Last updated November 2026
Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes National Park is a deep, clear lake ringed by forest-covered mountains, with the village of St Arnaud on its shore. It is not the Rotorua lake of the same name.
Lake Rotoiti holds a self-sustaining population of brown trout averaging 3 to 4 lb, and it is open all year to fly, spinner and bait. Bush reaches the water’s edge on most of the shore, so most anglers troll or spin from a boat launched at Kerr Bay or West Bay.
At a Glance
- Location
- St Arnaud, off State Highway 63, Nelson Lakes National Park
- Type
- Deep, clear alpine lake; source of the Buller River
- Main species
- Brown trout
- Method
- Fly, spinner and bait; downriggers allowed
- Season
- All year (the Travers River above the lake: 1 October to 30 April)
- Best shore spots
- The Buller outlet and the Travers mouth at the head of the lake
- Licence
- Fish & Game licence; sold at the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre, St Arnaud
- Boat ramps
- Near Kerr Bay and West Bay campsites
- Getting there
- About 1.5 hours by road from Nelson or Blenheim
- Dogs
- Not allowed in the national park
No tides on Lake Rotoiti. Weather decides the day: the lake is cold, freezing conditions can come in any season, and boat anglers should check the forecast before heading out.
What Makes It Worth the Trip
Lake Rotoiti is the source of the Buller River, which flows out of the lake’s northern end. The Travers River feeds it at the southern end, the head of the lake. The lake is deep and clean, with forest coming down to the water on both sides.
nzfishing.com reports a self-sustaining population of brown trout averaging around 3 to 4 lb, with large fish caught regularly and a real chance of a trophy. Most fishing is done from a boat by trolling, spinning or fly.
St Arnaud is the only settlement on the lake. DOC’s Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre is on View Road, and Kerr Bay, beside the village, has a campsite, two jetties and a swimming raft. DOC’s Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project, one of its six mainland island projects, works in the park, and the ban on dogs in the park protects reintroduced kiwi.
How to Fish Lake Rotoiti
From a boat
Most anglers troll, harl or spin from a boat. Downriggers are permitted when lake fishing. Keep clear of the river mouths with an outboard running: you cannot fish from a motorised boat within 100 m of the Travers River, Coldwater Stream, Black Valley Stream or the Buller outlet. Water skiing is allowed on Lake Rotoiti, so watch for other boats on fine summer days.
From the shore
Bush to the water’s edge makes shore fishing hard except in a few places. The best are the outlet, where the Buller leaves the lake, and the Travers mouth at the southern end.
The head of the lake is about a 3 hour walk from Kerr Bay along the eastern shore to Lakehead Hut, or a water taxi ride. Keep your back cast clear of swimmers around the Kerr Bay jetties.
What to use
- Nymphs: large, heavily weighted patterns in sizes 10 to 14, such as Pheasant Tail, Hare and Copper and Green Stonefly.
- Dry flies: terrestrials along the shoreline in the warmer months, early morning or evening.
- Streamers: trolled or harled, such as Parson’s Glory or a Rabbit fly. Dark patterns such as Craig’s Night-time or Hairy Dog at night, lighter colours by day.
- Spinners: cast or trolled Toby, Tasmanian Devil or Cobra lures.
Getting There and Facilities
- Road: St Arnaud is on State Highway 63, which links State Highway 6 with Blenheim. It is about 1.5 hours by road from Nelson or Blenheim.
- Kerr Bay: turn off SH63 onto Kerr Bay Road. The DOC campsite is beside the lake, 500 m from the village shop, with a boat launching ramp nearby. It has toilets, token hot showers, a cooking shelter and a dump station. Adult tent sites are $27 a night from 19 October to 30 April.
- West Bay: about 3 km from St Arnaud off Mt Robert Road, with a boat launching ramp nearby. The campsite is open 27 November to 30 April and must be booked.
- Water taxis: run on demand on Lake Rotoiti, including to Lakehead Hut and Coldwater Hut at the head of the lake.
- Licences: the Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre on View Road, St Arnaud, sells fishing licences, or buy one online from Fish & Game. DOC notes fishing guides work out of St Arnaud.
- Rubbish: there are no rubbish or recycling facilities at the DOC campsites. Take everything home.
- Swimming and walks: for swimming, walks and other things to do at the lake, see our Lake Rotoiti: Alpine Lake Activities guide.
- Next lake over: Lake Rotoroa is reached from Gowan Bridge on SH6. See our Lake Rotoroa trout fishing guide.
Rules and Safety
Rules
- Licence: you need a current Fish & Game licence and must carry it while fishing.
- Season and methods: the lake is open all year for fly, spinner and bait under the Fish & Game Nelson/Marlborough regulations. Bag limits are in the regulations; there is no minimum size for trout.
- River mouths: no fishing for sports fish from a motorised boat within 100 m of the Travers River, Coldwater Stream, Black Valley Stream and Buller River mouths.
- Travers River: the Travers and its tributaries above the lake are a designated water, open 1 October to 30 April, fly and spinner only. You need a Designated Waters Licence on top of a whole-season licence to fish it.
- Boats: jet skis and similar craft are banned on the lake under the national park bylaws.
- Eels: longfin eels are protected in the lake. Do not fish for them or feed them at the jetties.
- Dogs: dogs and other domestic animals are banned from Nelson Lakes National Park.
Safety and biosecurity
- Freezing conditions can occur at any time of year. The lake is cold, so check the weather before taking a small boat out and wear a lifejacket.
- If you walk to the head of the lake, only cross the Travers opposite Lakehead Hut when the river is low. Otherwise use the swingbridge about 1.5 hours up the valley.
- Lake Rotoiti has lake snow (Lindavia), and didymo is in the lake outlet. Check, Clean, Dry all gear before you fish another river or lake. DOC has cleaning stations at Lakehead and Coldwater huts.
- Sandflies are common, especially in summer, and wasps from December to April.
Trusted Sources
Fish & Game Nelson/Marlborough regulations: seasons, methods, bag limits and the river mouth boat rules.
DOC Kerr Bay campsite: facilities, fees and the boat ramp at St Arnaud.
DOC Nelson Lakes National Park: getting there, alerts and safety.
Lake Rotoiti: Common Questions
When can you fish Lake Rotoiti?
All year. The Travers River above the lake is open 1 October to 30 April only.
Is this the same Lake Rotoiti as the one near Rotorua?
No. This Lake Rotoiti is in Nelson Lakes National Park at St Arnaud, in the South Island.
What fish are in Lake Rotoiti?
Brown trout, averaging around 3 to 4 lb, with larger fish caught regularly.
Can you fish Lake Rotoiti from the shore?
In a few places. The Buller outlet and the Travers mouth at the head of the lake are the best. Most of the shore is bush to the water’s edge.
Where can I launch a boat on Lake Rotoiti?
DOC lists launching ramps near Kerr Bay and West Bay campsites at St Arnaud.
Can I use bait on Lake Rotoiti?
Yes. Fly, spinner and bait are all allowed in the lake.
Where do I buy a fishing licence at St Arnaud?
The Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre on View Road sells Fish & Game licences, or buy one online.
Can I take my dog to Lake Rotoiti?
No. Dogs are banned from Nelson Lakes National Park.
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