Hugo Tunnel unveiled
A restored historic mining tunnel on the new Shotover Gorge Trail has been officially unveiled.
The 108m tunnel at Big Beach, originally cut as part of an unsuccessful bid to mine the river bed for gold, won't open to the public until late March as the trail remains under construction.
But it was unveiled at a naming ceremony yesterday, attending by Tourism Minister Louise Upston MP, who recently announced $9 million in Government funding for Great Rides cycle trails.
Named the Hugo Tunnel, it has been re-engineered for cycling with support from the Hugo Charitable Trust, founded on the legacy of Hugh 'Hugo' Green - a pioneer in New Zealand’s civil construction history - after lying in a state of disrepair for more than 50 years.
The Trust contributed $735,000 to the restoration project, which began in mid-2024 and included stabilisation of the tunnel portals, removal of rock-fall material, installation of rock bolts, structural anchors and mesh and construction of a new trail surface.
The restoration work was completed by Geotech Ground Engineering and Fulton Hogan, with the bolting and strengthening and lighting design provided by WSP.
Upston was joined at the naming ceremony by Maryanne Green, daughter of Hugh Green and Trust founder, along with its chair Mark Owens, and CEO Aoibheann Monaghan, along with Southland MP Joseph Mooney, and Queenstown Trails CEO Mark Williams and Queenstown Trails Coordinator Kat Bulk.
From left, Joseph Mooney MP, Mark 'Willy' Williams, Kat Bulk, Mark Owens, Minister Louise Upton, Aoibheann Monaghan and Maryanne Green
Queenstown Trails CEO Mark ‘Willy’ Williams has been blown away with the efficiency and speed with which the tunnel was transformed into the centre piece of the new Shotover Gorge Trail.
“This tunnel is quite unique, and offers a raw interior created by drill and blast techniques; it’s been astounding to see the tunnel interior gaining headroom and becoming what will surely become Queenstown’s must-do trail experience.”
Throughout the project, archaeologists have been involved in documenting and cataloguing historic artifacts throughout the tunnel, which have been replaced in-situ for trail users to experience.
Williams says the community is indebted to the Hugo Charitable Trust for bringing the tunnel back to life and enabling visitors from around the world to enjoy the awesome feature along the new Shotover Gorge Trail. He also thanked the contractors and engineers who had shared his vision of being able to include the tunnel as spectacular trail infrastructure.
Mark Owens, Hugo Chair and Trustee says Hugh Green would have well understood the hard work and toil that went into building this tunnel.
After emigrating to New Zealand from Ireland, Hugh Green and Barney McCahill formed Green & McCahill Ltd, which grew to become one of the best-known civil construction companies in New Zealand. Green & McCahill completed some of New Zealand’s most significant civil construction projects including a long list of major tunnels in Auckland, Timaru and on the West Coast.
"We have walked the trail to the tunnel entrances, and we are very impressed with the stunning terrain and views," Owens says. "The new trail and tunnel will be a fantastic asset for the community, to be enjoyed by many locals and visitors to the region.”
In conjunction with the Wharehuanui Trail which opened in October last year, when the new Shotover Gorge Trail opens in March it will mark the completion of Queenstown Trails ‘enhance and expand’ project, closing the ‘missing link’ through the northern edge of the Whakatipu basin.
