View from Kerr Bay Campsite, Nelson Lakes
Image: Adam Eason | Creative Commons
Located in Nelson Lakes National Park in the Nelson/Tasman region
Fires are not permitted at any time.
Kerr Bay camp is located adjacent to Lake Rotoiti with a boat launching ramp nearby. It is surrounded by beech forest and 500 m from the St Arnaud village shop. The camp is not suitable for vehicles greater than 7 m in length.
The campground is open all year around. During the summer months bookings are essential. Bookings are not available during the winter. During winter there are no showers, washing machine & dryer available.
There are five camping zones, each with varying numbers of sites: Bellbird, Fantail, Robin and Tui zones have powered sites with hardened surfaces, while the grassy Kaka zone is more suitable for tents. Kiwi sites are suitable for campervans/caravans and provide a gravel surface with some grass around the sites.
A day shelter provides kitchen and cooking facilities (stove; no pots, pans, cutlery etc). During the summer months the ablution block has hot showers (token operated), toilets, full access shower/toilet and washing machine and clothes dryer.
During winter, the showers (including full access shower/toilet) are closed and the washing machine and dryer are not available.
There is a sewage dump station opposite the cooking shelter.
Lake Rotoiti, Kerr Bay just off SH63 on Kerr Bay Road.
The campsite is near the St Arnaud township, which is 1 hour 30 minutes by road from Nelson or Blenheim.
NZTM2000 coordinates: E1587370, N5371777
Latitude: -41.80577, Longitude: 172.84795
Non-powered site
Powered site
Tokens required for showers: $1 each
Non-powered site:
Powered site:
The campsite pass for rental campervans cannot be used at this campsite.
Backcountry Hut Passes cannot be used at this campsite.
DOC/NZMCA campsite passes cannot be used at this campsite.
From mid-December to the end of April the campsite can be booked online or through the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre. Bookings are essential for the Christmas holiday period, classic boat show and powerboat regatta weekends and Easter.
From 1 May through to mid-December the campsite can't be booked. Register at the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre.
Book Kerr Bay campsite online, or contact:
| Nelson Lakes Bookings Helpdesk Business Unit | |
| Phone: | +64 3 521 1808 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | nelsonlakesvc@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: |
View Road St Arnaud |
| Postal Address: |
PO Box 55 St Arnaud 7053 |
| Full office details | |
Services offered at the 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.
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.
A concession is required to fly a drone on any public conservation land - see Recreational drone use and Commercial drone use for more information.
| Rotoiti / Nelson Lakes Office | |
| Phone: | +64 3 521 1806 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | nelsonlakesadmin@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: |
View Road St Arnaud |
| Postal Address: |
PO Box 55 St Arnaud 7053 |
| Full office details | |
| Whakatū / Nelson Visitor Centre | |
| Phone: | +64 3 546 9339 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | nelsonvc@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: |
Millers Acre/Taha o te Awa 79 Trafalgar Street Nelson 7010 |
| Postal Address: |
Private Bag 5 Nelson 7042 |
| Full office details | |
