Hopeless Hut
Standard hutNelson Lakes National Park, Nelson/TasmanDOC data as at 20 September 2026
Current advisories
No firewood at Angelus Hut
14 September 2026
There is no firewood at Angelus Hut. Visitors should be prepared to stay without heating. First published on 15 September 2026.
Damaged foot-bridge south of Cascade Track
10 September 2026
The small foot-bridge just south of Hukere Stream/Cascade Track is damaged. It is possible to cross the stream – however this may become uncrossable during periods of rain. Caution is required. Map of foot-bridge location (PDF, 41K). There is a plan for a new foot-bridge to be installed. This alert will be removed once work is completed. First published on 8 July 2026. Last reviewed on 11 September 2026.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai alerts.
About this place
This is a standard 6-bunk hut in the Nelson Lakes area.
Know before you go
There is avalanche danger at this hut
Hopeless Hut is located below an avalanche path. It is not safe to stay in this hut during winter storms that may load the upper slopes with sufficient snow to reach the hut, or when snow is down to the valley floor. It would be possible for the hut to be hit by avalanche debris in these conditions. Alternative accommodation options are Lakehead Hut (5 hours from Hopeless Hut) and camping in the lower valley, away from avalanche danger. Identified avalanche paths are signposted.
Keep alpine lakes and tarns free of lindavia (lake snow)
The invasive alga lindavia is present in Lakes Rotoiti and Rotoroa. It causes lake snow – a sticky mucus that hangs below the surface of the water. Make sure all your gear is completely dry for 48 hours before swimming or taking water from any alpine lake or tarn, including Rotomaninitua/Lake Angelus. U se a biosecurity cleaning station at Coldwater Hut, Lakehead Hut and Sabine Hut to disinfect any boots, socks, clothing, towels or drink bottles that are wet or damp from lake or river water. Do not touch the water in Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake and Rotopōhueroa/Lake Constance. Be extra careful if you’ve recently swum or filled a drink bottle from Lakes Rotoiti or Rotoroa. More ways to stop the spread
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Fees and bookings
Before you go, buy Hut Tickets for each night's stay. Put these in the honesty box at the hut. Or buy a Backcountry Hut Pass that gives unlimited use at most Standard and Serviced huts for a 12 month period. Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Getting there
- Topo map
- Topo50 sheet BS24
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Contact
Nelson Lakes National Park Visitor Centre
Regional DOC service centre.
Nearby stops
John Tait Hut
Serviced • 25 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 5 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Sabine Hut
Serviced • 32 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 7.1 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Upper Travers Hut
Serviced • 24 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 10 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
West Sabine Hut
Serviced • 30 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 10.5 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
All details
- Facilities
- HeatingMattressesToilets - non-flushWater from streamWater supply
- Bookable
- No
- Category
- Standard
- Location
- Nelson Lakes National Park
- Fireplace
- Yes
- Mattress
- Yes
- Capacity
- 6
- Toilets
- Yes
- Drinking water
- No
- Reservations
- No
- Website
- This place on doc.govt.nz
- Source data
- View source data
Map and tracks
Track lines: DOC Te Papa Atawhai. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.41.93039° S, 172.75649° E
Something not right?
Closed, moved, wrong facts, or you know something we do not. Change only what you know is wrong or missing; a person checks it before it goes live. Or email us about this place.
Sources
- DOC Huts (API) · CC BY 4.0Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai. Data sourced from the DOC Developer Portal (api.doc.govt.nz).
- DOC Huts · CC BY 4.0Data sourced from the Department of Conservation (DOC), New Zealand.
- OpenStreetMap Huts · ODbL (Open Database License)Contains information from OpenStreetMap, made available under the ODbL.