Image: Jacqui Keay. | Creative Commons
Speargrass Hut.
Speargrass Hut

Located in Nelson Lakes National Park in the Nelson/Tasman region

Speargrass Hut provides an overnight tramp suitable for families with children or those new to tramping.

Speargrass Hut sits in a tussock clearing at 1060 m, with views across the surrounding mountains.

Facilities

  • Bunks – platform (shared) bunks with mattresses
  • Water supply – cold water from a rain collection tank
  • Heating – wood burner with firewood provided (although there may be periods without firewood if weather conditions prevent resupply)
  • Insulated and double-glazed
  • Long drop toilet a short walk from the hut
Huts have basic facilities. You'll need to take:
  • 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.

Te Araroa – the Trail Pass

Registered Te Araroa Trail walkers should purchase the Trail Pass for Te Araroa.

Fees to camp at the hut

Fees to camp at this hut are paid using hut tickets or a Backcountry Hut Pass or Campsite Pass.

  • 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 | About campsite passes | Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes

Campers may use hut water supply and toilets. 

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.

Book Speargrass Hut online

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 road end and huts

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BS24
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1579414, N5366623
  • The gate at the bottom of Mount Robert Road is locked when the road is icy.

Nelson Lakes - thefts from vehicles

Isolated carparks are prone to theft. Don't leave any valuables in your vehicle. A bag storage facility is available at the Rotoiti/Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre. 

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.

More ways to stop the spread