West Bay Campsite - Buller zone

Located in Nelson Lakes National Park and St Arnaud area in the Nelson/Tasman region

This campsite is located lakeside in Nelson Lakes National Park. It is one of the two camping zones at West Bay Campsite. The campsite is open from mid-December until April each year.

The campsite is one of two camping zones of West Bay Campsite. Sites are tucked amongst kanuka/manuka forest. It is adjacent to Lake Rotoiti and there is a boat launching ramp nearby.

Campsite zones

This camping zone is Buller. 

West Bay – Jetty camping zone is nearby.

View a map of campsite zones (PDF, 3,408K)

These camping areas have no power.

Volunteer camp host opportunities

Volunteers are needed to act as camp hosts for a minimum of two weeks from mid December through to late April.

You would need your own campervan or caravan. A free powered site is provided in return for basic duties such as checking camper bookings and liaising with the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre.

For more information and application form: Nelson Lakes volunteer camp host

Fees

15 December to 30 March

  • Adult (18+ years): $15 per night
  • Child (5–17 years): $7.50 per night
  • Infant (0–4 years): free

Passes

The DOC Campsite Pass can be used at this campsite. 

Campsite Pass bookings must be booked online before occupying a site. If you do not book, bookings may be made by campground staff (if present) and will incur a $10 service charge. Sites may not be available if you do not book. 

Bookings

15 December - 30 March

The campground is open. Bookings are required.

Book well in advance for the Christmas holiday period, classic and power boat weekends, and Easter.

31 March - 14 December

The campground is closed.

Book West Bay - Buller camping zone online

Bookings are open for stays up to 30 March 2025.

All bookings are first-come first-served. We do not have waiting lists for bookings for future seasons or facilities that are already booked-out.

A $10 service fee applies to phone and in-person booking. This is a limited service – book online first. An in-person booking is dependent on there being space available.

Your booking will be for a site, which will be allocated or selected on arrival.

Lake Rotoiti, West Bay. Just off SH63 on the Mt Robert Road, west of St Arnauld. The campsite is a 3 km drive or 30 minute walk (2-3 km depending which way you go) from St Arnaud village.

St Arnaud is 1 hour 30 minutes by road from Nelson or Blenheim.

Campsite rules

  • The camp is within Nelson Lakes National Park, park by-laws apply.
  • No domestic pets are allowed.
  • Sites must be vacated by 11 am on the day of departure.
  • Speed limit in the camping areas is 5 km/hr.
  • Excessive noise in the campgrounds after 11 pm will not be tolerated.
  • No fires.
  • Jet skis are prohibited.

The management reserves the right to cancel tenancy at any time if park by-laws or these regulations are contravened and under such circumstances will not refund any fees paid in advance.

Rubbish and recycling

Nelson Lakes National Park is reducing waste to be more sustainable and has a ‘pack-in, pack-out’ policy. Take your rubbish and recycling with you.

Kerr Bay and West Bay campsites at Lake Rotoiti have no rubbish or recycling. 

Waste transfer stations are located at the following centres:

  • Murchison – 41 Matakitaki West Bank Road, Murchison 7077
  • Richmond – 14 Fittal Street, Richmond, 7020
  • Blenheim – Wither Road Extension, Blenheim 7201

Services offered at the Park Visitor Centre include walk and tramping information, maps, hut bookings and tickets, fishing licences and retail sales. Interpretive displays explain the landforms, history and wildlife of the area.