Image: Scott Tomlinson | ©
Hopeless Hut with steep range behind.
Hopeless Hut

Located in Nelson Lakes National Park in the Nelson/Tasman region

This is a standard 6-bunk hut in the Nelson Lakes area.

Hopeless Hut was built by members of the NZ Alpine Club and opened by Sir Edmund Hillary on 23 December 1967.

Fees

  • Adult (18+ years): $15 per night
  • Youth (5–17 years): $7.50 per night
  • Child/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.

Book Hopeless Hut online

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BS24
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1579823, N5357926

Altitude: 1,030 m above sea level

There is avalanche danger at this hut

Hopeless Hut is located below an avalanche path. It is not safe to stay in this hut during winter storms that may load the upper slopes with sufficient snow to reach the hut, or when snow is down to the valley floor. It would be possible for the hut to be hit by avalanche debris in these conditions.

Alternative accommodation options are Lakehead Hut (5 hours from Hopeless Hut) and camping in the lower valley, away from avalanche danger. Identified avalanche paths are signposted.

Keep alpine lakes and tarns free of lindavia (lake snow)

The invasive alga lindavia is present in Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa. It causes lake snow – a sticky mucus that hangs below the surface of the water.

Make sure all your gear is completely dry for 48 hours before swimming or taking water from any alpine lake or tarn, including Rotomaninitua/Lake Angelus.

Use the biosecurity cleaning stations at Coldwater Hut, Lakehead Hut and Sabine Hut to disinfect any boots, socks, clothing, towels or drink bottles that are wet or damp from lake or river water. 

Do not touch the water in Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake and Rotopōhueroa/Lake Constance.

Be extra careful if you’ve recently swum or filled a drink bottle from Lakes Rotoiti or Rotoroa.