Speargrass Hut
Serviced 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.
Windfall on Nelson Lakes tracks
30 August 2026
There is widespread storm windfall on Nelson Lakes tracks including Lakeside Track, Lakehead Track and Speargrass Track. Allow extra time to negotiate. We are working to clear these tracks. First published on 7 August 2026. Last reviewed on 31 August 2026.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai alerts.
About this place
This is a 12-bunk serviced hut on the Speargrass Hut Track.
Know before you go
Nelson Lakes - thefts from vehicles
Isolated carparks are prone to theft. Don't leave any valuables in your vehicle. A bag storage facility is available at the Rotoiti/Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre.
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.
Trip options
Walking times computed leg by leg from DOC track descriptions, from car-accessible trailheads.
1 option · 5 nights
St Arnaud
Walking in
33 hr 30 min (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut, Upper Travers Hut, West Sabine Hut, Sabine Hut)
Walking out
33 hr 30 min to St Arnaud (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut, Upper Travers Hut, West Sabine Hut, Sabine Hut)
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai track descriptions.
Fees and bookings
1 May - 30 September
1 October - 30 April
Weekdays
Weekends
1 December - 29 February
Weekdays
Weekends
Backcountry Hut Passes Passes are valid for use in this hut from 1 May to 30 September. Passes Te Araroa – The Trail Pass Te Araroa Trail Pass Before you go, buy Hut Tickets for each night's stay. Put this in the honesty box at the hut. Or buy a Backcountry Hut Pass or Campsite Pass. About hut tickets and passes About campsite passes Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes
Bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2027. If no availability shows online for your dates, the hut is fully booked. No spaces are kept for visitors arriving without a booking. Phone and in‑person bookings made at a visitor centre incur a $10 service fee. Same‑day bookings are available online until 8 pm if spaces remain. Book Speargrass Hut online
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Getting there
- Topo map
- Topo50 sheet BS24
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
On these tracks
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Contact
Nelson Lakes National Park Visitor Centre
Regional DOC service centre.
Nearby stops
Sabine Hut
Serviced • 32 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 8 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
John Tait Hut
Serviced • 25 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 13.7 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
West Sabine Hut
Serviced • 30 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 18.2 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Upper Travers Hut
Serviced • 24 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 18.7 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
All details
- Facilities
- HeatingMattressesToilets - non-flushWater from tap - not treatedboil before useWater supply
- Bookable
- Yes
- Category
- Serviced
- Location
- Nelson Lakes National Park
- Fireplace
- Yes
- Mattress
- Yes
- Capacity
- 12
- Toilets
- Yes
- Drinking water
- untreated
- Reservations
- No
- Website
- This place on doc.govt.nz
- Source data
- View source data
- road access
- Not Applicable
Map and tracks
Track lines: DOC Te Papa Atawhai. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.41.85223° S, 172.75183° E
Something not right?
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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.