Lake Pukaki

On the way home on Tuesday we followed the back roads along the canal linking Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki. With the development of the Upper Waitaki hydroelectric scheme in the 1970s, water is now fed into a 26-kilometre canal which leads to the power station on the shore of Lake Pukaki. The canal itself (with the road next to it) is built up to keep the water at the higher level of Lake Tekapo, to generate electricity as it falls into Lake Pukaki. What is interesting is that Pukaki, further inland and closer to the alps, is lower than Tekapo.

From Lake Pukaki the road followed alongside Lakes Ohau, Benmore, Aviemore and Waitaki. After a spot of lunch at Kurow we made our way home via Oamaru and highway 1. Home sweet home.