 metres (1,600 ft) steel-lined power tunnel (≈7 kilometres (4.3 mi) total through West Coast Range).[74]
Lemonthyme Headrace TunnelMersey–ForthLake Parangana → Lemonthyme PSWater6,50021,300Followed by 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) surface penstock to station.[75]
Liapootah Headrace TunnelLower DerwentDerwent R. (below Tarraleah/Tungatinah) → Liapootah PSWater6,60021,700Concrete-lined tunnel feeding three penstocks.[76]
North-Eastern Line tunnelTunnel (between Launceston and Scottsdale)Former North-Eastern railway lineRail (disused)7042,310Late-1880s brick tunnel that gave the locality its name; now a popular short walk.[77][78]
Poatina Headrace TunnelCentral HighlandsGreat Lake → Poatina PSWater5,60018,400Headrace to hilltop valve; then 105 m steel-lined pressure tunnel, 1.8 km surface penstock, 150 m shaft to underground station.[79]
Poatina Tailrace TunnelCentral HighlandsPoatina PS → Macquarie RiverWater4,000 m10,000 ftApprox. length reported in public sources.[79]
Reece Intake Tunnels (×2)Lower PiemanLake Pieman → Reece PSWater250820One tunnel per turbine unit.[80]
Rhyndaston TunnelSouth of Oatlands; Southern TasmaniaTasmanian Main Line (Hobart to Western Junction)Rail9553,133Completed in 1876; later enlarged in the 1960s to a “keyhole” profile to improve clearances.[81]
Spray Tunnel (Silver Spray)Near Zeehan, West CoastFormer mining tramway / accessRail/mining (disused)100330Keyhole-shaped tunnel to the former Spray silver mine; signed loop walk with glow-worms; not suitable for caravans on access road.[82]
Trevallyn Conveyance TunnelLauncestonSouth Esk R. → Trevallyn PSWater3,20010,500Run-of-river link from Trevallyn Dam to station.[83]
Tribute Headrace TunnelAnthony/PiemanLake Plimsoll → Tribute PS (underground)Water7,00023,000Plus ~800 metres (2,600 ft) tailrace; >1 kilometre (0.62 mi) access tunnel.[84]
Wayatinah Diversion TunnelLower DerwentWayatinah Lagoon → woodstave mains → Wayatinah PSWater2,0006,600Plus two 1.3 kilometres (0.81 mi) low-pressure woodstave pipelines and penstocks.[85]
Wilmot Conveyance TunnelMersey–ForthLake Gairdner → Wilmot PSWaterCombined tunnel + penstock route ~4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) (tunnel-only length not published).[86]

Victoria

NameImageLocaleCarriesTypeLengthNotes
mft
Big Hill TunnelBendigoDeniliquin railway lineRail3901,280
Bunbury Street TunnelFootscray, MelbourneRail4201,380Both Broad Gauge and Standard Gauge entering and leaving Melbourne
Burnley TunnelRichmond, MelbourneCityLink / Monash FreewayRoad3,40011,200
City Loop TunnelsLa Trobe and Spring Streets, MelbourneMelbourne Underground Rail LoopRail12,00039,000Comprises:
Domain TunnelRichmond, MelbourneCityLink / Monash FreewayRoad1,6005,200
Elphinstone TunnelDeniliquin railway lineRail3851,263Built double track, singled later
Geelong TunnelGeelongPort Fairy railway lineRail4221,385Exit from Geelong to West coast railway line
Melba TunnelMitcham, MelbourneEastern Freeway to EastLink RingwoodRoad1,6005,200
Metro Tunnel South Yarra to

Kensington via Melbourne CBD

 Cranbourne line
Pakenham line
Sunbury line		 Rail 9,000 29,500 Once opened in 2025 the tunnel will cary the Pakenham, Cranbourne and Sunbury lines.[87]
Mullum Mullum TunnelMitcham, MelbourneEastern Freeway to EastLink RingwoodRoad1,6005,200
Rosanna TunnelRosanna, MelbourneHurstbridge railway lineRail65213
West Richmond TunnelRichmond, MelbourneHurstbridge railway lineRail115377
Jolimont TunnelEast Melbourne, MelbourneHurstbridge railway lineRail149489
Spotswood sewer tunnelFishermans Bend and Spotswood;
Melbourne		Under Yarra River connecting Hobsons Bay Main with
former Spotswood Sewerage Pumping Station		Sewer200660Continues in use as part of Melbourne's Sewerage system
West Gate TunnelSpotswood and Fishermans Bend;
Melbourne		West Gate BridgeRoad3,0009,800Proposed as part of the Western Distributor, construction commenced in 2018[88]

Western Australia

NameImageLocaleAddress/FacilityTypeLengthNotes
mft
Airport line tunnel Bayswater, Redcliffe, Perth Airport, High Wycombe Perth Rail 8,00026,000 Twin bored tunnels, part of the Airport line[89]
Canning TunnelCanning Dam to PerthDarling ScarpWater supply5,60018,400[90]
Northbridge TunnelNorthbridgePerthRoad1,6005,200
Port Hedland Harbour TunnelNelson Point to Finucane IslandPort HedlandConveyor belt for iron ore fines1,0303,380Passes under Port Hedland harbour[91]
Swan View TunnelSwan ViewPerth; John Forrest National ParkRail262860Closed and now converted to a rail trail[92]
William Street tunnelPerth Underground railway station to Elizabeth Quay railway stationPerthRail7002,300Twin bored tunnels that were built as part of the New MetroRail City Project,[93] used by Yanchep and Mandurah line services
Wungong TunnelWungong Dam to PerthDarling ScarpWater supply3,70012,100

See also

References

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