St Arnaud To Cupola Hut

Updated 1st Setember 2010

"Run By Trampers For Trampers"

St Arnaud To Coldwater Hut

To save time we used the Lake Rotoiti Water Taxi. Bill Butters the friendly Water Taxi  Operator was able to give us a lot of information on the park (new & old history). Before we knew it he had us at the Coldwater Jetty in no time.

Coldwater to John Tait

Starting off at the quaint little Coldwater hut at the end of Lake Rotoiti, we strolled along the flat Travers valley beside the flowing river and in and out of clearings with Robins and bellbirds for company.  It was a sunny, clear, typical autumn day with a slight coolness in the air that got you up and moving after a break.  So nice to breathe in the fresh air and to smell the bush.

Two thirds of the way towards John Tait hut the flat track starts to go slightly up hill.  John Tait hut is a welcome sight situated in the valley beside the Travers river in a cosy sheltered, sunny spot.

John Tait to Cupola

We walked alongside a blue and clear river with huge boulders scattered throughout.  Under our feet was a mossy carpet and Robins hopped around our feet and came up close to say hello.  After twenty minutes along the flat main track we turned in towards Cupola.  Gradually climbing for one hour we then came to a beautiful, very deep chasm with a fast and furious waterfall cascading down it.  Next we came to a picturesque clearing with a wide river and mountains as a backdrop, surrounded by Beech forest.  Deer prints were abundant on the next section of track.  For the next hour the track got steeper and steeper until the Cupola hut popped out of the bush, nestled in the trees, nicely sheltered in its sunny spot.  A short distance above the hut the bushline stops and the wide open views make the hard work worth it.  What fantastic basin views with rugged and sharp mountains all around.

Please contact us for more information info@nelsonlakesshuttles.co.nz  #Note if you have a Xtra mail address and you don't receive a return email from us. We always return your emails as soon as possible. Check your deleted or spam box. It is a Xtra problem stemming from their "Bubble Upgrade" and they assure us they hope to have it sorted soon.
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"Run By Trampers For Trampers"

For further information contact:

Peter & Trish Kemp
Nelson Lakes Shuttles
P.O. Box 75
St Arnaud 7053
Nelson Lakes
New Zealand
Phone:     +64 (3) 521-1900
Mobile             021 490095

Email info@nelsonlakesshuttles.co.nz 

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