Image: Nelson Tasman Tourism | Creative Commons
Coldwater Hut.
Coldwater Hut

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

Coldwater Hut provides a good overnight tramp for families with children and those new to tramping. It can also be reached by water taxi.

Coldwater Hut sits at 620 m on the edge of Lake Rotoiti.

From the hut, walk to the swingbridge over the Travers River (2 hr return) or to Whisky Falls via Lakeside Track (1 hr 30 min - 2 hr return)

Facilities

  • Bunks – platform shared bunks with mattresses
  • Water source – cold water from rain collection tank or from the lake
  • Heating – open fire. Firewood not provided
  • Jetty
  • Space for camping outside 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): $10 per night
  • Youth (5–17 years): $5 per night
  • Child/Infant (0–4 years): free

Before you go, buy 1 Standard Hut Ticket (blue for adults, yellow for youth) for each night's stay. Put this in the honesty box at the hut. Or buy a Backcountry Hut Pass that gives unlimited use at most Standard and Serviced huts for a 12 month period.

About hut tickets and passes | Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes
Times from nearest access points and huts
  • St Arnaud via Lakeside Track and Mount Robert Road (Lake Rotoiti Circuit): 3 hr 30 min
  • Mount Robert Road end via Lakeside Track (Lake Rotoiti Circuit): 2 hr 30 min
  • Lakehead Hut: 50 min across Travers River (no bridge) or 3 hr via swingbridge up Travers valley (Lake Rotoiti Circuit)
  • John Tait Hut: 5 hr
  • Angelus Hut via Cascade Route: 6 hr

Coldwater Hut can also be reached by water taxi from the end of the lake at St Arnaud. The jetty for drop-off or pick-up is directly in front on the hut.

Tracks to this hut

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BS24
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1584712, N5364523

Note: Coldwater Hut is a different location to Coldwater Campsite.

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