10 October 2026
Cloudy with showers increasing mainly inland this afternoon, possibly heavy, becoming rain at night. Northeasterlies.
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1 / 6Nelson Lakes National Park
Honeydew Walk
The Honeydew Walk takes you into the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project area along a high-standard track. There are several information panels along this track, which provide information on the recovery project
Distance
1.71 km
Walking time
45 min
Difficulty
Easiest, Easy
Dogs
Not allowed
Wheelchair access
Friendly
Current status
Alerts and track conditions
Access to Rotoiti Lodge affected by works
Weather outlook
Nelson forecast
Issued 10 Oct 2026, 4:55 pm
11 October 2026
Rain at first, possibly heavy, then showers easing in the afternoon, clearing early evening. Northerlies, turning westerly in the afternoon.
12 October 2026
Fine, but becoming mostly cloudy with isolated showers in the evening. Northerlies developing for a time in the afternoon.
13 October 2026
Occasional rain clearing in the afternoon, then partly cloudy. Light winds.
14 October 2026
Occasional rain, with some heavy falls. Northerlies, turning westerly in the afternoon.
Regional guidance only; elevation and terrain can produce different conditions.
Explore the area
Honeydew Walk on the map
See the full route on the map
Explore the track route and surrounding area before you set out.
About Honeydew Walk
Time: 45 min The Honeydew Walk is an all-weather well maintained walking track suitable for wheelchairs (though assistance may be needed on steeper sections) with just the one bridged stream crossing. It begins as an offshoot of the Bellbird Walk and leads deeper into the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project area. The first part of the track is along the side of Lake Rotoiti before you climb up onto a an old glacial terrace and do a loop through the beech forest. The darkened trunks and branches of the red and mountain beech trees along the route are caused by a scale insect that embeds itself in the tree bark. This insect feeds on the sugar-rich sapwood and expels excess sugar through a long, white, hair-like tube. The sticky ‘honeydew’ it produces provides a substrate for black sooty mould, which coats the trees without causing harm. The honeydew is an essential food source for many species, including nectar-feeding birds, insects, and lizards. Bellbirds and tūī are frequently seen here, alongside robins, tomtits, and fantails. With some luck, you might also spot a kākā or hear the chatter of kākāriki flitting through the canopy. There are several information panels along this track which provide information on the recovery project - allow extra time to read these along the way.
Essential information for Honeydew Walk
Be prepared with warm and waterproof clothing. Nelson Lakes National Park is in an alpine area – freezing conditions can occur at any time of year. No rubbish facilities are provided – carry out all your rubbish. Biting sandflies can detract for your experience at the lakes, especially during the summer months – cover up and apply a good quality insect repellant to exposed skin. Wasps are a known hazard and are particularly common from December until April – carry antihistamine if you are allergic to their stings.
Getting there for Honeydew Walk
From SH63 in St Arnaud, turn left onto Kerr Bay Road 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. Use this location on Google Maps to help find your way there.
Helpful resources
We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . We recommend trying these online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping / field Skills Basic Navigation River Safety Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel
Dog access for Honeydew Walk
No dogs.
Before you walk Honeydew Walk
Track information, access and weather can change. Confirm current alerts and land-manager information close to departure, tell someone your plans, and carry equipment appropriate for the route and conditions.