Lake Rotoroa walking tracks
Track category
Walking track
Description
Lake Rotoroa, Nelson Lakes
Short Loop Track
Time: 25 min return
Starting at the lakeside picnic area, this walk follows the lake shore before leading through a diverse stand of forest, returning to the start point via the Porika 4WD road and the campsite.
Braeburn Walk
Time: 2 hr return
From Braeburn Road, follow this well-graded track through forest rich in birdlife to a picturesque waterfall. See the kotukutuku, the world's largest tree fuschia, unique to New Zealand.
Getting there
By road, St Arnaud, the main entry point for the national park, is 1 hour 30 minutes from Nelson or Blenheim, 5 hours from Christchurch, and 2 hours from Westport. Lake Rotoroa Village is 40 minutes from St Arnaud off State Highway 6.
Public transport
Bus services to St Arnaud operate on an irregular basis. Phone the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre for more information.
Plan and prepare
Bad weather and freezing conditions can occur at any time in the park. Be prepared with warm, waterproof clothing and extra food.
- Do not light fires.
- Boil, filter, or treat water for drinking.
- In late summer and autumn, carry antihistamine if allergic to wasp stings.
Pest control programmes, using toxins and traps, operate in the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project area, and the northern end of Lake Rotoroa. Keep to the tracks marked with orange triangles.
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