Hopeless Hut
Located in Nelson Lakes National Park in the Nelson/Tasman region
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Introduction
This is a standard 6-bunk hut in the Nelson Lakes area.Facilities
- Heating
- Mattresses
- Toilets - non-flush
- Water from stream
Seasonal restrictions
Hopeless Hut is located below an avalanche path. Do not use the hut during winter storms or when the snow reaches the valley floor.
Hopeless Hut was built by members of the NZ Alpine Club and opened by Sir Edmund Hillary on 23 December 1967.
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
Lakehead Hut: 5 hr
Tracks to this hut
Location
NZTopo50 map sheet: BS24
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1579823, N5357926
Altitude: 1,030 m above sea level
There is avalanche danger at this hut
Hopeless Hut is located below an avalanche path. It is not safe to stay in this hut during winter storms that may load the upper slopes with sufficient snow to reach the hut, or when snow is down to the valley floor. It would be possible for the hut to be hit by avalanche debris in these conditions.
Alternative accommodation options are Lakehead Hut (5 hours from Hopeless Hut) and camping in the lower valley, away from avalanche danger. Identified avalanche paths are signposted.
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 |