Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
then begin the final leg, a steady but easy climb that lasts almost one hour and crosses
bridges over two streams.
The day ends with a short descent to the Mt Robert car park, 2½ to three hours from
Speargrass Hut. Unless you have transport, it's another 7km (1½ hours) of walking into St
Arnaud.
TOP OF CHAPTER
St Arnaud Range Track
Duration
5 hours return
Distance
11km (6.8 miles)
Track Standard
Tramping track
Difficulty
Moderate
Start/End
Kerr Bay, St Arnaud
Nearest Towns
St Arnaud (
Click here
)
, Nelson (
Click here
)
Transport
None
Summary
A popular day walk with a steep ascent through beech forest and above the bush-
line to the top of the range for a grand panorama at 1650m.
This popular up-and-down day walk provides one of the best viewpoints of Nelson Lakes
National Park and beyond, surveyed from the top of the St Arnaud Range. It's around a
1000m ascent from lake to ridge but achy legs will be numbed by the splendour of beech
forest - red, silver and mountain - that gradually changes with altitude. Equally diverting is
the chatter of native birds whose populations are bolstered by the work of the Rotoiti Nature
Recovery Project, through which this track passes.
Above the bushline (1400m) the views are worthy of a sit-down, but don't be content
with gawping at the lake and Mt Robert from Parachute Rocks, as many walkers are. Fuel
up with some scroggin and conquer the final 30-minute climb through alpine tussock to the
ridge (1650m). You won't be disappointed.
The Tramp
5 HOURS RETURN, 11KM, 1000M ASCENT/DESCENT
