The Otago Harbour Board built a 1.6km long railway to carry rock from their quarry to the harbour entrance for the construction of the breakwater now generally referred to as the Aramoana Mole.
The reference point (co-ords below) is outside the quarry. The port company (now called Port Otago Ltd) still wins rock from here for Mole repairs. These days it is trucked the short distance to the breakwater. In the 1920s rail wagons were loaded here by the old steam shovel now located at the Gasworks Museum in Dunedin. Retired from work it stood here for many decades before being rescued and preserved at the Museum.
At the cache site you will see many old rusted rails as well as dilapidated wooden piers. Look closely and you will see railway bolts still holding fast in the tops of the piers. The railway ran along the top of the piers which, as you will see if you look towards the open sea, stretch for some distance along the side of the Mole. The rock was pushed or tipped from the wagons to build up the breakwater.
There is an information board at the co-ords given below. It details the construction of the mole and has some photos of the railway in operation.
High muggle area at times so caution needed. It should be possible to park a car to shield your activities. Please re-hide carefully. Small container with only enough room for a log so please BYOP.