Blue Lake Hut

Fees

1 May - 30 September

• Adult (18+ years): $25 per night
• Child/youth (5–17 years): $12.50 per night
• Infant (0–4 years): free

1 October - 30 April

Weekdays:

• Adult (18+ years): $28 per night
• Child/youth (5–17 years): $14 per night
• Infant (0–4 years): free

Weekends:

• Adult (18+ years): $32 per night
• Child/youth (5–17 years): $16 per night
• Infant (0–4 years): free

1 December - 29 February

Weekdays:

• Adult (18+ years): $29 per night
• Child/youth (5–17 years): $14.50 per night
• Infant (0–4 years): free

Weekends:

• Adult (18+ years): $34 per night
• Child/youth (5–17 years): $17 per night
• Infant (0–4 years): free

Backcountry Hut Passes

Passes are valid for use in this hut from 1 May to 30 September. Passes won't be accepted from 1 October to 30 April. However it is valid to use for camping within 200 metres of the huts all year round.

Fees to camp at the hut

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

Campers may use hut water supply and toilets only.

Te Araroa – The Trail Pass

Te Araroa Trail walkers should register and purchase the Te Araroa Trail Pass.

Bookings

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 Blue Lake Hut online

• West Sabine Hut: 3.5 hrs
• George Lyon (Ella) Hut: 6 hrs
• Waiau Hut: 10 to 12 hrs via Lewis Pass – Waiau Pass Track – Blue Lake Route

Blue Lake is not accessible by car or on a day walk.

The lake is located deep in the backcountry and it takes a minimum of two days backcountry tramping to visit it.

To access the lake the shortest way, take the water taxi from Lake Rotoroa Jetty to Sabine Hut. Walk from:

1. Sabine Hut to the West Sabine Hut 5 hours
2. West Sabine Hut to Blue Lake Hut 3.5 hours. Return the same way.

If you wish to access Blue Lake from St Arnaud, plan a minimum of four days return.

Tracks to this hut

• Travers-Sabine Circuit

Location

NZTopo50 map sheet: BS24
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1571514, N5343732

Altitude: 1,190 m above sea level

Respect the pure lake water by not touching it

Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake and Rotopōhueroa/Lake Constance hold high cultural significance to Māori, particularly Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō iwi.

The lakes are tapu (sacred) and restrictions are placed on these lakes to uphold their mauri (life force) and purity.

Show respect by not touching the water. Do not swim, wash, take water or put any equipment into these lakes.

Keep lakes 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.

Use 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.

You may swim and fill drink bottles in the Sabine River below the outlet of Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake.

Find out more on how to stop the spread