Image: DOC
Bushline Hut.
Bushline Hut

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

Bushline Hut provides a great overnight tramp for families with children or new trampers.

Bushline Hut sits on the tree line at 1,280 m. It has beautiful views over Lake Rotoiti and across to the St Arnaud Range.

Just above the hut, visit the historic Kea Hut (locked) – built for the first skiers in the Mount Robert area. On the open tops above the hut, explore 2nd Basin with the old Mt Robert Ski Field buildings.

Facilities

  • Bunks - platform (shared) bunks with mattresses
  • Water supply - cold water from a rain collection tank
  • Heating - wood burner with firewood provided (although there may be periods without firewood if weather conditions prevent resupply)
  • Space for camping outside the hut
Huts have basic facilities. You'll need to take:
  • Sleeping bag
  • Cooking stove, pots/pans and utensils
  • Toilet paper
  • Rubbish bag
  • Newspaper/firelighters and matches/lighter for the wood burner/fire
  • Torch

Fees

  • Adult (18+ years): $25 per night
  • Youth (5–17 years): $12.50 per night
  • Child/Infant (0–4 years): free

Pay online at the time of booking.

Backcountry Hut Passes

Passes are valid for use in this hut from 1 May to 30 September. Passes won't be accepted from 1 October to 30 April. However it is valid to use for camping within 200 metres of the huts all year round.

Fees to camp at the hut

Fees to camp at this hut are paid using hut tickets or a Backcountry Hut Pass or Campsite Pass.

  • Adult (18+ years): $10 per night
  • Youth (5–17 years): $5 per night
  • Child/Infant (0–4years): free

Before you go, buy 1 Standard Hut Ticket (blue for adults, red for youth) for each night's stay. Put this in the honesty box at the hut.

About hut tickets and passes | About campsite passes | Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes

Bookings

Bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 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.

Bookings are required all year.

Book Bushline Hut online

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 hut booking is for any bunk bed, not for a specific bunk bed – select your bunk bed on arrival.
Times from nearest road end and huts
  • Mount Robert Road on Paddy's Track or Pinchgut Track (Mount Robert Circuit): 2 hr 30 min
  • Coldwater Hut: 3 hr
  • Angelus Hut: 4 - 6 hr

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BS24
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1585412, N5368321
  • Always check weather conditions – strong winds can be dangerous on the tops.
  • The gate at the bottom of Mount Robert Road is locked when the road is icy.

Nelson Lakes - thefts from vehicles

Isolated carparks are prone to theft. Don't leave any valuables in your vehicle. A bag storage facility is available at the Rotoiti/Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre. 

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 a biosecurity cleaning station 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.

More ways to stop the spread