Lakehead Hut

Image: DOC

Lakehead Hut

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

Introduction

Lakehead Hut makes a good overnight tramp for families with children or new trampers. It can also be reached by water taxi.

Hut overview

Easy walk from road end

1-3 hours

Category

  • Category
Serviced

Bookings

  • Bookings

Bookings not required - first come, first served

Facilities

  • Heating
  • Mattresses
  • Toilets - non-flush
  • Water from tap - not treated, boil before use
28 bunk beds

Seasonal restrictions

During school holidays and public holidays this hut can be busy and occassionally full.

About this hut

Lakehead Hut sits at the head of Lake Rotoiti in the Travers River valley, at an altitude of 630 m.

From the hut, walk to the swingbridge over the Travers River (2 hr return), or fish in the Travers River or in the lake.

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

Getting there

Times from nearest access point and huts
  • St Arnaud via Lakehead Track (Lake Rotoiti Circuit): 3 hr 
  • Coldwater Hut: 50  min across Travers River (no bridge) or 3 hr via swingbridge up the Travers valley (Lake Rotoiti Circuit)
  • John Tait Hut: 4 hr 30 min
  • Angelus Hut: 6 hr
  • Hopeluss Hut: 5 hr

Lakehead Hut can also be reached by water taxi from the end of the lake at St Arnaud. From the jetty for drop-off or pick-up, it's a 15 minute walk to the hut.

Tracks to the hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BS24
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1585212, N5364023

Fees

Hut tickets or a Backcountry Hut Pass must be used from 1 May to 30 September.

Hut fees
  • Adult (18+ years): $15 per night
  • Youth (11 - 17 years): $7.50 per night
  • Child/Infant (0 - 10 years): free

Before you go, buy 1 Serviced Hut Ticket (green for adults, orange for youth) or 3 Standard Hut Tickets (blue for adults, yellow for youth) for each night's stay. Put these in the honesty box at the hut. Or buy a Backcountry Hut Pass for unlimited use at most Serviced and Standard huts for a 6 or 12 month period.

Fees to camp at the hut
  • Adult (18+ years): $5 per night
  • Youth (11 - 17 years): $2.50 per night
  • Child/Infant (0 - 10 years): free

Before you go, buy 1 Standard Hut Ticket (blue for adults, yellow for youth) for each night's stay. Put this in the honesty box at the hut. Or buy a Backcountry Hut Pass for unlimited use at most Serviced and Standard huts for a 6 or 12 month period.

Read more about hut tickets and passes 

Contacts

Rotoiti / Nelson Lakes Office
Phone:   +64 3 521 1806
Fax:   +64 4 471 1117
Email:   nelsonlakesvc@doc.govt.nz
Address:   View Road
St Arnaud
Postal Address:   PO Box 55
St Arnaud 7053
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
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