Lakehead Hut
Located in Nelson Lakes National Park in the Nelson/Tasman region
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Introduction
Lakehead Hut makes a good overnight tramp for families with children or new trampers. It can also be reached by water taxi.Easy walk from road end
Facilities
- Heating
- Mattresses
- Toilets - non-flush
- Water from tap - not treated, boil before use
Seasonal restrictions
No firewood supplied from May to September. Gather dead wood from surrounding forests. Do not fell or break branches off live trees.
Lakehead Hut sits at the head of Lake Rotoiti in the Travers River valley, at an altitude of 630 m.
From the hut you can:
- walk to the swingbridge over the Travers River – 2 hr return, and
- fish in the Travers River or in the lake.
Facilities
- Bunks – platform shared bunks with mattresses
- Water supply – cold water from a rain collection tank
- Heating – wood burner with firewood provided from October to April. Although there may be periods without firewood if weather conditions prevent resupply.
- Space for camping outside the hut.
- Sleeping bag
- Cooking stove, pots/pans and utensils
- Toilet paper
- Rubbish bag
- Newspaper/firelighters and matches/lighter for the wood burner/fire
- Torch
Fees
- Adult (18+ years): $25 per night
- Youth (5–17 years): $12.50 per night
- Child/Infant (0–4 years): free
Backcountry Hut Passes
Passes are valid for use in this hut from 1 May to 30 September. Passes won't be accepted from 1 October to 30 April. However it is valid to use for camping within 200 metres of the huts all year round.
Fees to camp at the hut
Fees to camp at this hut are paid using hut tickets.
- Adult (18+ years): $10 per night
- Youth (5–17 years): $5 per night
- Child/Infant (0–4years): free
Before you go, buy 1 Standard Hut Ticket (blue for adults, red for youth) for each night's stay. Put this in the honesty box at the hut.
About hut tickets and passes | Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes
Campers may use hut water supply and toilets.
Te Araroa – the Trail Pass
Registered Te Araroa Trail walkers should purchase the Trail Pass for Te Araroa.
Bookings
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.
Bookings are required all year.
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.
Times from nearest access point and huts:
- St Arnaud via Lakehead Track (Lake Rotoiti Circuit): 3 hr
- Coldwater Hut: 50 min across Travers River (no bridge) or 3 hr via swingbridge up the Travers valley (Lake Rotoiti Circuit)
- John Tait Hut: 4 hr 30 min
- Angelus Hut: 6 hr
- Hopeluss Hut: 5 hr
Lakehead Hut can also be reached by water taxi from the end of the lake at St Arnaud. From the jetty for drop-off or pick-up, it's a 15 minute walk to the hut.
Tracks to this hut
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Lake Rotoiti Circuit
Located in Nelson Lakes National Park and St Arnaud areaWalk around Lake Rotoiti surrounded by high mountain peaks – with the option to catch a water taxi one way or to stay overnight in a hut, it's a great option for families with children.Duration 7-10 hrDifficulty Advanced -
![Travers-Sabine Circuit]()
Travers-Sabine Circuit
Located in Nelson Lakes National Park and St Arnaud areaExperience tranquil beech forests, fields of waving tussocks, 2000‑m‑high mountains, and clear rushing streams in the heart of the mountains of Nelson Lakes National Park.1 alertDuration 4 - 7 daysDifficulty Advanced
Location
NZTopo50 map sheet: BS24
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1585212, N5364023
During school holidays and public holidays this hut can be busy and occasionally full.
Keep alpine lakes and tarns free of lindavia (lake snow)
The invasive alga lindavia is present in Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa. It causes lake snow – a sticky mucus that hangs below the surface of the water.
Make sure all your gear is completely dry for 48 hours before swimming or taking water from any alpine lake or tarn, including Rotomaninitua/Lake Angelus.
Use a biosecurity cleaning station at Coldwater Hut, Lakehead Hut and Sabine Hut to disinfect any boots, socks, clothing, towels or drink bottles that are wet or damp from lake or river water.
Do not touch the water in Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake and Rotopōhueroa/Lake Constance.
Be extra careful if you’ve recently swum or filled a drink bottle from Lakes Rotoiti or Rotoroa.
Contacts
| Nelson Lakes National Park 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 |
