Basic ecotouristic information on Nelson Lakes National Park (New Zealand) - localization, access, characteristic, fauna and flora, possible activities.
Localization
Northern part of the New Zealand´s Southern Island, 100 km south of Nelson.
Access
Easy. The main access point to Nelson Lakes National Park is at Lake Rotoiti and the village of Saint Arnaud, on Highway 63, about 100 kilometres from both Nelson and Blenheim.
Characteristic
1 018 km2, The spectacular landscape of Nelson Lakes National Park was sculpted by massive glaciers during the most recent ice ages. A rugged, mountainous area in Nelson Region - northernmost part Southern Alps. It is centered at two large glacial lakes. The park also includes surrounding valleys and mountain ranges. Typical ecosystems: tmperate zone forest, alpine biotopes (abrupt border between forest and apline zones), freshwater ecosystems (lakes and rivers).
Fauna + Flora
Species List - See the Attachment Below.
Possible activities
Very good conditions for walking and trekking - a network of short as well as longer trails.
Fishing, mountaineering, canoeing, swimming, yachting, water skiing, rafting, mountain bikes, skiing during winter time
Note
A pest-free refuge is built in the honeydew beech forests beside Lake Rotoiti paving the way for the recovery and re-introduction of native species in the area.