Check road conditions
Severe weather has damaged many roads in Marlborough and Kaikoura. Before you travel to our facilities, check the latest road updates:
Fees
1 May - 30 September
- Adult (18+ years): $25 per night
- Child/youth (5–17 years): $12.50 per night
- Infant (0–4 years): free
1 October - 30 April
Weekdays:
- Adult (18+ years): $28 per night
- Child/youth (5–17 years): $14 per night
- Infant (0–4 years): free
Weekends:
- Adult (18+ years): $32 per night
- Child/youth (5–17 years): $16 per night
- Infant (0–4 years): free
1 December - 29 February
Weekdays:
- Adult (18+ years): $29 per night
- Child/youth (5–17 years): $14.50 per night
- Infant (0–4 years): free
Weekends:
- Adult (18+ years): $34 per night
- Child/youth (5–17 years): $17 per night
- Infant (0–4 years): free
Bookings
Bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2027.
- If no availability shows online for your dates, the hut is fully booked.
- No spaces are kept for visitors arriving without a booking.
- Phone and in‑person bookings made at a visitor centre incur a $10 service fee.
- Same‑day bookings are available online until 8 pm if spaces remain.
- Travel east out of St Arnaud toward Blenheim for 8.4 km.
- Turn right onto Wairau-Hanmer Springs Hydro Rd. Signage at this turn will say "Rainbow Skifield".
- Continue down this road for 27 km until the Homestead. Here a summertime road toll applies. This is payable in cash. Check the prices on the Rainbow Station website.
- Continue down the road for 1 km past the Homestead.
- Turn right onto a 4WD road. A high clearance 4WD vehicle is required on this road. GPS coordinates: -42.000030, 172.894879
- Continue down this road for 1 km until the hut.
Location
NZTopo50 map sheet: BS25
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1590508, N5349627
Altitude: 830 m above sea level
Nelson Lakes National Park Visitor Centre
| Phone: | +64 3 521 1806 |
| Email: | nelsonlakesvc@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: | View Road St Arnaud 7072 |
| Hours: | Visitor centre hours and services |
Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough information
| Phone: | +64 3 546 9339 |
| Email: | nelsonvc@doc.govt.nz |
| About: | Whakatū/Nelson visitor services provide information for this area |