Nelson Lakes National Park

The national park covers a wide expanse of wild mountain country traversed by the highly visible Alpine Fault. This fault accounts for the difference in height between the hills to the northeast, which rise to over 2000 m, and those to the northwest, which are around 1000m high. The national park is bounded on the east by the high St Arnaud Range. The highest peaks are snow-capped until well into summer. At a number of points in the park, particularly on the shores of lakes, there are expanses of dense beech and rain forest.

Two long narrow lakes, Lake Rotoiti (alt. 610m) and Lake Rotoroa, which lies around 100m lower, occupy valleys gouged out by glaciers and dammed by terminal moraine. A minor road leads to Lake Rotoiti, which attracts water-sports enthusiasts and others seeking a relaxing holiday. Lake Rotoroa is difficult to get to and therefore quieter; it attracts mainly anglers. There are a number of trails of varying length in the national park. There are longer walks in the Travers, Sabine and D'Urville valleys.

Descriptions of the various routes can be obtained in the visitor center in St Arnaud and the ranger station on Lake Rotoroa.

There are skiing areas on Mount Robert (southwest of Lake Rotoiti) and at Rainbow (25km south of St Arnaud).

Nelson Lakes National Park lies 120km south of Nelson and 100km southwest of Blenheim. The gateway to the park is the township of St Arnaud on Highway 63.