Lake Rotoiti Circuit, Nelson Lakes National Park

The environs of Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes National Park would easily rival that of any lake setting in New Zealand. When you add an excellent around-the-lake track with a couple of huts to stay at, you have the recipe for a great winter walk. The trip begins and ends at St Arnaud township and is usually travelled clockwise along Lakehead Track to Lakehead Hut, a large comfortable abode set in the lower Travers Valley and just 15 minute’s walk from the lake. Lakehead Track is especially scenic and provides a wonderful sense of discovery, particularly of the stunning beauty and variety of scenery this park offers. Beyond the hut, the Travers River is crossed to Lakeside Track. This crossing can be done directly, if conditions allow, or via a swingbridge about an hour up the valley. Lakeside Track first passes Coldwater Hut, a smaller, older hut than Lakehead, but set right on the lake’s edge. The beautiful Whisky Falls is reached next and then the track climbs and crosses the northern slope of Mt Robert to the road. This trip could be done as a day outing, though much better to make a weekend of it by staying at one of the huts to enjoy the lakeside scenery.

Wild File Access From Kerr Bay, St Arnaud Grade Easy Time Kerr Bay to Lakehead Hut, 3hr; Hut to Mt Robert Road, 3-3.5hr Distance 19.2km Accommodation Lakehaed Hut (28 bunks, $15); Coldwater Hut (12 bunks, $5) Map BS24

Elevation Profile

© Wilderness Magazine, www.wildernessmag.co.nz Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to map this route correctly, Wilderness does not accept responsibility for any errors. Users should plan their routes and gather as much information as possible before departing. The GPX file associated with this route has been drawn using Memory-Map software, version 6. Use descretion when following the route, especially when no track is marked on the map. The GPX file in these cases are a ‘best guess’ of the route only. Users should use a combination of GPS, visual observations, maps and compass to find the best possible route. Memory Map shows purple tracks and hut icons as verified routes and huts. Red or blue routes are those drawn by Wilderness.

Lake Rotoiti Circuit, Nelson Lakes National Park