Clyde Dam Tours

Clyde Dam, built on New Zealand's second largest river, Mata-au, the Clutha River,  is the largest concrete gravity dam and the third biggest hydroelectric dam in New Zealand.  

Built on a geological fault line using one million cubic metres of concrete and soaring to an impressive 100 metres in height and 490 metres long, this was the most complex of hydro dams to be built in New Zealand.  

Highly controversial, the dam took 12 years to construct and was commissioned in May 1992, producing up to 432 MW.  The lake formed by the dam, Lake Dunstan, is 26.4 square kilometres in size or 430,000,000 m3 of water.  Its recreational uses include swimming, water-skiing, boating, canoeing, jet boating, boat cruises and eco-tours of the abundant fish and bird life.

Owned and operated by Contact, NZ's second largest power generator.  We have graciously been afforded unbelievable access to everywhere you'd wish to see.  

Arguably the most dynamic control room of any in the country, we take you in to chat with the controller in charge.  You can drive over the top of the wall, look at the mighty slip joint - unique in the world, wander through the gallery on the inside of the wall, take in the enormous structures - penstocks and spillway gates, before entering the powerhouse to learn how all the magic happens, and finishing with a visit into a working turbine/generating unit.

Unlike any tour anywhere else in the world, you'll get up-close and personal with every aspect of this incredible structure.