Tunnel Beach has been described as New Zealand’s best hidden beach and now it has got the Hollywood tick of approval.
Travellers have to pass through a hand-carved rock tunnel, dating back to the 1870s, to access the secluded and sheltered beach at the base of spectacular sandstone cliffs in Dunedin, on the country’s South Island.
And it is one of New Zealand filmmaker and actor Taika Waititi’s favourite spots in the country.
“The little beach with the little secret tunnel with the steps that you go down is amazing,” Waititi said, while taking a break from filming season two of his show Our Flag Means Death in New Zealand, which is out Thursday on Binge.
“I like the little hidden-away places where you have to walk to get to them.”
With directing and acting credits including Marvel films Thor: Ragnarok and Thor: Love and Thunder, Waititi is one of New Zealand’s best known international stars.
Last year, the 48-year-old married British singer Rita Ora, who has been on Aussie TV screens as a judge on The Voice Australia since 2021.
Waititi said it was special to film in New Zealand again.
“There are so many places that I love in New Zealand: out of Queenstown and up into the valleys where you can go horseriding, Sam Neill’s vineyard and Clyde’s Two Paddocks vineyards,” he told news.com.au.
“Those areas I really love and are fantastic.
“The bottom of the South Island, Otago, with all the rolling hills looks like those old landscape paintings of New Zealand.
“The light is very specific, it feels like there are two or three suns out all at the same time from different angles. I love the light in New Zealand, in particular in those areas.”
Waititi’s favourite place “of all time” is Waihau Bay, Bay of Plenty, where he was brought up.
He is also a big fan of eating out, naming Auckland osteria and wine bar Lilian, and Italian restaurants Prego and SPQR.
“Prego is an institution. Same with SPQR. Those are two solid choices. And Honey Bones, my favourite place,” he said.
Honey Bones is a popular cafe in Auckland with the same owners as Lilian.
Waititi is such a big advocate for his home country, he is starring in Tourism New Zealand’s promotional video No Place Like It On Earth where he and his real stunt double in Our Flag Means Death, Jade Daniels, show off New Zealand’s best sights.
The country is most famously known for being the backdrop for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
Our Flag Means Death creator David Jenkins said: “I think when you come here and you’re from the US, you imagine The Lord of the Rings and giant things … and then you actually see it and you’re like, ‘Oh, my God, it’s real. It’s here. I’m standing here and it looks like a visual effect’.”
Our Flag Means Death, which Waititi directs and stars in, is a period romantic comedy television series.
Iconic New Zealand locations in season two include Bethells Beach, Piha Beach and the Bay of Islands.
Waititi also has a house in Piha, west of Auckland.
The quotes in this story are from before the SAG-AFTRA strike.