Lake Rotoiti Short Walks

Most of Lake Rotoiti’s short walks are accessed from Kerr Bay. From the SH63 in St Arnaud, turn left onto Kerr Bay Rd and follow it down to the lake. There is plenty of parking at the lake edge next to the jetties on either side of the bay. At the eastern end next to the DOC campground, you will see a large information board with a map, and times and distances of the various tracks in the area.

West Bay is the other starting point for short walks. Head west along SH63 from St Arnaud and turn left onto Mt Robert Rd. Follow the road to the lake edge, where there is a car park and jetty next to the DOC campground.

Nelson Lakes DOC Visitor Centre is located on View Rd, St Arnaud. This is a good place to read up on the ecology, geology and history of St Arnaud and Nelson Lakes National Park, as well as check the latest alpine weather forecasts and speak to DOC staff about any warnings in place.

Length	2 km (one way)
Time Required	30 min (one way)
Uses	Walking and trail running
Physical Difficulty	Easy

Anglers Walk begins next to the Buller River bridge, on Mt Robert Road, next to Buller Campground. The track passes through kanuka forest as it follows the true right bank of the Buller River / Kawatiri as it exits Lake Rotoiti and flows westward. The track ends at the SH63 bridge across the Buller River. At this point you can return the way you came; otherwise, you can head back along SH63 toward St Arnaud for 200 m, where on the northern side of the road there is a gate that gives access to the Teetotal-Big Bush Trail Area and and Skating Pond Loop Track. Follow this back to the Teetotal car park, where you can cross the highway and get onto Moraine Track to return to where you started.

Length	300 m
Time Required	10 min
Uses	Walking
Physical Difficulty	Very easy

One of the shortest and easiest walks in the national park. A wheelchair-friendly track begins at the eastern end of Kerr Bay, next to the large information panel (this track also doubles as the start of Lakehead Track and St Arnaud Range Track). The track runs parallel to the lakeshore for a short distance, with information panels at regular intervals providing details on some of the native tree and plant species along the way. The track loops round to the left and returns to the car park.

Length	3 km circuit from West Bay
Time Required	1 hr
Uses	Walking and trail running
Physical Difficulty	Moderate

Beginning at West Bay, Black Hill Circuit follows the track that climbs gently back towards Rotoiti Lodge on top of Brunner Peninsula. At the lodge, the track turns left and climbs over Black Hill, which rises approximately 130 m above the lake. Black Hill is a roche moutonnée, a resistant volcanic outcrop that was smoothed and sculpted by the Travers Glacier during the last ice age, around 20,000 years ago. The track then drops off the far side of Black Hill, zig-zagging down to connect with Moraine Walk next to SH63. Follow Moraine Walk back to West Bay to complete the circuit.

Length	3.7 km one way
Time Required	1 hr one way
Uses	Walking and trail running
Physical Difficulty	Easy

Brunner Peninsula Track follows the shoreline of Brunner Peninsula, which separates Kerr Bay from West Bay. From the car park at the western end of Kerr Bay, follow the track as it follows a few metres above the lakeshore through beech forest. The track is fairly easy-going, with just a few stones and roots to look out for. In several places there are panels that describe some of the history of the area. Subtle depressions in the track mark the trace of the Alpine Fault, which you’ll cross on the way out from Kerr Bay and again on the way back along West Bay.

The track ends in West Bay next to the jetty and car park. You can return to Kerr Bay via Rotoiti Lodge and the visitor centre by heading back the way you came for a short distance and then turning left at the track junction. Otherwise, continue to the right along Mt Robert Road and then turn right onto Moraine Track, which heads around the northern side of Black Hill and alongside SH63 to St Arnaud.

Length	1.6 km
Time Required	45 min
Uses	Walking
Physical Difficulty	Easy

Honeydew Walk branches to the left from Bellbird Walk/Lakehead Track, a short distance from the car park. The short loop track is wide and smooth, and heads through impressive beech forest that is part of the Rotoiti Nature Recovery area. It then drops down to reconnect to Lakehead Track, which you can follow back along the lakeshore to where you started.

Length	4.2 km
Time Required	1 hr 30 min
Uses	Walking and trail running
Physical Difficulty	Easy

Like Bellbird Walk and Honeydew Walk, Loop Track begins at the eastern end of Kerr Bay. Follow Honeydew Walk until the junction where you can turn left and follow St Arnaud Range Track. The track from here is tramping grade and requires more care and attention than Honeydew Walk. The track climbs through red beech forest up old glacial moraine terraces. Just before Borlase Stream, Loop Track branches to the right and sidles the range for a bit, before gradually descending to connect with Lakehead Track. Turn right here and follow Lakehead Track back to the car park where you started.

Length	2.7 km one way
Time Required	1 hr one way
Uses	Walking and trail running
Physical Difficulty	Easy

Moraine Track begins at the junction of Lodge Rd and SH63, at the western end of St Arnaud. The track runs parallel to the highway through kānuka trees, and around the base of Black Hill. On the western side of Black Hill the track crosses over ancient glacial moraine deposits and kettle ponds formed by the Travers Glacier, which occupied the entire valley thousands of years ago and was the reason for Lake Rotoiti’s formation. The track continues across Mt Robert Rd and behind the Buller Campground, and connects to Anglers Track next to the Buller River.

From here, turn left back along Mt Robert Rd toward the West Bay jetty and parking area. You can return to Kerr Bay via Brunner Peninsula Track, or take the shortcut over the peninsula via Rotoiti Lodge and the visitor centre.

Length	1.5 km one way
Time Required	15 min one way
Uses	Walking, trail running and MTB
Physical Difficulty	Easy

Village Track links St Arnaud with the Teetotal-Big Bush Trail Area. Beginning at the end of Beechnest Dr, the shared track zig-zags a short distance up into the beech forest of Big Bush Conservation Area, before sidling along the hillside for about a kilometre. Just before Duckpond Stream, it zig-zags back down and crosses a meadow, before reaching the Teetotal car park, next to the ice skating pond.

Length	10.7 km return
Time Required	3-4 hr return
Uses	Walking and trail running
Physical Difficulty	Moderate

Whisky Falls is located halfway along the western shore of Lake Rotoiti and is accessed via Lakeside Track. Beginning on Mt Robert Rd, the track passes through thick regenerating kānuka forest at the base of Mt Robert, crossing old landslide deposits. As it descends toward the lake, the forest transitions to mature beech, and the track follows the shoreline for the next 2.9 km to the 40 m-high falls on Whisky Creek, which are located a 5 min detour off the main track. The forested fan formed by Whisky Creek juts out into the lake and features a pebbly beach and jetty.

Return the way you came.