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nelson lakes
If you would like to climb to
‘rocky mountain high’ from the valley below, then the
‘twin lakes park’ is the place to go.
Nelson Lakes National Park is a superb gem amongst New
Zealand’s parks. It encompasses magnificent peaks -
snow-crowned in winter and starkly bare in summer. Being at the
northern tip of the Southern Alps, the Nelson Lakes weather is
relatively mild and reliable. This gives trampers a great
incentive to explore the clearly marked ridge top tracks.
The most popular round trip is the Travers-Sabine Circuit, a 5 to
6 day tramp beginning at Lake Rotoiti and crossing over the
Travers Saddle and Mt Robert ski field. More remote is the
D’Urville Valley Track, which is a round trip from nearby
Lake Rotoroa using the Sabine Valley and Moss Pass.
The gateway to the Nelson Lakes National Park is the alpine
village of St Arnaud, 1½ hours drive south of Nelson. St Arnaud
is the perfect holiday setting for those who value peace and
quiet. Below the village is the mirror-like Lake Rotoiti,
enfolded by a natural landscape of exquisite beauty. The St
Arnaud Range is draped with beautiful beech forest, worn like a
smooth green garment, which has been cut uniformly along the bush
line.
This is nature at its very best offering a choice of relaxation
on a lakeshore or a remote experience in the high country. Choose
from terrific tramping, scenic boating, fantastic fishing, cool
canoeing, and in winter, exhilarating skiing. Further afield
there is gold panning, rafting, horse trekking, mountain biking
and scenic flights. Short walks around the twin lakes are an
absolute delight. The Lake Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project is
creating a pest-free refuge for native bird species, and the
tomtit, rifleman, robin and kaka can often be seen around the
lake.
Immerse yourself in this wonderful pristine playground. Walk
around the lake or climb the craggy heights as you please, and
drink in the beauty of this park.
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