Nelson Lakes National Park
Snow-covered peaks and alpine passes sit between two deep brooding, forest-surrounded lakes. Dense native forest, swampy wetlands, and tumbling rivers line the valleys, and birdlife join in a resounding dawn chorus. It's an exhilarating environment. Two stunningly scenic glacial-formed lakes, Rotoroa and Rotoiti, are the central focus of Nelson Lakes National Park. Also in the park are rocky peaks and tussock-covered tops, glacier-gouged river valleys, and bush-lined trails. Native beech forest pours down to the lakeshores. On cloudy days, mist swirls through the trees, wetting the draping mosses. On sunny days, the intense greens shine through and the birds' chorus resounds. Of the two lakes, Rotoroa is less developed, with just a few fishing cottages and a campsite on its northern shore. The village of St. Arnaud, at the northern end of Lake Rotoiti, is the main gateway to the park. An accommodation lodge, a handful of B&Bs, a general store, a café, the Department of Conservation (DOC) Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre, and a host of private vacation homes are located here. Each year, in late February or early March, the Antique and Classic Boat Show is held at Lake Rotoiti with close to 200 antique vessels congregating for several days of boat racing and boat talk. The visitor center is particularly good, with information on the area's geology, ecology, and human history. Maps, details, and advice on the hiking trails are available, and a mountain weather forecast is issued daily. The DOC also administers two excellent campgrounds near the lake frontage. Bookings for these, at Kerr Bay and West Bay, can be made online or at the visitor center.
