Must-Do's in Nelson Lakes National Park

TOP TIP: Come winter, hire ice-skates from the water taxi operator at St Arnaud and go ice-skating on a nearby pond.

St Arnaud Village

The alpine gateway to Nelson Lakes National Park and mere minutes from Lake Rotoiti. Descend here with your boats, kayaks and water skis.

Ski Rainbow

© Rainbow Ski Field

Family-orientated ski and snowboard field in the St Arnaud Range with varied runs.

Lake Rotoiti

An aqua-violet lake framed by snow-licked mountains and an iconic jetty.

Lake Rotoroa

Excellent for boating and kayaking, with mountain biking nearby. DOC’s Lake Rotoroa Campsite provides easy access to the water and surrounding bush.

Hikes Day

Favourites include Mt Robert Circuit Track and the St Arnaud Range Track, both five hours a piece. For longer stints,the Travers-Sabine Circuit takes five days while the Lake Angelus Track takes two.

Whisky Falls

Reach these 40-metre falls by tramping part of the Lakeside Track (roughly three hours return). Or catch a water taxi or paddle a kayak to the nearby jetty, reducing the walk to 15 minutes.

Lake Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake

Hidden in Nelson Lakes National Park is the clearest lake in the world, where the water’s obscene clarity can exceed 80m. Access is via a side trip on the 4-7 day Travers-Sabine circuit, or a shorter two-day trip if you take the water taxi from Lake Rotoroa Jetty to Sabine Hut.

Rainbow Station

Cross private land by 4WD (or check about mountain biking at the visitor centre first), venturing between Arnaud and Hanmer Springs. Open late December to late March. All other times require permission from station owners.

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