Just three weeks before a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit this region, DXC5270-DXC5039 blast out of Tunnel No.19 and cross the Ohau Stream on the South Island's Main North Line. About 100 metres to the east of this location is a New Zealand Fur Seal colony, which has become well known due to the unique behavior of the young seal pups raised here: While learning to swim, they leave their parents and the ocean behind, swimming up the freshwater stream (and under the rail bridge) to a pool under a waterfall, where they can often be seen playing. This particular tunnel entrance and bridge survived the earthquake, but the surrounding landscape has changed dramatically and at the time of writing this walking track remains closed to the public.
Trains on 3' 6" (1.067m) track from Whangarei to Bluff with virtually heritage rebuilt EMD and GE locomotives still the mainstay power. The network was privatized in 1990's and operated by Toll until 2008 when state owned KiwiRail was established.
