Nelson Lakes NP: Honeydew Walk: 12 November 2022

 On the Honeydew Walk at Lake Rotoiti

The other short walk I did while on my recent tramping trip to Nelson Lakes NP was the Honeydew Walk.  It is a great little walk and it branches off the main Lakehead Track running along the lake side. 

Lake Rotoiti from the start of the track at Kerr Bay

The first part of the track is along the side of Lake Rotoiti before you climb up onto a an old glacial terrace and do a loop through the beech forest. It was a little windy in the forest but otherwise it was a perfect day to be out and walking. 

DOC signs at start of Lakehead Track

At the start of the track at Kerr Bay

Lake Angelus can be accessed along the Lakehead Track

I had contemplated walking the longer St Arnaud Range Track but as that took another five hours and involved climbing steeply up a series of switchbacks for many kilometers I decided to go with the slightly easier option. 

On the Honeydew Track:

The Honeydew Walk is a short side track off the main Lakehead Track...it is about one kilometer long and takes 25 to 30 minutes to make your way around. 

DOC map of the track network from Kerr Bay

Setting out from Kerr Bay to walk the Honeydew Track

The track skirts Lake Rotoiti to start...

On the Lakehead Track at Lake Rotoiti

The eastern terminus of the Honeydew Track starts about a kilometer from Kerr Bay and it climbs up onto old glacial terraces before sidling around and back down to the main track about 300 meters from the carpark. 

Map: Honeydew Walk, Nelson Lakes NP

Just to clarify things a bit...on the map above I is the Honeydew Walk, II is the St Arnaud Range Track and III is the Lakehead Track. The eastern end of the Honeydew Track comes off the Lakehead Track while the western end attaches to the end of the St Arnaud Range Track. 

Western Terminus of the Honeydew Walk

You can walk the track in either direction it is really up to you to choose. Clock wise from the eastern end is probably best...

Eastern terminus of the Honeydew Walk

Climbing onto the Honeydew Walk, Nelson Lakes NP

Honeydew Walk: the life cycle of a beech forest....

     

The Honeydew Walk travels through a magnificent area of beech forest and is a part of the Lake Rotoiti Recovery Project. The Project aims to restore a vast swathe of forest in Nelson Lakes NP back to a pre human condition. To this end they have an extensive trapping program for introduced pests and they also undertake planting to restore the forest cover. 

Information about the Inland Island project

Initially the project only covered about 100 hectares but it has since grown to cover over 5000 hectares of forest, tussock grasslands and mountain tops. It has created a virtual 'Inland Island' where birds, insects and small animals are able to thrive. 

Walking along the first terrace on the Honeydew Walk

On the Honeydew Track at Lake Rotoiti

The Honeydew Walk is an all weather track with just the one bridged stream crossing. The track is dirt and covered with leaves but it is well drained and elevated so it is usually quite dry. Although it is not wheelchair friendly it is not far off...it is wide, well maintained and easy to walk along. 

Only bridge along the all weather Honeydew Walk

Not much water in the stream...Honeydew Walk

After the initial climb up onto an old glacial terrace you find yourself sidling along a mostly flat track with a variety of beech species and podocarp trees. You can see quite a way out into the open forest and it is a very pleasant place to go for a stroll. 

There are several information panels along the Honeydew Walk

Honeydew Walk: the fauna of Nelson Lakes NP

You turn along the track and head west towards the St Arnaud Range Track. The track weaves in and amongst the trees and it was awesome walking along in the dappled sunlight coming in through the forest canopy. 

Good quality track along the Honeydew Walk, Nelson Lakes NP

Goblin Forest along the Honeydew Walk

Fallen tree debris cleared from the Honeydew Walk

After about 15 minutes walking you come to an area of jumbled glacial erratic's...huge boulders and rock slabs deposited here when some ancient glacier came to a halt and dumped the heaviest debris. The whole of Nelson Lakes NP was formed by and shaped as a result of glaciers evidence of which can still be spotted.

Honeydew Walk: tree growing on a erratic boulder...

 As little as 8 000 years ago there was a huge glacier coming down the Travers Valley carving out Lake Rotoiti on its way west. The other major influence is erosion by both wind, rain action and by the gradual erosive force of the big rivers you find in the park.

The apex of the Honeydew Walk, Nelson Lakes NP

Old glacial debris on the honeydew Track

The apex of the Honeydew Walk is near the old glacial spoil...from here it starts to drop down to a junction with the St Arnaud Range Track before descending further to the main Lakehead Track.

Information about Wasp infestation in Nelson Lakes NP

 The walk through here is elevated over the forest so you can see way off into the forest towards old swamps and silted up kettle lakes. 

Honeydew Track heading for the St Arnaud Range Track

View off the Honeydew Track into the forest

You eventually arrive at the St Arnaud Range Track/ Loop Track coming down off the surrounding peaks. I last travelled up the St Arnaud Range Track way back in 2016 when I did a day walk up to Parachute Rocks nearly 1100 meters above you. 

Honeydew Walk and St Arnaud Range Track junction

The rest of the walk is on the St Arnaud Range Track...

I headed down the St Arnaud Range Track on my way back to the main trail on the route out to Kerr Bay. It was quiet in the forest...I saw about a dozen people the whole time I was walking around the Honeydew Walk even though it is close to the carpark. 

Honeydew/St Arnaud Range Track heading to St Arnaud

I saw and heard a great many birds in this forest including Silver Eye, Fantail, Kaka, Bellbird and Tui. A Kaka flew close by me at one point and sat in a nearby tree noisily protesting at my presence. Kaka numbers are growing right around the country and Nelson Lakes now has a strong population of these forest Parrots. 

DOC 2000 pest trap on the Honeydew Walk

I didn't see any Weka or Pukeko on this trip which is unusual as I often see a few around the Kerr Bay Campsite and on the flats around Lakehead Hut. There may not be any in the area at the moment. 

Information panel about the vision of a restored forest

The end of the Honeydew Walk is a gentle descent down to the main track running along the side of the lake....an easy end to an easy track.

Descending down the Honeydew/St Arnaud Range Track

Near the St Arnaud Range Track and Lakehead Track junction

From the end of the St Arnaud Range Track you turn right and head along the Lakehead Track back to the car park at Kerr Bay. From the track junction you are only 300 meters away from the end of your tramp...

...Western terminus of the Honeydew Track...Lakehead Track

Back onto the main Lakehead Track, Lake Rotoiti

Kerr Bay is just 300 meters away...Lakehead Track

Back on the flat ground next to Lake Rotoiti

There are several excellent views along and up Lake Rotoiti to the Travers Valley which sits at the head of the lake. This is one of my favorite tramping destinations in New Zealand with a number of excellent huts heading up to Travers Pass. This is the path of both the Te Araroa Trail and the Travers -Sabine Circuit. 

View along Lake Rotoiti to the Travers Valley

Mt Robert (1421) from the Lakehead Track

Nearly at the Kerr Bay carpark at Lake Rotoiti

Back at the Kerr Bay entrance to the track

End of the walk at the Kerr Bay Jetty

The Honeydew Walk is a real gem....it travels through some really nice beech forest and would make an ideal intermediate track if you only had an hour or so in St Arnaud. I can thoroughly recommend the walk to you as I really enjoyed the experience. 

Access: Honeydew Walk starts and finishes off the Lakehead Track near St Arnaud. Follow Kerr Bay Road or Lake Road off SH63 (Main Road)  and down to the jetty at Kerr Bay. Numerous tracks start from this location and branch off the main Lakehead Hut Track. There is a track sign about 700 meters from the carpark at the start of Honeydew Track/St Arnaud Range Tracks. 

Track Times: It takes 30-40 minutes (1.5 kilometers) to cover the full circuit of the Honeydew Walk. 

Miscellaneous: High quality track, with multiple interpretation boards along the route. All weather track but potentially muddy after rain.

YouTube: Honeydew Walk

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