Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes National Park

We parked our cars at the other large lake in Nelson Lakes National Park, Lake Rotoroa. A shuttle van took us the half hour drive to the small alpine village of St Arnard on the shore of this lake, Lake Rotoiti (right hand bay in the photo).

There we had a largely unsatisfactory encounter with the local DOC office (Department of Conservation). But they did let us fill our water bottles/hydration bladders and for that we were grateful. Nothing in our online planning from the DOC website alerted us to an empty water tank at the hut we were headed to for the first night.

Don't get me started on websites which aren't up to date and/or fail to provide the sort of information people using the site need. It's my passion and what I do to earn a living. DOC, the point of your website is for an external audience, not your organisation. (Rant over ;-)

From there we were dropped at the end of the road. Our packs were large and very heavy. I can't remember when I last carried such a heavy pack. We were each carrying 3 - 4.5 L of water. It was sunny, hot, steep and fortunately only a couple of hours worth.

What a splendid view of Lake Rotoiti from a few metres down the track from Bushline Hut. It was well worth the strain and pain. We gratefully drank some of our water and wandered another few minutes beyond the hut to another private, locked historic hut - Kea Hut. The shuttle van driver suggested to us we might find water in the tank behind the hut. We did.

We also found the DOC Bushline Hut where we spent the night had water in the tank too. Thanks DOC.

We watched the sky change and the lights of St Arnard twinkle below us on the edge of inky blackness of the lake. Our hut companions were a trio of Australian blokes who come to NZ to tramp every year. We yarned a while but after an early start to drive from Christchurch and hot climb in the afternoon, sleep came easily and quickly.

The calling Keas (native mountain parrot) didn't stir me, neither did the enterprising mouse that ate it's way into one of my mates food.

I'd gladly make the climb again and to spend a night or two in Bushline Hut. Its a gem.