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Nelson Lakes National Park
Climb onto the St Arnaud Range for spectacular views of the surrounding area.
Distance
11 km
Walking time
5 hr return
Difficulty
Advanced
Dogs
Not allowed
Wheelchair access
Not marked friendly
Current status
Weather outlook
Issued 10 Oct 2026, 5:00 am
10 October 2026
Mostly cloudy. Showers developing in the afternoon, possibly heavy and thundery about the inland ranges. Northeasterlies developing in the morning, strong at times about the Kaikoura Coast from afternoon.
11 October 2026
Showers becoming isolated with longer fine breaks in the morning, but possibly heavy and thundery with hail about the Kaikoura Coast from afternoon. Northerlies, turning westerly in the afternoon.
12 October 2026
Fine. Light winds.
13 October 2026
Fine. Northwesterlies.
14 October 2026
Rain developing. Northwesterlies.
Regional guidance only; elevation and terrain can produce different conditions.
Explore the area
Explore the track route and surrounding area before you set out.
Time required : 5 hours return This walk climbs steadily through beech forest to a height of over 1650 metres. Above the bushline (at 1400 metres) after a 2-hour climb, there are spectacular views from Parachute Rocks, which gained their name from a parachute-shaped gravel scree located just to the north. The track climbs for a further 30 minutes from here to the ridge line, where you are rewarded by spectacular views of the surrounding area: east down the Wairau Valley, north to Mt Richmond Forest Park, west towards Kahurangi National Park and the Buller Valley, and south to the rest of Nelson Lakes National Park. Return via the same route.
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. Take warm and waterproof clothing. Nelson Lakes National Park is in an alpine area – freezing conditions can occur at any time of year.
The track starts in the eastern corner of Kerr Bay, on the edge of Lake Rotoiti in St Arnaud. Use this location in Google Maps to find your way there.
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 .
No dogs.
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.
