Brunner Peninsula Nature Walk, Nelson Lakes NP: 8th January 2022

 Exploring the Brunner Peninsula at Lake Rotoiti

After finishing the Loop Track and having some lunch back at the motel I set out for my second walk of the day. This walk was the Bruner Peninsula Nature Walk which I have been meaning to do for several years now. It is a loop track which links Kerr Bay, the Rotoiti Lodge, West Bay and the Brunner Peninsula via a series of connector tracks.

The carpark at the DOC Workshop in July 2021

You can start this walk at multiple points but I started from near the Visitor Centre off Kerr Bay road. You can park in either the Visitor Centre carpark or at the carpark on Ward Street which is just outside the DOC Workshops. This is where I usually park when tramping in Nelson Lakes NP as it is a busy area of St Arnaud and the local Constable and Head Ranger both live right across the road from the carpark.

...you head south down Ward Street at first...

The track to Rotoiti Lodge is at the end of Ward Street...

You are heading south along Ward Street to a connector track which will take you to Lodge Road and the Rotoiti Lodge. You follow a well marked gravel track to Lodge Road where you turn left and head uphill towards the Lodge itself. This will eventually join onto West Bay Track....

Follow the signs to Rotoiti Lodge in St Arnaud

The track to Rotoiti Lodge goes through Manuka

Turn left on Lodge road to get to the West Bay Track

Rotoiti Lodge is an outdoor education centre that is used by school groups, tour groups and youth groups. It has the standard bunkrooms and living/cooking facilities these centers usually have and is similar to Outward Bound at Anakiwa, the BOEC at Boyle River and Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Arthurs Pass. 

Nelson Lakes NP would be great for school groups...there is so much to do here!

Rotoiti Lodge at St Arnaud...the local outdoor education facility

West Bay Track is at the end of Lodge Road

You walk past Rotoiti Lodge as you are heading for the carpark and turning circle at the end of Lodge Road. Here you will find a track to the top of Black Hill which is a knob just outside St Arnaud. There is also a marked entrance to the West Bay Track which will take you back down to Lake Rotoiti. 

Black Hill Track goes to a lookout over St Arnaud

West Bay Track is at the end of Lodge Road

West Bay Track heads down hill to the Peninsula Walk

From Lodge road you descend down the track towards the lake on a wide and well maintained pathway. It will eventually deposit you at the junction with the Brunner Peninsula Walk. I have walked this track several times as it is the access way from Mt Robert Carpark to St Arnaud. 

If you ever walk the Lakeside Track, Travers-Sabine Circuit, Lake Rotoiti Circuit, Robert Ridge or Speargrass Tracks you will get to know it...

It was a fine and sunny afternoon on the West Bay Track

The forest along West Bay Track is Manuka

After 500 meters you will find yourself at a track junction...you go straight ahead to reach West Bay or turn left to follow the Brunner Peninsula Walk. I walked down to West Bay to have a look...it is only a couple of hundred meters away. It was busy with several motorboats launching/recovering and some sort of rowing regatta in progress...

DOC sign along the West Bay Track

There is an excellent view of the whole of the Brunner Peninsula from West Bay and you can see how far it juts out into Lake Rotoiti. BTW: Lake Rotoiti and West Bay are the source of the Buller River which flows from here all the way out to the Coast at Westport growing in size all the way...

At West Bay with the Brunner Peninsula to the rear

...there was a rowing regatta happening at West Bay

Back on the Brunner Peninsula Walk it is about 3 km's or a one hour walk to get back to Kerr Bay on the other side of the Peninsula. It is very easy walking...mostly flat with a few small bumps to walk over along the way. 

Intersection of West Bay Track and Peninsula Track

It takes one hour to walk back around to Kerr Bay from West Bay

There is a beach about fifty meters up the Brunner Peninsula Walk and it would be a nice spot to sit for awhile and enjoy the awesome views of Mt Robert, Lake Rotoiti and the St Arnaud Range. You can see back along the shoreline to West Bay and there were a number of kayakers, swimmers and boaters at play on the lake...

Mt Robert and the St Arnaud Range from near West Bay

The distant Howard Range across West Bay

West Bay from along the Brunner Peninsula

I headed off along the track shaded to a large extent by the mature Manuka trees growing along the shoreline. You are never more than 20 meters from the water for the whole length of the Brunner Peninsula Walk and you can hear it lapping against the rocks as you walk. 

The Brunner Peninsula Walk is rougher than the previous tracks!!!

Wasp bait station on the Brunner Peninsula Walk

Very old Manuka trees along the Brunner Peninsula Walk

It was lovely on the day I was here but I imagine it is cold and breezy over the autumn and winter months as there is a constant wind coming off the lake. I ambled along the track taking photos and filming vlog clips as I went...

Goblin Forest on the Brunner Peninsula Walk

View out towards Mt Robert carpark, Brunner Peninsula Walk

About halfway along the southern side of the peninsula you pass what looks like a backcountry hut. I thought this was what it was but then I noticed some pipes running from the lake into the hut. I think it is the water pumping and filtration station for St Arnaud. I could hear the sound of heavy machinery at work inside but as there are no windows it was impossible to be certain...

Water pumping station for St Arnaud on the Brunner Peninsula Walk

Just past the pumping station you have to climb up and over a small headland and this is the most strenuous part of the walk. It is not that difficult though as you only gain about 25 meters of elevation before dropping back down to the side of the lake. 

A mix of Beech and Manuka Trees....

There is a nice viewpoint and an interpretive panels at the bottom of the hill with some great views of West Bay and the south side of Lake Rotoiti. There is information here about the National Park, Lake Rotoiti and notable early settlers. 

There was a fresh breeze blowing at this end of the peninsula and the trees were moving around quite a lot...

...there are several viewpoints along the Brunner Peninsula Walk...

There was a fresh breeze blowing at this end of the peninsula and the trees were moving around quite a lot...

DOC interpretive panel on the Brunner Peninsula Walk

Near the information panel is a sidetrack that will take you back up to the Visitor Centre so you can bail out here if you have had enough of walking. I continued on along the shoreline on the Brunner Peninsula Walk. 

Brunner Peninsula Walk runs along the outside of the peninsula

Just past the track junction I stopped for a ten minute break on a handy track side rock for a drink and a snack. I had been walking for about an hour by this point and still had about another 40-50 minutes walk to get back to the car. This end of the peninsula is covered with Beech Trees which make a difference as it had been all Manuka and Kanuka to this point. 

Rest spot along the Brunner Peninsula Walk

I soon started to round the end of the point and started walking back towards the Kerr Bay side of Brunner Peninsula. Mt Robert rises right across the lake and you could clearly see Pinchgut Track and Paddy's Track winding up the distant slopes. 

Mt Robert dominates Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes NP

The track is higher above the lake at this end of the land and there was thick forest growing between the track and the water. Views of the lake and surrounds are very limited...

At the foot of Brunner Peninsula, Lake Rotoiti

Looking up Lake Rotoiti from the Brunner Peninsula Walk

There is a very nice seat at the start of the Kerr Bay side of Brunner Peninsula and I walked down and had a seat for about ten minutes and enjoyed the scenery. You have excellent views right up Lake Rotoiti to the Travers Valley and along the Robert Ridge and St Arnaud Ranges.

I had a talk with a couple of paddle boards who were making their way around the peninsula to a pick up at West Bay. Lake Rotoiti would be an excellent location for these kind of activities over the summer months. 

Seat on the northern side of Brunner Peninsula

From the seat it is about 25 minutes walk to get back to the carpark at Kerr Bay. It was nice walking along the track in the shade as it had got hotter as the afternoon wore on. This side of the peninsula is mostly Beech forest with a smattering of other species you find up in Nelson Lakes NP. This is obviously the less impacted side of the peninsula...

On the northern side of the Brunner Peninsula Walk

More afternoon shade on the northern side of Brunner Peninsula

Every now and then the canopy would open and you could see down to Kerr Bay and the hive of activity occurring down there. It looked super busy as it was the last Saturday of the Christmas-New Years holiday and I think people were making the most of the time they had left...

First view of Kerr Bay...Brunner Peninsula Walk

The last kilometer of the track is right above the shoreline and I could see that there is a shallow under water bench just off the shore. It would be a great spot for swimming if you wanted to make a bit of effort and walked around to this point. 

Benched trach approaching Kerr Bay, Brunner Peninsula Walk

Nearing the end of the Brunner Peninsula Walk 

Eventually the Brunner Peninsula Walk will deposit you at the main Kerr Bay carpark which was the busiest I have ever seen it. There were groups of people right along the shore and the grassy area behind the beach was full of cars and boat trailers. 

End of the Brunner Peninsula Walk at Kerr Bay

Northern terminus of Brunner Peninsula Walk at Kerr Bay

This is another entrance point to this walk if you wanted to walk clockwise around the peninsula instead of the direction I went. The other starting point would be West Bay where there is a large parking area right next to that end of the walk. 

View up Lake Rotoiti to the Travers Valley from Kerr Bay

Information about the Friends of Rotoiti group

A very busy Kerr Bay carpark, Lake Rotoiti

From the edge of the shore you are heading for the short track up to the Visitor Centre in the bushline past the grassy parking lot. There is a sign at the bottom pointing up the track but it is not visible from near the lake shore so you will need to go find it...

There is a walking track to the Visitor Centre from Kerr Bay

Start of the track to the Visitor Centre at the Kerr Bay carpark

Jon at the Kerr Bay carpark at Lake Rotoiti

The track from Kerr Bay to the Visitor Centre is steep but short and is much safer than walking along the roads which do not have any sidewalks around St Arnaud. It is nice and cool as it is covered with some mature Beech trees which block both the wind and the sun...

On the track to the Visitors Centre...Kerr Bay

Kerr Bay Road is the alternate route to the St Arnaud Visitor Centre

At the top of the track you will find yourself at the back of the St Arnaud Visitor Centre just off Kerr Bay Road. There is a DOC office here and they are very helpful and knowledgeable about the many tracks you can walk in the local area. There is a set of public toilets located here if you require them...

Rear of the St Arnaud Visitor Centre

Front entrance to the St Arnaud Visitor Centre

If you are ever coming tramping or kayaking here in Nelson Lakes NP make sure you check out the information board at the front of the Visitor Centre. They have current information about the local weather, track closures, huts, campsites and local services. It is always worth coming here before setting out as this will be the most up to date information about local conditions. 

Information panel at the St Arnaud Visitor Centre

After visiting the Visitor Centre I set off for the carpark outside the DOC Workshop. If you are just walking the Brunner Peninsula Walk you could leave your car here at the Visitor Centre but it is not safe to leave cars here overnight as some have been broken into in the past. 

Ward Street is opposite the exit from the Visitor Centre

St Arnaud Visitor Centre carpark...don't long-term park here!!!

Ward Street is right across the road from the Visitor Centre and I could see that the Silver Surfer was safe and waiting for me in the carpark just up the road on the left...

The carpark on Ward Street is on the left...

Ward Street in St Arnaud is where I parked on the day...

I finished up at the car about 2.5 hours after setting out on the walk...I am sure you could walk the track quicker but I spent a lot of time taking photographs and filming. It was a decent work out especially as it was the second walk of the day for me and a excellent end to a couple of fine days worth of tramping. 

Jon at the end of the walk at the Ward Street carpark

The Brunner Peninsula Nature Walk is an excellent short walk with plenty to keep you amused. It would be a great walk for families as it is safe right around its length and you could stop at one of the many beaches for a swim in the lake. I enjoyed it a lot and will be sure to take Karen for a walk along it if we find ourselves up in Nelson Lakes NP sometime in the future. 

Access: The Brunner Peninsula Walk starts from multiple points at St Arnaud and is a circuit track using the main Brunner Peninsula Track and connector tracks off Ward Street and Lodge Road. The track can be walked in either direction. Start points are from Kerr Bay, the DOC Visitor Center and West Bay

Track Times: It is 4.7 kilometers (1.5-2 hours) to complete the circuit. 

Miscellaneous: Good quality track with generally flat profile. There are a couple of small hills to climb over but you are never more than 60 meters above the lake level. Parts of the track are exposed to the elements so bring appropriate gear. There are toilets at all three start points but none along the track. Do not walk this track in high wind as it is prone to both wind fall and wind throw...

You Tube Link: Brunner Peninsula Track