Nelson Lakes National Park
Nelson Lakes National Park covers 93,938 hectares of public conservation land south of St Arnaud, taking in the lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa and the Travers, Sabine, D'Urville, Matakitaki and Mt Robert ranges. This is one of the South Island's iconic mid-range parks — beech bush rolling up onto serious alpine tops.
Elevations run from 433 m to 2,321 m with a median of 1,315 m. Fifty-nine per cent of the country sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 34% is alpine, so this is mostly above the bushline tops country with strong alpine sections through the higher ranges. The country leans west-facing, with strong west, south-west and north-west aspects through the main divides.
The park carries red deer, chamois, wild goat and wild pig. Chamois are well established on the higher ranges, reds work the bush systems and bush-edge bands, and the lower country carries pigs and goats.
Open Nelson Lakes National Park on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 292,120 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 433–2,321 m
- Median elevation
- 1,315 m
- Middle 50%
- 959–1,607 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 59%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 34%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
433–2,321 m, mostly above the bushline, leaning west-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Air access is permitted on Nelson Lakes National Park, with conditions — check DOC rules on landing zones and concession requirements before booking flights. WARO is also permitted, so commercial recovery operations may be active over the higher country.
The park has a strong hut network of 18 DOC huts including Angelus, John Tait, Upper Travers, Blue Lake, West Sabine, D'Urville, East Matakitaki, Cupola, Hopeless, Bobs, Coldwater, Lakehead, Burn Creek, Morgan, Nardoo and others. Most are standard DOC huts with heating, mattresses, non-flush toilets and stream water; bookable status varies. The network supports trips of any length, from overnight push-ins to long multi-valley traverses.
Huts & campsites
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
- John Tait HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- West Sabine HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Angelus HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Upper Travers HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Blue Lake HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Mattresses, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Lakehead HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
- John Tait HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- West Sabine HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Angelus HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Upper Travers HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Blue Lake HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Campsites: Lake Rotoroa Campsite, Angelus Hut Campsite.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Nelson Lakes National Park permit area, with a hunting status of Permitted.
Commercial wild-animal recovery (WARO) operates over this area — expect helicopter activity and pressured game.
This block sits within a DOC air-access zone — fly-in hunting and helicopter drop-offs may be permitted.
Nelson Lakes National Park is an Ordinary permit area with Permitted hunt status. A standard DOC hunting permit covers year-round hunting, but national park rules apply — restrictions around the Travers–Sabine circuit, no dogs in most areas (check before going), and limits on landings. Always check the latest DOC information for the specific catchment before each trip.
1080 & pesticide status
No current, planned or proposed pesticide operations intersect this block in our data. Always confirm with DOC before taking a dog in.
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