Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Travers-Sabine Lodge
( 03-521 1887;
www.nelsonlakes.co.nz
;
Main Rd; dm/d $26/62; )
This modern hostel is a great
base for outdoor adventure, being a short walk to Lake Rotoiti, inexpensive, clean and
comfortable. It also has particularly cheerful technicolour linen in the dorms, doubles and
a family room. The owners are experienced adventurers themselves, so tips come as
standard; tramping equipment available for hire.
HOSTEL
$
Nelson Lakes Motels
( 03-521 1887;
www.nelsonlakes.co.nz
;
Main Rd; d $120-130; )
These log cabins and newer
board-and-batten units offer all the creature comforts, including kitchenettes and Sky TV.
Bigger units sleep up to six.
MOTEL
$$
Alpine Lodge
( 03-521 1869;
www.alpinelodge.co.nz
;
Main Rd; d $155-205; )
Trying its darnedest to create an
alpine atmosphere, this lodge has a range of accommodation, the pick of which are the
split-level doubles with mezzanine bedroom, spa and pine timberwork aplenty. The adja-
cent backpacker lodge (dorm/double $29/69) is spartan but clean and warm, and hires
mountain bikes. The in-house restaurant is snug, with mountain views and good food
(meals $10 to $29). Long may the Sunday-night barbecue continue.
LODGE
$$
Tophouse Historic Guesthouse
( 03-521 1848, 0800 544 545;
www.tophouse.co.nz
;
68 Tophouse Rd; s/d incl breakfast $115/175)
Nine kilo-
metres from St Arnaud, this 1887 hotel retells fireside tales, tall and true. Refreshments
inlude Devonshire teas, soup and sandwiches (lunch $10 to $18), and dinner by arrange-
ment, plus there's NZ's smallest bar and a garden with mountain views. Bed and breakfast
is offered in old-fashioned rooms within the hotel, and chalets out the back sleep up to
four (doubles $110, per extra person $20).
HISTORIC HOTEL
$$
St Arnaud Alpine Village Store
( 8am-6pm, takeaways 4.30-7.30pm Fri & Sat, daily Dec-Feb)
The settlement's only general store sells
groceries, petrol, beer and possum-wool socks. Mountain-bike hire per half-/full day is
$20/40. It has tramping food, sandwiches and pies, with fish and chips cranking up on
weekends and daily in peak season ($6 to $10).
SUPERMARKET, TAKEAWAY
Information
