Roaring Meg Power Station

Roaring Meg Power Station is a hydroelectric power station located in the Kawarau Gorge, near Cromwell, New Zealand.

The power station is fed by the Roaring Meg Dam, which is a 10-meter (33 ft) high dam located 3.6 km (2.2 mi) north of Roaring Meg. The dam feeds two power generating stations, the Upper Roaring Meg station, and the Lower Roaring Meg station. The scheme is owned and operated by Pioneer Energy. The Roaring Meg hydro scheme is a small hydroelectric power station, but it has a combined output of 3,000 kilowatts (4,000 hp). The scheme starts with the Roaring Meg Dam, which is located 3.6 km (2.2 mi) upstream from the confluence with the Kawarau River. The intake flows into a series of pipes connected to the power stations. The upper station discharges into both a pipe feeding the lower station and the Roaring Meg Stream, while the lower station discharges into the Kawarau River. Annual energy production from both stations is approximately 30 gigawatt-hours (110 TJ).

The Roaring Meg hydro scheme is a popular tourist attraction in Central Otago, and visitors can learn about New Zealand's 19th-century gold rush on a half-day tour. The Roaring Meg Power Station Waterfalls is around a 40 minutes' drive (45km) from Queenstown heading to Cromwell. There is a small car park on your right as you head towards Cromwell, where you can pull over and park. The view of the waterfalls and turquoise waters of the Kawarau River can be seen from the car park. The waterfalls are actually formed by the water stream from the power station while the river flows into Lake Dunstan near Cromwell. It's a great place to have a quick break, take a photo and two before continuing on your way.

Roaring Meg is a turbulent stream that drives the hydroelectric power station and merges with the Kawarau River, which runs between the towns of Cromwell and Queenstown on the South Island of New Zealand. The Roaring Meg hydro scheme is a testament to New Zealand's commitment to renewable energy, and it is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in sustainable energy and the history of New Zealand's gold rush.