Clyde Dam

As the largest concrete gravity dam in New Zealand, Clyde Dam is an impressive structure leveraging the energy of the Clutha River.

Situated near the historical town of Clyde in Central Otago (about an hour's drive from Queenstown) the large hydroelectric dam was built between 1979 and 200. At times during the construction the dam employed a workforce of over 1200 people.

One million cubic metres of concrete were used to construct the dam with another 200,000 cubic metres used to build the power station.

With the beautiful Central Otago landscape as a backdrop, Clyde Dam is a well worth a stop for visitors to admire a structure that stands at 100 metres, with a base width of 70 metres. 

Nearby to the dam, is the charming historic town of Clyde. Situated on the banks of the River Clutha, the small town features quaint buildings, a number of cafes and restaurants. Clyde is also the starting point for the150km Otago Central Rail Trail.