St Arnaud (New Zealand)

By car

State Highway 63 leads from Marlborough on the east coast to the West Coast. Traveling east, Picton (1 3/4 hours), Blenheim (1 hour 20 minutes), Renwick (70 minutes) and Wairau Valley township (35 minutes). Traveling west Kawatiri Junction (15 minutes), Murchison (40 minutes) and Westport (2 hours 10 minutes). There are two main ways to get to St Arnaud from Nelson. The quickest is traveling through Richmond and Wakefield on State Highway 6. The turnoff is 10 minutes past Wakefield and St Arnaud is signposted through to the village. The road intersects with State Highway 63 two minutes east of the village. Otherwise, State Highway 6 continues to Kawatiri Junction which is the end of State Highway 63.

By bus

Nelson Lakes Shuttles run both scheduled and unscheduled services to St Arnaud from Picton, Blenheim, Nelson and other destinations. Specialising in transport for hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts, they can pick you up from the end of walking tracks as well as offering a conventional bus service. During the ski season, daily shuttles run from Blenheim, Nelson and Motueka to the Rainbow Ski Field, the turn-off for which is 5 minutes drive from St Arnaud township.

St Arnaud is small enough to get around by foot. Lake Rotoiti is 5 minutes walk from the shops on the main road. The Department of Conservation visitor information centre is just off the main road west of the shop and is well signposted. There are bushwalks throughout the settlement which are alternatives to taking the road.

• Rotoiti Water Taxis

  phone: +64 21 702 278
  address: 47 Main Rd
  transport across Lake Rotoiti with scenic trips or lake fishing around the lake. Kayak and Canoe hire.

• Nelson Lakes Shuttles

  phone: +64 3 521 1900 or +64 21 490 095

• Rainbow Ski Field Transport

• Lake Rotoiti, spectacular scenery

• Department of Conservation Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre

  phone: +64 3 521 1806
  address: View Rd
  Informative dioramas, displays, audiovisual display, updated track and weather information and advice.

• Go walking in the Nelson Lakes National Park. Walks are available for a few minutes to a couple of weeks.

• Ski Rainbow

  phone: +64 3 521 1861, +64 832 22605
  address: The turnoff to the skifield is 5 minutes south of St Arnaud and is well signposted.
  Ski and snowboard hire and ski school available.

• The Rainbow RageAn annual bike ride from St Arnaud to the hot springs of Hanmer Springs scheduled for 15 March 2008. 108 km through spectacular scenery.

• Trout fishing but clean your fishing gear first!

• Glider Flights

  phone: +64 3 521 1870
  address: 10km west of St Arnaud on State Highway 63
  $60 vouchers can be purchased for a flight of up to 15 minutes. Phone +64 3 548 3533 for a voucher
• Ice Skating. Ask at the Visitor Centre for details.

• St Arnaud Alpine Store

  phone: +64 3 521 1854
  address: Main Rd
  All the necessities including petrol. A few luxuries as well.

• Elaine's Alpine Cafe

  phone: +64 3 521 1979
  address: Main Rd

• Alpine Lodge Restaurant

  phone: +64 3 521 1869
  address: Main Rd

The Alpine Lodge is probably your only option.

Budget

• The Yellow House

  phone: +64 3 521 1887
  address: Main Rd

• DoC Camping Ground

  phone: +64 3 521 1806
  address: St Arnaud Area Office, Department of Conservation View Rd

Mid-range

• Alpine Lodge

  phone: +64 3 521 1869
  address: Main Rd

• Nelson Lakes Motel

  phone: +64 3 521 1887
  address: Main Rd

• St Arnaud Holiday Cottages

Splurge

• Avarest Bed and Breakfast

  phone: +64 3 521 1864
  address: 33 Kerr Bay Rd

• Murchison

For the adventurous the Rainbow Rd to Hanmer Springs poses a 4WD or mountain bike challenge. For permission (and the gate key) to travel through contact Rainbow Station: Star Holdings Limited +64 3 545 7600, fax +64 3 545 7601. Otherwise the choices are the wine and sun of Marlborough, the art and culture of Nelson or the wet and wild West Coast