A summer camping spot at Nelson Lakes NP
This is the second in my new series about DOC campgrounds and in this post I will be looking at the front country campground at Westbay. Westbay is on the shore of Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes NP and is a summer use only site off the Mt Robert Road.
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| Sign at entrance of Jetty Campsite, Nelson Lakes NP |
This campsite is only open from December through April each year...outside of these months you have to camp at the main campground down at Kerr Bay. There are two sites here...Jetty Campsite and Buller Campsite with both holding about 40 sites for a total of 80 all up.
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| Looking out to Mt Robert Road, Jetty Campsite |
I stopped by on my way back from Mt Robert carpark and had a bit of a walk around the closed site.
Jetty Campsite at Westbay Campground:
Jetty Campsite is the first of the two sites at this camp ground and as they name implies it is opposite the jetty and boat ramp at Westbay. Buller Campsite which is very similar is another 300 meters down the road and close to the Buller River.
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| Three zones at the Jetty Campsite, Nelson Lakes NP |
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| DOC 0800 number at Jety Campsite |
You drive down Mt Robert Road to reach the campsite and it is about a kilometer off SH63 on the western edge of St Arnaud. It is well signposted at the campsite and also down on SH 63 so it is hard to miss.
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| View over to Westbay from the Jetty Campsite entrance |
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| Mt Robert Road continues to Buller Campsite |
The Westbay Campground is set amongst thick Kanuka/Manuka bush and the trees provide a good degree of protection from the wind which often whips down Lake Rotoiti. There are two entrances as the gravel roads around the site are one way traffic only.
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| Side entrance to Jetty Campsite, Nelson Lakes NP |
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| ...this campsite is closed till December... |
The campsites are a mix of grass and gravel...probably best suited to campervans and caravans rather than tents. That said I have seen tents pitched here before but they would need to be self supporting as there is no soil to drive pegs into. The sites are easily wide enough for a caravan and a towing vehicle and you would have plenty of space around you in a campervan.
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| Sites close to ablution block at Jetty Campsite |
This campsite has no powered sites...for powered sites you need to book into Kerr Bay Campground down near St Arnaud. Some sites have picnic tables at then and there are a couple of freshwater taps scattered about the grounds.
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| In the Kanuka zone at Jetty Campsite |
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| The sites are wide and long at Jetty Campsite |
There is a new and nicely appointed toilet/shower block at each of the campsites with freshwater taps on the outside of the building. The toilets are locked outside of the summer opening so I was not able to show you the interior but they are only a few years old so are in excellent condition.
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| Ablutions block at Jetty Campsite, Nelson Lakes NP |
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| Jetty Campsite: cold water showers and hand basin |
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| Water tap on ablution block at Jetty Campsite |
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| Three toilets here at Jetty Campsite, Nelson Lakes NP |
Each site has a post with a ticket holder on it where you are supposed to put your booking form and as you can see in the photo below there are some water taps. Apart from this the sites have no other facilities.
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| Water tap and campsite, Jetty Campsite |
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| Looking into the Mapou zone at Jetty Campsite |
The main draw of this campground is its close proximity to Lake Rotoiti...the jetty and boat launching ramp are literally less than 100 meters away. If you were a fan of the 'sports aquatic' then this would be an excellent base of operations.
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| Boat ramp and jetty access to Lake Rotoiti |
As well as the lake you have nearby MTB tracks at Teetotal Campsite and a couple of nice walking tracks including the Moraine Walk and Anglers Walk. It is a bit further to St Arnaud Settlement itself but even that is less than 3 kilometers away.
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| The water level was low in Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes NP |
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| Mt Robert dominates this side of Lake Rotoiti |
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| Westbay looking towards the Brunner Peninsula |
All in all the Westbay Campground is very nice, well maintained and would be an excellent place to spend a few days. While it has more basic facilities they are still in good condition and its location close to the lake but away from busy St Arnaud is a real plus.
Access: Turn off SH63 about one kilometer to the west of St Arnaud. Drive along Mt Robert road to Westbay on Lake Rotoiti. The campsite entrance is directly opposite the jetty at Westbay.
Facilities: Campground, 40 campsites over three zones, toilets, cold water shower, freshwater tap's around site, children's playground.
Miscellaneous: Westbay Campground has two campsites...Jetty and Buller. Open from December to April each year and can be pre booked on the DOC Website. Alternately visit the DOC Centre on Ward Street. No fires allowed at any time!
You Tube: Jetty Campsite-Westbay Campground
