How long is the Waitaki Bridge?

The bridging of South Canterbury’s wide, braided rivers made travel easier and faster. Initially the bridges carried both rail and vehicular traffic. This car crossing the 2-kilometre Waitaki Bridge, around 1914, is heading for Glenavy.

How big is Waitaki?

Waitaki District covers 7,107.73 km2 (2,744.31 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 23,800 as of June 2021, with a population density of 3.3 people per km2.

How many dams are on the Waitaki River?

Waitaki was the first power station to be built on the Waitaki River. It was also the first station in New Zealand to be built without diverting the natural river flow. The station was built in stages, starting with a cofferdam to divert water to the south side of the river.

Where is Waitaki valley?

North Otago
The Waitaki Valley is a small wine region in North Otago, on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. This remote viticultural area has a cool, almost cold climate, and is at the very margin of what is suitable for viticulture.

How long is the Waitaki River?

130 miWaitaki River / Length

Where does the Waitaki River start?

Southern AlpsWaitaki River / Source

What is Waitaki famous for?

With a population of around 14,000 people and known for being home to eccentrics of all stripes, it is most famous for its Victorian architecture, little blue penguins and Steampunk HQ – but there are also award-winning restaurants, craft breweries and a growing variety of local food producers.

What does Waitaki mean in English?

The generally accepted meaning of the name is weeping waters. “Waitaki” is a southern Maori variant of the northern Maori “Waitangi”.

When was Waitaki dam built?

1934
Waitaki Dam (1934) It was the last major dam built by pick, shovel and wheelbarrow, tools anachronistically retained because politicians wanted to reduce the unemployment rate.

What is the biggest dam in NZ?

The Benmore power station is located on New Zealand’s largest manmade lake – Lake Benmore – and is New Zealand’s largest earth dam.

What is there to do in Omarama New Zealand?

Top Attractions in Omarama

• Clay Cliff. 348. Geologic Formations.
• Lindis Pass. Scenic Drives.
• Benmore Peninsula Track. Hiking Trails.
• Omarama Sheep Statue. Monuments & Statues.
• Quailburn Woolshed. Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks.
• Hot Tubs Omarama. 469.
• Glide Omarama. 103.
• The Wrinkly Rams. Speciality & Gift Shops.

Why do people use the Waitaki River?

Water from the Waitaki River system has been used to generate electricity since the 1930s. A series of hydro dams generate from the rivers and canals and storage from the created lakes of Benmore, Aviemore and Waitaki. The Waitaki hydro system generates around 20-25 per cent of New Zealand’s electricity.

Is Waitaki in Otago or Canterbury?

The Waitaki district stretches all the way from the coastline at Kakanui almost to the foot of Mt Cook, Aoraki. It is the only district in the South Island that straddles two regions, lying within both the Otago and Canterbury Regions.

Is Oamaru worth visiting?

If you’re travelling in New Zealand’s South Island going from Christchurch to Dunedin (or the other way around) you’ll find a great town on the coast called Oamaru. It’s an awesome place to visit with some fantastic attractions and activities.

Who owns Benmore Dam?

Meridian Energy
The $62 million construction of the dam and hydroelectric station began in 1958. It was commissioned in 1965, and officially opened by Prime Minister Sir Keith Holyoake on 15 May that year. It was built for the New Zealand Electricity Department; since 1999 it has been owned and operated by Meridian Energy.

Who owns NZ dams?

When was the last dam built in NZ?

The last of the large hydropower dams was the Clyde dam, completed in 1990, as part of the then government’s “think big” scheme. This project is most well-known for the extensive landslide stabilisation required around the reservoir rim. Of course, dams were being developed not just for electricity supply.

How long is the clay cliff walk?

Experience this 0.8-mile out-and-back trail near Twizel, Canterbury. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 34 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.

Where is Omarama in New Zealand?

Omarama is a small town (population 291 at 2018 census) at the junction of State Highways 8 and 83, near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand. Omarama is in the Waitaki District, in the southern Canterbury region. The Ahuriri River is a short distance to the north of the township.

How old is the Waitaki Dam?

Waitaki Dam (1934) Work began on the Waitaki Dam, the first large state hydroelectric scheme in the South Island since Lake Coleridge, in mid-1928 at a site 7 km from the Kurow railhead.

What happened to the old Waitaki bridge?

The old Waitaki bridge was replaced by separate road and rail bridges in 1956 and the bridges will always remain a vital link between Otago and Canterbury. 2001 photo. Today the Waitaki Bridge is 914 m long.

Is there an alternative route to the Waitaki River?

The new bridges will have a cycle-pedestrian path on the downstream side and will provide a dependable alternative route if State Highway 1 at the Waitaki River Bridge is closed. State Highway 82 offers the only handy alternative route for motorists to reach destinations north and south of the Waitaki River.

What makes the Waitaki region so special?

The Waitaki region is home to windswept beaches, mysterious boulders and Maori heritage. You simply can’t drive along the North Otago coast without stopping to stare at the Moeraki Boulders – they’re amazing! Starting at the base of New Zealand’s highest peak, the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail passes by a number of glacial lakes.

What makes Waitaki Dam so special?

The Waitaki Dam was built with picks and shovels in the 1930s and Benmore is one of the largest earth dams in the southern hemisphere. In summer, its bright blue colour contrasts with the burnt-orange landscape that surrounds it.