Upper Travers Hut
Serviced hutNelson Lakes National Park, Nelson/TasmanDOC data as at 20 September 2026
Current advisories
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 serviced 24-bunk hut in the Nelson Lakes area.
Know before you go
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.
8 options · 2 to 7 nights
St Arnaud
Walking in
10 hr 30 min (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Walking out
10 hr 30 min to St Arnaud (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Walking in
10 hr 30 min (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Walking out
10 hr 30 min to St Arnaud (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Tracks used: St Arnaud to Boyle Te Araroa Route → Travers-Sabine Circuit
Walking in
10 hr 30 min (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Walking out
10 hr 30 min to St Arnaud (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Tracks used: St Arnaud to Boyle Te Araroa Route → Travers-Sabine Circuit
Walking in
10 hr 30 min (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Walking out
23 hr to St Arnaud via Speargrass Hut (via West Sabine Hut, Sabine Hut)
Walking in
10 hr 30 min (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Walking out
23 hr to St Arnaud via Speargrass Hut (via West Sabine Hut, Sabine Hut)
Tracks used: St Arnaud to Boyle Te Araroa Route → Travers-Sabine Circuit
Walking in
10 hr 30 min (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Walking out
37 hr to Boyle settlement (via West Sabine Hut, Blue Lake Hut, Waiau Hut, Anne Hut)
Walking in
10 hr 30 min (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait Hut)
Walking out
37 hr to Boyle settlement (via West Sabine Hut, Blue Lake Hut, Waiau Hut, Anne Hut)
St Arnaud via Speargrass Hut
Tracks used: St Arnaud to Boyle Te Araroa Route → Travers-Sabine Circuit
Walking in
23 hr (via West Sabine Hut, Sabine Hut)
Walking out
10 hr 30 min to St Arnaud (via Lakehead Hut/Coldwater Hut, John Tait 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 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 Te Araroa – The Trail Pass Te Araroa Trail Pass
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 Upper Travers Hut online
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Getting there
- Topo map
- Topo50 sheet BS24
- Grid reference
- E1579212, N5347929
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
John Tait Hut
Serviced • 25 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 5.3 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
West Sabine Hut
Serviced • 30 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 5.6 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Blue Lake Hut
Serviced • 16 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 8.8 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Sabine Hut
Serviced • 32 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 14.4 km
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Lakehead Hut
Serviced • 26 bunks • Nelson/Tasman • 17.2 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
- 24
- Toilets
- Yes
- Drinking water
- untreated
- Reservations
- No
- Fee
- Yes
- 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.42.02029° S, 172.74985° 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
- OpenStreetMap Huts · ODbL (Open Database License)Contains information from OpenStreetMap, made available under the ODbL.
- DOC Huts · CC BY 4.0Data sourced from the Department of Conservation (DOC), New Zealand.
- 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).