Lake Rotoiti and the little alpine village, St Arnaud, are known as the Gateway to Nelson Lakes National Park. If you've spent any time on social media, you've probably seen the famous view of the jetty down the lake from Kerr Bay (this picture ). It's the most iconic photo spot in the area and it's super easy to see why that is!

There are lots of lovely tracks nearby, ranging from gentle strolls to full-blown multi-day hikes. Take a walk along the edge of the lake if you only have a little bit of time here. Or, if you’re travelling slowly, you could explore harder trails like the St Arnaud Range Track and the Mount Robert Circuit Track.

Most of the shorter walks start right from Kerr Bay just off SH63. There's lots of parking and a big information board near the DOC campground with maps and track details, so you can easily pick a route that suits your abilities.

If you want to explore from the other side of the lake, head to West Bay. Follow SH63 west, turn onto Mt Robert Road, and you’ll find another lakeside campsite with parking and a jetty.