Hopeless Hut
Nelson Lakes National Park • Nelson/Tasman
Alerts
Avalanche NZ
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NIWA weather risks
NIWA's Parks Weather site lists daily weather risks for the forecast point below.
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Forecast point: Angelus Hut (1672m) · 4.7km away
Check the DOC website for current alerts and conditions before you go. This site gets current alert info from DOC, but is not an official source of information.
- About
- This is a standard 6-bunk hut in the Nelson Lakes area.
- Facilities
- Heating
- Mattresses
- Toilets - non-flush
- Water from stream
- Water supply
About this hut
Hopeless Hut was built by members of the NZ Alpine Club and opened by Sir Edmund Hillary on 23 December 1967.
Fees and bookings
Fees
- Adult (18+ years): $15 per night
- Youth (5–17 years): $7.50 per night
- Child/Infant (0–4 years): free
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.
Booking and paying | Backcountry Hut Tickets | Retailers that sell hut tickets and passes
Getting there
Lakehead Hut: 5 hr
Tracks to this hut
Location
NZTopo50 map sheet: BS24
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1579823, N5357926
Altitude: 1,030 m above sea level
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.
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.
Be extra careful if you’ve recently swum or filled a drink bottle from Lakes Rotoiti or Rotoroa.
Nearby
Weather
Forecast at the hut