Saint Arnaud: Lake Rotoiti, forests and walking tracks

Lake Rotoiti, beech forests and tracks with very different characteristics shape the experiences around Saint Arnaud. The Lake Rotoiti Circuit starts on the lake shore at Kerr Bay. It is part of the Te Araroa Trail and is suitable for families. Those planning a longer trip will find appealing destinations as well as short walks for a quick outing.

Information on tracks and lakes

The Nelson Lakes National Park Visitor Centre provides information about day walks and multi-day hikes, hunting and campsites. It also has information about water taxis on Lake Rotoiti and Lake Rotoroa. This is especially useful for planning if you are considering longer walks or a possible trip across the lake. Lake Rotoiti is one of 16 lakes in Nelson Lakes National Park.

The Bellbird Walk is a short, wheelchair-accessible track that leads into the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project area and takes 15 minutes. On the return, it passes through a wetland with sedges, rushes, ferns and mosses. The adjoining Honeydew Walk branches off the Bellbird Walk and continues into the project area. Its surface is suitable for wheelchairs, but assistance is required on steeper sections. Bellbirds and tūī are frequently seen around the Honeydew Walk.

Forest, glacial traces and views

Several tracks reveal different aspects of the landscape. The Black Valley Walk follows the Black Valley Stream through beech forest and across scree deposited by earlier glaciers. At the foot of Black Hill, the Moraine Walk also crosses scree left behind here by the former Travers Glacier. The Black Hill Walk passes through stands of beech, mānuka and kānuka. A clearing opens up views of Saint Arnaud Village and Big Bush.

The St Arnaud Range Track offers a longer hike with a significant climb: it first leads through red beech forest, then higher up through silver beech and mountain beech. The climb reaches more than 1,650 metres. After a two-hour ascent, you reach Parachute Rocks above the tree line; the ridge offers views of the surrounding landscape. The elevations and sections of track described here clearly distinguish it from the short walks.

The Brunner Peninsula Nature Walk also combines natural and historical highlights. It leads from Kerr Bay across the peninsula to West Bay, crossing the Alpine Fault twice along the way. Information panels offer insights into the area’s history. Several easily accessible spots lead to the shore of Lake Rotoiti. If you would like to experience the lake and its shore, this is an alternative to the uphill forest tracks.

Trips and further discoveries

On the Lake Rotoiti Circuit, you can take a water taxi for part of the route or stay overnight in a hut. This lets you shape the trip differently from a short walk; the option of taking a water taxi for part of the route is also an important distinction for families. Red and yellow beech mistletoe flowers may be seen on the Loop Track in December and January. Whisky Falls, near Saint Arnaud, is a 40-metre-high waterfall surrounded by dense moss and ferns.

For a cultural highlight, visit the Antique & Classic Boat Museum and its collection of classic motorboats and sailing boats. Near Saint Arnaud, Rainbow Ski Area offers skiing and snowboarding; in summer, hiking and mountain biking are possible there. When choosing where to stay, you can consider whether your trip will focus mainly on lakeside tracks, longer mountain hikes or these other activities as well.

Discover more destinations in Richmond, Upper Moutere, Motueka, Murchison, Wakefield, Nelson Lakes National Park, Mahana and Mapua.

For the main travel overview: Tasman District.