West Bay Campsite - Buller zone
Located in Nelson Lakes National Park and St Arnaud area in the Nelson/Tasman region
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Introduction
This campsite is located lakeside in Nelson Lakes National Park. It is one of the two camping zones at West Bay Campsite. The campsite is open from mid-December until April each year.Access
- Campervan
- Car
- Caravan
Landscape
- Forest
- Rivers and lakes
Facilities
- Non-powered/tent sites
- Shelter for cooking
- Shower - cold
- Toilets - non-flush
- Water from tap - treated, suitable for drinking
- Wheelchair accessible with assistance
Activities
- Bird and wildlife watching
- Boating
- Fishing
- Kayaking and canoeing
- Mountain biking
- Swimming
- Walking and tramping
Seasonal restrictions
The campsite is open from early December to the end of April.
Fires are not permitted at any time. See fire rules on conservation land.
Dog access
The campsite is one of two camping zones of West Bay Campsite. Sites are tucked amongst kanuka/manuka forest. It is adjacent to Lake Rotoiti and there is a boat launching ramp nearby.
Campsite zones
This camping zone is Buller.
West Bay – Jetty camping zone is nearby.
View a map of campsite zones (PDF, 3,408K)
These camping areas have no power.
Volunteer camp host opportunities
Volunteers are needed to act as camp hosts for a minimum of two weeks from mid December through to late April.
You would need your own campervan or caravan. A free powered site is provided in return for basic duties such as checking camper bookings and liaising with the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre.
For more information and application form: Nelson Lakes volunteer camp host
Fees
9 February to 25 December
- Adult (18+ years): $15 per night
- Child (5–17 years): $7.50 per night
- Infant (0–4 years): free
26 December to 8 February
- Adult (18+ years): $18 per night
- Child (5–17 years): $9 per night
- Infant (0–4 years): free
Passes
The DOC Campsite Pass can be used at this campsite.
Campsite Pass bookings must be booked online before occupying a site. If you do not book, bookings may be made by campground staff (if present) and will incur a $10 service charge. Sites may not be available if you do not book.
Bookings
Bookings are required. Book well in advance for the Christmas holiday period, classic and power boat weekends, and Easter.
Bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2025.
All bookings are first-come first-served. We do not have waiting lists for bookings for future seasons or facilities that are already booked-out.
A $10 service fee applies to phone and in-person booking. This is a limited service – book online first. An in-person booking is dependent on there being space available.
Your booking will be for a site, which will be allocated or selected on arrival.
Lake Rotoiti, West Bay. Just off SH63 on the Mt Robert Road, west of St Arnauld. The campsite is a 3 km drive or 30 minute walk (2-3 km depending which way you go) from St Arnaud village.
St Arnaud is 1 hour 30 minutes by road from Nelson or Blenheim.
Campsite rules
- The camp is within Nelson Lakes National Park, park by-laws apply.
- No domestic pets are allowed.
- Sites must be vacated by 11 am on the day of departure.
- Speed limit in the camping areas is 5 km/hr.
- Excessive noise in the campgrounds after 11 pm will not be tolerated.
- Keep rubbish to a minimum.
- No fires.
- Jet skis are prohibited.
The management reserves the right to cancel tenancy at any time if park by-laws or these regulations are contravened and under such circumstances will not refund any fees paid in advance.
Rubbish and recycling
Nelson Lakes National Park is reducing waste to be more sustainable. Keep rubbish to a minimum at this campsite and, if possible, take out any rubbish brought in.
The campsite is remote, and it is difficult for DOC to manage large volumes of rubbish and recycling.
If you are unable to take your rubbish with you, carefully sort general rubbish and recycling into the bins provided. There is no glass recycling available at Kerr Bay or West Bay campsites.
Waste transfer stations are located at the following centres:
- Murchison – 41 Matakitaki West Bank Road, Murchison 7077
- Richmond – 14 Fittal Street, Richmond, 7020
- Blenheim – Wither Road Extension, Blenheim 7201
Services offered at the Park Visitor Centre include walk and tramping information, maps, hut bookings and tickets, fishing licences and retail sales. Interpretive displays explain the landforms, history and wildlife of the area.
Contacts
| Rotoiti/Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre | |
|---|---|
| Phone | +64 3 521 1806 |
| nelsonlakesvc@doc.govt.nz | |
| Address | View Road St Arnaud 7072 |
| Hours | Visitor centre hours and services |
| Whakatū/Nelson Visitor Centre | |
|---|---|
| Phone | +64 3 546 9339 |
| nelsonvc@doc.govt.nz | |
| Address | Millers Acre/Taha o te Awa 1/37 Halifax Street Nelson 7010 |
| Hours | Visitor centre hours and services |