Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki to Oamaru and Kakanui

That blue colour is amazing isn't it? Especially with the yellow in the trees and the snow-capped mountains behind. This is taken near the control gates of the dam that were built across the outlet of Lake Tekapo in 1940 to control the amount of water entering the Tekapo River. The water intakes deliver it to the power station through the 1.6km tunnel running through a small hill above Tekapo village. There is a 500 metre long kayak slalom course built on the water channels near here by the Hydro Company. The water eventually makes its way to the Waitaki River and passes through a series of dams and power stations until it reaches the Waitaki power station in the lower reaches of the river.