Wairakei Geothermal Power Station Trail
Explore the world's second commercial geothermal power station, where steam extracted from the earth has generated electricity since 1958.
- 1
Wairakei Geothermal Visitor Centre
The visitor centre explains how Wairakei pioneered geothermal electricity generation — the steam field still produces 175 MW of clean renewable power.
- 2
Steam Pipe Network
A network of insulated pipes carries high-pressure steam from 60 wells bored up to 2,000 metres deep in the earth to the turbine halls above ground.
- 3
Turbine Hall Exterior
The original 1958 turbine hall shows the scale of engineering required to harness geothermal energy — the technology developed here was exported worldwide.
- 4
Steam Condensate Ponds
Spent steam condenses into warm water that flows through a series of cooling ponds, supporting populations of waterfowl and warm-water aquatic life.
- 5
Geothermal Bore Field
The wellhead area shows the dozens of bore casings that tap the underground steam reservoir — each well can produce enough steam for a small town.
- 6
Wairakei River Thermal Stream
A warm geothermal stream flows through the area, its temperature visible as mist on cool days — native eels inhabit the thermally warmed waters.