Nelson Lakes National Park occupies the northern tip of the Southern Alps, about 90 minutes south of Nelson, and presents a very different face from the coastal parks to the north. This is beech forest and alpine terrain — glacial lakes framed by mountains, with the bushy shores giving way quickly to open tussock and eventually permanent snow. Lake Rotoiti and Lake Rotoroa are the centres of the park, both accessible by road from the small settlement of St Arnaud.
The tramping here ranges from easy lakeside walks (the Lake Rotoiti circuit is suitable for all fitness levels) to multi-day routes into serious alpine terrain. The Travers-Sabine Circuit is the classic multi-day walk, crossing a major saddle and passing through varied landscapes over four to six days. The park is also a birding destination: intensive predator control around Lake Rotoiti has created a "mainland island" of native biodiversity, with bellbirds, tomtits, riflemen, and blue ducks in higher density than almost anywhere else outside offshore island sanctuaries. Winter brings snow to the higher terrain and occasional cross-country skiing opportunities.