Tuai: Artificial Lakes and the History of the Power Station

On the shore of the artificial Lake Whakamarino, Tuai brings together a distinctive landscape and the history of hydroelectric power. Tuai Power Station, two artificial lakes and a walking track through Rimu forest give the place different dimensions. If you are looking for holiday accommodation in Tuai, these experiences can help you decide what to focus on during your stay: would you like to learn about the power station’s history, spend time around the lake, or also plan for the nearby Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk?

Lakes connected with hydroelectric power

Lake Whakamarino, on whose shore Tuai sits, was created as part of work on the hydroelectric project. Lake Kaitawa is artificial too. It was formed in the 1920s as part of the water supply system for Tuai Power Station. The two lakes are therefore part of a landscape shaped by power generation. During a stay in Tuai, they offer a different perspective on the place from its settlement and power station history.

Caution is important at Lake Whakamarino: water levels can change without warning. Anyone spending time around the lakes should bear this in mind when planning activities by the water. Lake Kaitawa, meanwhile, is a walking destination: the Lake Kaitawa Fairy Springs Track runs through Rimu forest alongside the lake to a translucent green pool. Along the way, the track crosses the upper Waikaretaheke River on a footbridge. Forest, lakeshore, river crossing and pool are different stops described along the same track.

A settlement shaped by power station history

Tuai Power Station was officially opened on 20 November 1929. At the time, it had two generators, each with a capacity of 16 megawatts. A third unit, rated at 20 megawatts, was added in 1939, bringing total capacity to 52 megawatts. These details tell the story of two important stages in the facility’s development, but there is more to it than the technology: the settlement’s origins are also connected with the power station. The present-day settlement of Tuai developed around Tuai Power Station.

The name Tuai refers to an ancestor of Ngāti Ruapani. His pā was located on the site of Tuai Power Station. This gives the history and place a direct connection. The power station can be reached and viewed from the northern end of Tuai Main Road. You can focus your visit on viewing the facility, while the lakes and Fairy Springs Track offer other, landscape-centred ways to spend your time.

Weigh up excursions and access

The nearby Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk can be accessed from Onepoto or Hopuruahine Landing. If you want to reach both ends of the track by water taxi, book well in advance. Nearby Lake Waikaremoana covers 54 square kilometres. When choosing where to stay, it is therefore helpful to consider in advance how you would like to include this Great Walk alongside the experiences around Tuai.

The Te Wharehou o Waikaremoana Visitor Centre is a place to find information about the region and its walking tracks; equipment can also be hired there. The centre is about 11 kilometres from Tuai. If you plan to use its information or hire service, you can factor in this distance when choosing where to stay, without confusing it with a distance within the settlement.

The access road also deserves attention. About 90 kilometres of State Highway 38 between Murupara and Tuai is gravel road. Access can be difficult for vehicles with low ground clearance; a four-wheel-drive vehicle or SUV is recommended. These road conditions are an important practical consideration when planning your journey and deciding which place might suit as a base for your stay.

Rainbow and brown trout are released into Lake Whakamarino each year. Below the power station, large brown trout can occasionally be found when flows are high.

Discover other places

If you would like to discover other places as well as Tuai, you can also find Wairoa, Morere and Kotemaori here.

For the broader travel overview: Wairoa District.