Vacation Planning Guide: Visit Nelson Lakes National Park, New Zealand

International vacations can be challenging to plan, especially if you are not familiar with the country that you will be visiting. If you are trying to plan a vacation to New Zealand and are interested in hiking, or tramping according to Kiwis, then Nelson Lakes National Park is a great New Zealand destination to focus your vacation around. It contains 102,000 hectares of Southern Alps wilderness, beech forests, mountains, streams and lakes, all of which you can hike to.

Flower Brothers Walk Trail

Day trippers will enjoy this trail. It only takes about fifteen minutes to complete and it takes you around Lake Rotoroa. The trail head is located in the parking lot for the lake and travels through a stand of kahikatea, around the lake and ends by the Lake Rotoroa Lodge. If you want to campout you can pitch your tent at the Lake Rotoroa Campsite. This is a great trail for beginners and people with mobility issues as the trail is generally smooth and well maintained. Water crossings are covered by bridges and it is also fairly even. You can't build a campfire along this trail and you shouldn't drink the water along the trail.

Travers-Subine Circuit Trail

This trail is more suitable for people who are in good shape. To complete this circuit it will take between four and seven days, as it is 80km long. The trail progresses as follows:

*Lag One 3 hours: St. Arnaud to Lakehead;

*Lag Two 4.5 hours: Lakehead to John Tait Hut;

*Lag Three 3 hours: John Tait Hut to Upper Travers Hut;

*Lag Four 6 to 9 hours: Upper Travers Hut to West Sabine Hut;

*Lag Five 5 hours: West Sabine Hut to Sabine Hut;

*Lag Six 7.5 hours: Sabine Hut to St. Arnaud.

Along your journey you can swim, fish, kayak and boat. If you plan on fishing you will need to get a New Zealand fishing license and follow the rules and regulations for capture and release of native fish caught inside the park.

General Tips

When planning your backcountry tour of the Nelson Lakes National Park you need to be prepared for what this tour will involve. First of all, if you plan on camping out at one of the backcountry huts, you will need to buy enough hut tickets to cover your stay. There are several huts available throughout the park, and each costs one or two tickets per night. Camping is also allowed outside the huts, however, you are not allowed to build camp fires in the park so it is generally advisable to stay at an established hut, especially during the cooler months of the year.

In addition to planning for your overnight accommodations, you also need to learn about the hazards that you may face in the park. New Zealand doesn't have any large predators so you don't have to worry about bears, wolves, lions or other large mammals attacking you on the trail. However, they do have a problem with wasps, so if you are allergic to wasp or bee stings, you will need to bring an antihistamine with you in case you get stung.

Proper footwear and clothing also needs to be worn into the park. The trails are exposed to the elements and can be rough. Proper footwear will prevent injuries and keep you moving forward.

Finally, you need to pack in your own food and water. Don't drink the water found along the trails. It may contain contaminants and micro-organisms that could be hazardous to your health.