Top Things to Do in Nelson Lakes

Take a seat on the Lake Rotoiti jetty

The jetty over Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes National Park is one of the most Instagrammed spots in the Nelson Tasman region. Its picture-perfect scenery, from winter’s mist and snow-capped mountains to summer’s vibrant greenery and blue waters, makes it a stunning location year-round. Capture the iconic jetty jump shot, but beware of jumping into the cold winter water. Look for eels below and admire the black swans gliding gracefully and fluffing their feathers.

Take a lakeside stroll

If high-intensity tramping isn’t for you, you can still enjoy the beauty of Nelson Lakes National Park. Explore lakeside tracks offering stunning views of glacial lakes and native beech forests. Our favourites are the Bellbird and Honeydew Walks. Starting at the lake’s edge, you’ll enter a forest filled with birdsong from tuis and bellbirds. Children will love the informational panels along the track and tasting honeydew droplets on the tree trunks.

Top tip: If you have a full day or access to a boat, visit the impressive 40-meter-high Whisky Falls.

Go on a canyoning adventure

Slide, jump, abseil and zipline down pristine hidden falls in the depths of the Nelson Lakes National Park on a canyoning adventure with Canyoning Aotearoa. After a short water taxi ride across Lake Rotoiti and a stroll through lush native bush, you'll reach the top of the canyon to embark on your Hidden Falls trip, a half-day trip full of exhilaration, surprises, crystal pools and waterfalls.

Venture into the backcountry on a multi-day hike

For experienced hikers looking for a multi-day adventure, the remote wilderness of the Nelson Lakes National Park is the perfect choice. Home to the hidden gem, something so wonderful that curious travellers must trek for almost a week to catch a glimpse. Lake Rotomairewhenua, translated as the ‘land of peaceful waters’ and ‘Blue Lake’, is accessed via a side trip from the Travers-Sabine circuit. Holding the title of the clearest lake in the world, the visual clarity of the ethereal lake can exceed 80m, a clarity that is surprisingly close to that of distilled water. The blue-violet and green hues of the lake provide a stunning contrast to the rugged mountain ranges that envelop it, as though protecting it from discovery by inquisitive onlookers.

Please respect the people of Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō and the purity of the water in this sacred place by not washing yourselves, your clothes or your dishes in the lake.

Spend the afternoon mountain biking

The Teetotal Recreation Area is a mountain biker's paradise, offering a challenging variety of trails suitable for everyone, from beginners to advanced riders. From Rattler Rim to Rocky Horror, riders will enjoy meandering through grassland and matagouri scrub and feeling the adrenaline rushing through their veins with exciting dips, banked turns, steady climbs, and steep descents—just a few features of these fantastic trails. Nearby, the Maitland Ridge circuit is a popular grade 4+ narrow technical singletrack renowned for its steep descents.

Ski to your hearts content

There aren’t many places where you’ll find a ski field that offers panoramic views over turquoise blue lakes, lush native forests, brown alpine valleys and snow-dusted mountaintops. The Rainbow Ski Area promises a fun day out for the whole family, with slopes suitable for all abilities and snow activities to keep everyone entertained, from skiing and snowboarding to tobogganing. Located high in the north of a stunning mountain chain, the winter playground formed at Rainbow each year is home to vast, uncrowded slopes, well-groomed chutes, high powder runs and plenty of happy snow bunnies. But even in the summertime, the ski area is open to mountain bikers and hikers so that you can enjoy the picturesque vistas all year round.

Experience history at Tophouse Historic Inn

Historically, the Tophouse Inn was the point where the two main roads met – known as the hub and the heart of St Arnaud back in its day - and the current owners claim that nothing has changed. Built to provide comfy beds and shelter for weary travellers, Tophouse Inn has had a colourful and sometimes tragic history. Hear all about the love, jealousy, murder and betrayal that transpired between the four walls of the cob building, discover the bullet holes in the eaves of the verandah, and, if you dare, ask about the resident-friendly ghost.

Go trout fishing in the diverse rivers

The alpine village of St Arnaud offers unparalleled fishing experiences for visiting anglers. Sitting at the top of two drainages, the Buller River and Gowan River, the Nelson Lakes National Park is home to some of the most diverse river environments in the country, as well as to an ample population of fine brown trout. Within the park, the Travers, Sabine and D’Urville Rivers also provide superb wilderness fishing, with the challenge of landing the wiry and elusive trout making the achievement of doing so all the more satisfying.

Ice-skate at Teetotal during the winter months

As the fallen autumn leaves try to ward off winter’s worst woes, and the first signs of frost begin to descend on the stunning alpine village of St Arnaud, an excited buzz ensues in the community. Why, you may ask? Because the precious gift of Winter is yet to come; an ice-skating rink on Duck Pond. In most winters, the pond freezes thick and solid, the local store hangs out its skate rental signs, and families are seen gliding gracefully along the ice (most of them, anyway).

Top things to do in Nelson Lakes National Park