Nelson Lakes National Park

Nelson Lakes National Park lies in the northern South Island of New Zealand and centres on the twin lake basins of Rotoiti and Rotoroa amid alpine ranges and beech forest. It is a national park noted for tramping routes, alpine scenery and freshwater recreation.

Lakeside facilities, picnic areas and boat ramps provide recreational access to the two main lakes, while an extensive network of tramping routes and huts crosses valleys and alpine passes. The Travers-Sabine routes are among the park’s most-visited multi-day circuits and link valleys, beech forest and alpine ridgelines.

The area was set aside for protection to conserve its natural landscapes and recreational values and has been developed with a network of tracks and managed backcountry huts to support tramping. Conservation management focuses on protecting native forest, freshwater ecosystems and alpine habitats.

The park is in the northern part of New Zealand’s South Island, inland from the city of Nelson, occupying a mix of lake basins, river valleys and surrounding mountain ranges.

• Trails and huts: Popular tramping trails range from short lakeside walks to the multi-day Travers-Sabine circuit; backcountry huts require booking during peak season.
• Conditions: The park combines alpine mountains and beech forest; weather can change rapidly at higher elevations, so mountain-standard gear is advised for longer routes.

What to See #

• Lake Rotoiti: Lake Rotoiti, a large glacial lake with lakeshore campsites and boat access that is one of the park's principal visitor hubs.
• Lake Rotoroa: Lake Rotoroa, a quieter lake with native forest margins popular for tramping and backcountry camping.
• Travers-Sabine routes: Travers-Sabine tramping routes, a well-known multi-day circuit linking the park's valleys and alpine zones used by trampers and mountaineers.