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Standing on a wooden dock, two children hold hands on the shore of a lake, gazing at the mountains in the distance. — During our stay, Lucas and Leo discovered Lake Rotoiti’s resident dark blue eels. Back in the day, Māori people on their way to the West Coast would feast on this highly appreciated food.

Treasures of Nelson Lakes National Park

New Zealand Landscapes
Published on 2019-02-08
Revised on 2024-03-24

After the song of the cicadas and the thundering waves of the West Coast, we reach, in just 200 kilometres, the imperturbable mountains of the Southern Alps and the peaceful waters of Lake Rotoiti. Even Leo and Lucas seem at peace here. Nelson Lakes National Park is the ideal place for families to swim and play in the water. What a great program for the day!

The next day, I get up at 3:30 a.m. to climb the ridge of the St Arnaud Range. Two hours later, trees are few and far between. Now, I walk among tall alpine grasses while trying to follow a semblance of track visibly eroded. One last effort and I can finally contemplate this majestic ridge some 1,700 m above sea level.

For our third day in the park, we cycle to the start of the Paddy Trail. Our hike around Mount Robert starts. An hour later, we reach a stunning viewpoint above the lake. Another one! What a wonderful stay in Nelson Lakes National Park!

Learn more: Department of Conservation (DOC)

At sunrise, a hiker walks along the crest of a mountain. The outline of a lake can be seen at the bottom of the valley. — After five kilometres and a 1,000-meter climb, the St-Arnaud trail offers a stunning panoramic view of Lake Rotoiti and the surrounding valleys. The layer of smoke visible in this image comes from the fires that raged in the Nelson region in 2019.

A dozen modern, colourful canoes start a race from the shore of a lake at the foot of the mountains. — In the past, waka boats were used by fishermen and warriors to carry dozens of people. Here’s a modern, single-seater version of these traditional Māori boat in a race on Lake Rotoiti.

Two young boys and a woman sitting on a rock look out over a lake deep in the mountains on a summer’s day. — Following the Paddy trail, our family stops at this viewpoint of Lake Rotoiti, unable to reach the Angelus hut perched at 1650 metres.

On a peaceful night, the moon rises above the trees and a few clouds are reflected on a lake. — According to Māori legend, the chief and explorer Rakaihautu dug lakes Rotoiti and Rotorua to fill them with food for passing people.

TERRA TRIBUTA

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Treasures of Nelson Lakes National Park

TERRA TRIBUTA