Contact Energy Public Open Day

Tours take approximately 90 minutes. Buses will depart regularly from the Taupo iSite, and Contact staff will share their passion for geothermal and talk you through the Wairakei steam field and Te Mihi powerstation operations as you explore these by bus and on foot.

Ever wondered where all those pipes go, and how the generator companies turn heat from deep underground into electricity?

Well, now you can find out!

Contact Energy are giving you a chance to take a guided tour of the Wairakei Steam Field and Te Mihi powerstation. Commissioned in 2014, this 166MW capacity station can generate enough electricity to power over 160,000 Kiwi homes!

Pre-registration is required for this event, with limited spaces available. This event booked out in days in 2021 and 2023, so register your place now!

There will be multiple buses running throughout the morning - when ordering your ticket you can select your preferred departure time.

Accessibility: This tour will involve getting on and off a bus, going up and down a flight of stairs, and waking over open mesh steel grating. Unfortunately, people with pacemakers are unable to join the tour.

Keeping you safe

At Contact, we take the safety of our staff and visitors seriously.  As this is an operational site, this tour is suitable for families with children 4 years or older.

We require that all attendees on the tour wear long pants, long sleeves, and flat, closed-toe shoes. We’ll supply any other necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).

All visitors are required to:

Obey all reasonable health and safety instructions given by the guide.

Stay within all designated areas, fences and barriers.

A full Health & Safety briefing will be provided prior to the tour.