Nelson Lakes National Park

Nelson Lakes National Park, TM

Trails in Nelson Lakes

All 57 trails, ranked by Parkwolf, with length, time, and difficulty.

Trails
57
Easy
10
Moderate
14
Hard
33

Hear the audio tour

Kerr Bay and Lake Rotoiti

All Nelson Lakes trails

57 trails

1Challenging9 km · 5 hrAudioMount Robert CircuitA 9 km alpine loop with Lake Rotoiti views and steep climbing.2Challenging12.2 km · 6 hrAudioAngelus Hut via Pinchgut Track and Robert Ridge RouteA long, exposed ridge walk to an alpine lakeside hut.3Challenging10 km · 5 hrAudioSt Arnaud Range TrackA long beech climb opens onto an exposed ridge above Lake Rotoiti.4Challenging15.4 km · 7 hrRotomairewhenua/Blue Lake TrackThe clearest water comes after a long, serious alpine climb.5Challenging80 km · 1.3 daysAudioTravers-Sabine CircuitAn 80 km alpine loop through remote valleys and a high pass.6Challenging23.4 km · 8.5 hrAudioLake Rotoiti CircuitTwo huts, one lake, and a ford that sets the route.7Moderate10.8 km · 3.5 hrAudioWhisky Falls via Lakeside TrackA nearly 40 m waterfall wrapped in moss and ferns.8Challenging23.4 km · 12 hrAudioAngelus Hut Circuit via Robert Ridge and Speargrass TrackAn exposed ridge to a glacial lake, then back by Speargrass Creek.9Challenging16.7 km · 11.5 hrWaiau Pass RouteA remote, expert alpine crossing over Waiau Pass.10Easy1.7 km · 45 minAudioHoneydew WalkA short beech-forest loop with honeydew-fed birds and glacial boulders.11Easy0.4 km · 15 minAudioBellbird WalkA brief accessible loop for red beech, birds and a small wetland.12Moderate10.4 km · 3 hrAudioLakehead TrackA beech forest walk to a hut at Lake Rotoiti’s head.13Challenging5.6 km · 5 hrRotopōhueroa/Lake Constance TrackA steep moraine climb to a sacred alpine lake.14Moderate14.6 km · 6 hrAudioSpeargrass Track to Speargrass HutBeech forest gives way to a hut in a tussock clearing.15Easy3.7 km · 1 hrAudioBrunner Peninsula Nature WalkA lakeside loop crosses the Alpine Fault twice.16Challenging11.2 km · 6 hrAudioAngelus Hut via Speargrass Track and Speargrass Creek RouteA demanding creek route to a high alpine lake hut.17Challenging6.6 km · 6 hrMoss Pass RouteA steep rocky pass opens views into two remote valleys.18Challenging15.6 km · 7.5 hrAudioMount Robert–Julius SummitA big climb for Lake Rotoiti views and a high, exposed ridge.19Easy8.2 km · 2.5 hrAudioLakeside Track to Coldwater HutA forested lakeshore walk to Coldwater Hut and its jetty.20Challenging25.1 km · 11 hrD’Urville Track to Upper D’Urville HutA remote valley traverse linking four backcountry huts.21Easy1.3 km · 30 minAudioLake Rotoroa Nature WalkA fern-rich forest loop with quick glimpses of Lake Rotoroa22Moderate3.9 km · 2 hrAudioBraeburn WalkMossy falls at the end of an old forest road.23Challenging9.4 km · 6 hrAngelus Hut via Travers and Cascade Track/RouteA demanding alpine route to Angelus Hut beside a glacial tarn.24Challenging6.8 km · 6 hrAngelus Hut via Mt Cedric Track/RouteAn exposed ridge links two remote huts above an alpine basin.25Challenging8.4 km · 5 hrCupola TrackA steep backcountry climb to a high hut and Mount Hopeless views.26Moderate7.9 km · 3.5 hrHopeless Track to Hopeless HutA creek-side climb to a remote six-bunk hut.27Challenging20.9 km · 8 hrTravers Valley Track to Upper Travers HutA demanding valley approach to Upper Travers Hut.28Challenging13.8 km · 5.5 hrJameson Ridge TrackA forest climb to an open ridge above Mole Stream.29Challenging7.8 km · 6.5 hrMount Misery TrackA 1,100-metre climb to a hut beside a tarn.30Moderate4.5 km · 1.5 hrAudioLoop TrackA 4.5 km beech forest loop climbs terraces above Lake Rotoiti.31Moderate2.2 km · 1.5 hrAudioBlack Hill WalkA steep forest loop climbs a glacial hill above St Arnaud.32Moderate15 km · 6 hrSabine TrackOpen flats, a river gorge and a hut above Lake Rotoroa.33Challenging6 km · 3.5 hrSunset Saddle RouteA remote saddle crossing links two alpine huts.34Moderate13.5 km · 6.5 hrMole Stream Track to Mole HutA rough riverside approach to Mole Hut at the bush edge.35Challenging23 km · 8.5 hrTiraumea TrackA tough river traverse between Tutaki and D’Urville.36Challenging11.5 km · 5 hrSabine–Speargrass TrackA remote hut crossing, with a boardwalk through mountain wetlands.37Challenging8.4 km · 7.5 hrPoukirikiri/Travers Saddle RouteAn alpine pass links two remote valleys in one demanding day.38Moderate11.9 km · 5 hrMatakitaki Forks RouteA mossy beech track to a remote Matakitaki river crossing.39Moderate4.3 km · 3 hrEast Matakitaki TrackA beech-forest tramp to a six-bunk hut beside the river.40Moderate6.6 km · 4 hrWest Matakitaki Track to Bobs HutA remote hut beneath the Spenser peaks, beyond a final river crossing.41Challenging19 km · 7.5 hrNardoo Creek RouteA remote creek approach to a two-bunk hut beneath Emily Peaks.42Moderate15.4 km · 6.5 hrMole–Jamieson LoopA creek-and-ridge circuit to open views at Mole Saddle.43Challenging5.8 km · 4 hrMole Saddle–Tiraumea TrackAn undulating ridge walk down to a backcountry hut.44Easy0.8 km · 30 minAudioBlack Valley WalkFollow a beech-forest stream between the lake and St Arnaud.45Challenging8.1 km · 4.5 hrAudioBushline Hut via Paddy’s TrackA steep climb to a high hut above Lake Rotoiti.46Easy4.9 km · 1.8 hrAudioMoraine WalkA gentle walk past kettle ponds and glacial gravel.47Easy4.8 km · 2 hrAudioAnglers WalkWalk the Buller from Lake Rotoiti’s outlet to the SH63 bridge48Easy0.5 km · 15 minAudioFlower Brothers WalkA short lakeshore walk through kahikatea forest to the Gowan outlet.49Moderate7.9 km · 2 hrD’Urville–Sabine TrackA remote 4.9-mile hut link with a serious stream crossing.50Challenging14.4 km · 12 hrThree Tarn Pass RouteA remote alpine crossing past three tarns into steep river country.51Challenging10 km · 9 hrWatson Creek RouteA steep creek climb into the Ella Range bushline52Challenging12 km · 12 hrDavid Saddle RouteA remote hut crossing over a steep, sparsely marked alpine saddle.53Challenging5.4 km · 4.5 hrThompson Pass RouteA high alpine crossing for expert backcountry parties.54Challenging4.9 km · 3.8 hrMcKellar Stream RouteA rough, remote descent from the Ella Range into Matakitaki Valley55Challenging6.1 km · 5.5 hrRainbow Pass from Upper Travers HutA steep hut-to-pass return with tarn reflections and a high alpine finish.56Challenging18.6 km · 6 hrDownies Hut TrackOne-way valley walk to a tiny pit-sawn historic hut.57Easy0.3 km · 12 minAudioGibbs WalkA brief beech climb over old glacial moraine.
A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone
Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Nelson Lakes Tour Guide

Nelson Lakes, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Nelson Lakes National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

Recorded for this place

Kerr Bay and Lake Rotoiti
0:00 / 0:27
“You're approaching Kerr Bay, an easy place to get down to Lake Rotoiti without taking on a hike.”

Plays as you drive up to Lake Rotoiti – Kerr Bay and Jetty in the Parkwolf Nelson Lakes Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre
  • St Arnaud: Food and Village Stops
  • Lodge Road and Black Hill Walk
  • West Bay, Lake Rotoiti
  • 26 audio storiesacross Nelson Lakes’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
  • Wildlife heatmapsfor New Zealand Falcon, Weka, Kererū, and 13 more
  • Works offlinemaps, 57 trails, 47 places, and audio download before you lose signal
  • CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
★★★★★
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
JMJamesApp Store review
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Take Parkwolf to Nelson Lakes.

The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.

4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

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