The next region we visited in New Zealand was the Nelson region—more precisely, Nelson Lakes National Park. The small town of St. Arnaud serves as the gateway to the park and is known for its popular ski resort. But since we were visiting in autumn, no skiing for us this time!
The national park includes 16 lakes, with the most famous being Lake Rotoiti. Although the area is primarily a winter destination, there are still plenty of hikes to enjoy during other seasons as well.
Where to stay in Nelson Lakes National Park?
Before deciding where to spend the night in Nelson Lakes National Park, it’s a good idea to figure out which activities you want to do—especially if you’re planning on hiking. Since we tackled the Lake Rotoiti Circuit, we chose to stay in Saint Arnaud. For our accommodation, we picked this adorable place called The Bach, where the owners live upstairs and are incredibly friendly and helpful.
How to get to Saint Arnaud?
The drive from Abel Tasman National Park to Saint Arnaud takes about an hour and 40 minutes. It’s not too long, but I’ll still share a few spots to grab some tasty food along the way—after all, we should never stay hungry!
- The Villa
A great bakery in Wakefield - Kohatu Flat Rock Cafe
A nice spot for good coffee and breakfast - Nelson Honey
A honey farm that offers more than just honey—you can also grab some food and ice cream here. - River Heaven
This was one of our favorite stops in New Zealand for its delicious desserts and coffee—and the staff is incredibly friendly, too.
What to do in Saint Arnaud?
We only had one day in Saint Arnaud, so we managed just one hike: the Lake Rotoiti Circuit. This trail is quite challenging, mainly because it’s about 23 km long and takes around six to seven hours to complete. Even though it’s a loop around the lake, you’ll still rack up about 700 meters of elevation along the way.
As we visited Saint Arnaud in autumn, we ended up catching one of the many rainy days during our stay in town. We still decided to tackle the trail, but naturally, we didn’t get to see the full beauty of the place.
The lake was still stunning despite the gloomy weather, and there were only three other people on the trail (which makes sense given the heavy rain).
For most of the hike, we wound our way through lush forest, with only a few spots opening up to the lake. Hoping for better photos, we headed back to the bay the next morning before leaving Saint Arnaud, but the clouds still clung to the mountains, so we never got that famous reflection shot. Oh well—there’s always next time!
Where to eat in Saint Arnaud?
There aren’t a lot of dining options in town, but the one we found was truly amazing—great food, beautiful views, and friendly staff. Here’s the Google Maps link for the place: Restaurant Alpine Lodge.
We had lunch here, and it was so good we ended up coming back for dinner. Be sure to reserve a table in advance, though—it fills up quickly with Alpine Lodge hotel guests.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I’d say Nelson National Park is an underrated gem in New Zealand—many people tend to skip it and continue along the coastal route from Abel Tasman National Park. With fewer crowds, peaceful nature, and welcoming locals, I think Saint Arnaud is truly worth a visit.
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