Karapiro Dam is the second dam on Waikato River and it’s part of the Karapiro Hydro Power Station. It situated on Lake Karapiro/Waikato River, 6km from Cambridge, a picturesque town with streets named after famous British poets such as Wordsworth, Byron and Keats.
I drove past it a few times before, but never got a chance to stopover. This time, as part of my road trip, I can park my car and take some photos of this majestic concrete giant of power. The dam was built in the 1940s. It’s operated by Mercury Energy company right now.
If you drive from the South, there is a car park on your left. This is a traffic light controlling the one-way lane on the dam. There is a lookout spot on you right where you can see the lower side of the dam. There is also a lookout on the hill that’s just opposite the dam (still on the Southside). A sculpture and a monument are located in this lookout area where you can have a big picture of the lake and the dam both in green and blue backdrop of the hill and the sky. It is a photo spot basically.
Renewable energy is so important for us now - I explained the mechanism of the hydraulic power station to the boys on our way home.
It was a gorgeous day with stunning sunny weather.
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Congratulations 
Beautiful photos
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@SilvaniaMaria07 Thank you:) So pleased you like this!
Thanks for sharing @OliverKIWI . I have spend many hours there, mainly during my teenage years when I did a lot of rowing and competed in rowing races there. It is a nice place to walk and relax, and for swimming during the summer.
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That’s so awesome! We actually stayed at Domain camping chalet just across the lake. Was really pretty in the morning when heavy frost everywhere on the grass. You can see steam vaporising on the lake - you got that winter wonderland snowy feeling (no snow though) The temperature was low as -3 degrees that night.
You must have known a lot of hidden gems:) @TheEagleEye
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Yes @OliverKIWI it is nice seeing the mist above the water at this time of year. The Domain camp is very nice too. There isn’t many places in NZ I haven’t been. I have mainly memories and not photos as going back in the years, photos weren’t electronic and we quite expensive to print. I do have many photos stored away in NZ that I look forward to seeing again oneday.
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Here is a pic from the camp.
Yes, I remember the film time. Photography used to be a privilege for the lucky few. Now is a hobby for almost everyone - with a phone:)
I look forward to meeting you at some point when you come back! @TheEagleEye
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It can get very cold around Cambridge @OliverKIWI . I arrive in Auckland on 20 September and then two weeks of isolation. Hopefully they send me to Queenstown and a room with great views.
Once out of isolation, I got to catch up with family. I’m unsure how long I’m in NZ at this stage but it maybe 3 months. I’ll be in contact.
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Sure! All the best with your travel. Be very careful at the airport and the flight! We will have an update next Monday and see if we can go to level 2. Cya @TheEagleEye
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