On the road between Nelson and Westport, or (Abel Tasman and the West Coast), you pass the Nelson Lakes National park. St Arnaud is a little detour worth the view. There is the first DoC campsite with hot shower I stayed at, with the most magnificent view of the lake and the surrounding mountains from the shelter. As it is usual in New Zealand, the weather is unbelievably changeable in one day and you can have summer sun and brownish mountain top changing to rain, then low clouds giving way to snow on the mountain top. The night was wet and cold and surprised everyone. But the words of the snow higher up made everyone go towards the lake to enjoy the view, bearing a smile on their face, almost forgiving the painful cold.
You can enjoy nice walks around lake Rotoiti, in the Honeydew trees forrest. You can let your curiosity push you to touch the liquid coming out of the tree and then lick your finger. You might feel like the many bell birds coming in the forest to feast on the trees...
Lake Rotoiti