Secret tunnel discovered in Sydney Harbour by drone operator

A PIECE of Australian war history has been uncovered on a cliff face in Sydney Harbour after a drone operator stumbled across a dilapidated secret tunnel. SEE THE INCREDIBLE PHOTOS.

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A DRONE operator has discovered a secret tunnel entrance halfway down a cliff face in Sydney Harbour.

Joanne Stephan and a team from Macquarie University were flying a drone at Vaucluse on Tuesday, September 11 when they made the incredible discovery.

Ms Stephan had been capturing photos of Macquarie Lighthouse — depicted on the university’s logo, as part of a joint project with the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust to create a 3D map of the lighthouse and cliff.

Drone operator Joanne Stephan was photographing the cliff and lighthouse for a 3D map project. Picture: Joanne Stephan

The tunnel is located halfway down the cliff face at Vaucluse. Picture: Joanne Stephan

It is believed to be a World War Two structure. Picture: Joanne Stephan

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“As I’m scanning down, we noticed the tunnel there, and I was like ‘what is it? Can I go closer?’,” Ms Stephan said.

The videographer explains that the discovery almost didn’t happen as transmission from her phone to the drone, which was hundreds of metres away, began cutting out.

“It was very challenging, I just had to persist and grab some shots before the feed dropped out,” she said.

The tunnel sits directly below the Macquarie Lighthouse at Vaucluse. Picture: Joanne Stephan

The Macquarie Lighthouse at Vaucluse. Picture: Joshua Hulm

Ms Stephan said it was “one of the most challenging drone flights” she had ever done, but finally capturing images of the tunnel was worth it.

“We just freaked out, we were just so stoked, just that we were able to get that close to it”.

The tunnel, which is thought to be a World War Two structure, sits directly below the Macquarie Lighthouse, “a few hundred metres” from the top of the cliff — by Ms Stephan’s estimation.

A team from Macquarie University captured the photos for a 3D map project. Picture: Joanne Stephan

Aerial images of the lighthouse and cliff. Picture: Sydney Sea Planes

“It’s unbelievable, you just can’t imagine … you can imagine it being at the top of the cliff face, or right down the bottom, but to be a few hundred metres down, in the middle, is incredible.”

Ms Stephan believes any future access to the tunnel would be difficult, but offered abseiling or droning from an anchored boat as two possible suggestions for getting a closer look at the small piece of history.