Coldwater Hut
Located in Nelson Lakes National Park in the Nelson/Tasman region
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Introduction
Coldwater Hut provides a good overnight tramp for families with children and those new to tramping. It can also be reached by water taxi.Facilities
- Heating
- Mattresses
- Toilets - non-flush
- Water from tap - not treated, boil before use
Seasonal restrictions
During school holidays and public holidays this hut can be busy or full.
Image gallery
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Coldwater Hut Image: Shellie Evans ©
![Coldwater Hut.]( "Coldwater Hut.")
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Inside Coldwater Hut Image: Shellie Evans ©
![Inside Coldwater Hut.]( "Inside Coldwater Hut.")
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Coldwater Hut Image: Shellie Evans ©
![Looking down jetty to hut.]( "Looking down jetty to hut.")
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View from Coldwater Hut Image: Shellie Evans ©
![View from Coldwater Hut.]( "View from Coldwater Hut.")
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
- 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
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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.Duration 4 - 7 daysDifficulty Advanced
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.
Stop lindavia getting to the pristine alpine lakes in Nelson Lakes National Park:
- 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.
- 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 |
