Angelus Hut: How to Visit New Zealand’s Most Spectacular Hut (2024)

Angelus Hut, sitting at 1650m in a mountain bowl on the edge of Lake Angelus, is quite the sight. This picturesque alpine hut is well worth the strenuous climb required to get there. It’s not for the faint of heart, but as with all good things, effort most definitely equals reward.

Read on for all the information you need to visit Angelus Hut, easily one of New Zealand’s most fabulous hiking destinations.

Angelus Hut Track Overview

• Location: Nelson Lakes National Park, Nelson/Tasman Region, South Island
• Length: Variable, depending on the chosen route. Min 11 km one-way, up to 22 km one-way
• Time: 2 – 3 days 
• Season: November – April 
• Gateway city: Nelson
• Type: One-way or out-and-back
• Booking Required: Yes
• Sleeping: Huts or camping
• Start: Mount Robert Car Park or St Arnaud 
• Finish: Mount Robert Car Park or St Arnaud 
• Difficulty: Moderate to demanding
• What to expect: A high alpine lake, ridgelines, waterfalls, mountain scenery and one of NZ’s most fabulous huts

Angelus Hut Location 

The Angelus Hut Track is located on the south island of New Zealand in Nelson Lakes National Park. Nelson Lakes National Park is located just outside of the teeny tiny village of St Arnaud, which is 81 km south of Nelson. 

There’s not a lot going on in St Arnaud, and not much in the way of supplies, so Nelson is the best place to base yourself to get organised for hiking to Angelus Hut. 

Related: The Complete Guide to Hiking Mt Arthur

Angelus Hut: The Trails

There are 4 official routes to and from Lake Angelus Hut. Which one you choose will largely depend on the weather, your fitness, the time allocated and the scenery you’re looking for. 

The 4 official routes to Lake Angelus are:

1. Pinchgut Track / Robert Ridge Route
2. Speargrass Track / Speargrass Creek Route
3. Travers-Cascade Track / Route
4. Mt. Cedric Track / Route

There is also an unofficial route to Angelus Hut that goes from Hopeless Hut via Sunset Saddle.

Looking for more amazing walks near Nelson? Check out the Heaphy Track

Best time to Hike to Lake Angelus Hut

The best time to do the hike to Lake Angelus is from December to February. This is during New Zealand’s summer and you can expect warm days with pleasant evenings. Do note that as this is an alpine region, and New Zealand has temperamental weather, heavy rain can occur at any time and nights can get very cool, even in summer. 

The official season for hiking to Angelus Hut is from November to April. During the shoulder months of November, March and April, days will be cooler, nights much colder and rain more frequent. 

Unless you are a very experienced mountaineer with navigation and alpine skills, it is not recommended to hike to Lake Angelus Hut in winter. Snow is present on the high passes and there is a high risk of avalanches on certain parts of the trail. You must be able to use an ice axe and crampons as well as have an avalanche transceiver. 

Read: The Complete Guide to the Tableland Circuit

How to book the Angelus Hut

If you would like to stay overnight at Lake Angelus, either in Angelus Hut or at the Lake Angelus campground, you must book your spot in advance. 

You can book a spot at Angelus Hut or the Lake Angelus campground via DOC’s online booking system. 

Be sure to take a screenshot of your booking confirmation, as the Angelus Hut warden will check and there is no reception at Lake Angelus. 

Pro tip: if your international card gets blocked when booking things on foreign websites, try using a Wise card. It’s what we do and it’s never let us down!

How much does it cost to stay at Angelus Hut?

During the high season (1 October – 30 April), it costs $30 NZD pp per night to stay in the hut and $15 NZD pp per night to camp near the hut. 

During the winter (1 May – 30 September), it costs $15 NZD pp per night to stay in the hut and $15 NZD pp per night to camp near the hut. 

Related: How to Visit Blue Lake Nelson

Transportation to the Angelus Hut Track

Nelson to St Arnaud 

To begin the hike to Lake Angelus, you must first get to St Arnaud. From Nelson, you can get to St Arnaud by your own car, hitchhiking, or the Trek Express Shuttle. 

Car 

If you have your own wheels, it’s an easy, 1.5 hour drive to St Arnaud from Nelson. You can park your car at the Mount Robert Car Park. 

Don’t have your own set of wheels and need to rent a car? We personally use and recommend Discover Cars.

Hitchhiking

If you don’t have your own set of wheels, you can always try your hand at hitchhiking to/from the trailhead. 

Hitchhiking, especially among hikers, is relatively common in NZ, so drivers are used to seeing and picking up people who need lifts. However, that said, there seems to have been an increase in hitchhikers in recent years, meaning increased competition for a valuable seat. 

As a note of confidence, if you try early enough, you should be able to get a ride in either direction. We hitchhiked from St Arnaud to Nelson at the end of our Travers Sabine Circuit hike and despite having to wait 3 very long hours, did manage to get a lift. 

Read all about the Travers Sabine Circuit, the best hike in Nelson Lakes National Park

Trek Express Shuttle

Trek Express offers shuttle services from Nelson to many of the surrounding trailheads, including both St Arnaud and Mount Robert car park. Prices range from $30 – $65 pp and a minimum of 5 people are needed to make a trip. 

Trek Express has a helpful ‘existing trips’ page on its website where you can find a list of upcoming trips to join if you don’t have the requisite numbers to charter a shuttle. 

St Arnaud to the Angelus Hut Track Trailhead 

Once you are in St Arnaud, you must then get to the Mount Robert Car Park. 

Mount Robert car park is a further 6 km up the hill from St. Arnaud. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to walk to this trailhead from town. 

How difficult is the hike to Angelus Hut? 

No matter which route you choose to take up to Lake Angelus, the Angelus Hut Track is a demanding one. The terrain on all 4 official routes is rough and challenging, plus climbs steeply. 

To be able to successfully hike to Angelus Hut, ensure you can hike for at least 6 hours a day, for 2 – 3 days with a heavy pack. 

What to expect on the Angelus Hut Track

Lake Angelus Hut

Angelus Hut is a 28-person hut perched beautifully on the edge of Lake Angelus. It’s quite a magnificent setting. There is a large veranda where you can sit outside, admire the setting and contemplate life. 

The hut itself is well-insulated with a stove (for heating only), water supply, toilets, bunks and mattresses. There are two separate sleeping areas with communal bunks, which are separate from the cooking area. 

Angelus Hut does not have electricity, lighting or cooking facilities or toilet paper. A headlamp is useful!

You need to bring your own cooking supplies, fuel for your stove and toilet paper. Fuel canisters can be purchased around Nelson at a number of places, but we found MD Outdoors to have the best prices. 

You can swim at the small lake if you’re feeling extra adventurous. If you’ve been in either Lake Rotoiti or Lake Rotorua in the past 48 hours, please swim in different clothes to prevent the spread of Lake Snow. 

Camping

There is a designated campground at Lake Angelus, consisting of around 4-5 small pitches. Some are actual platforms, while others are semi-cleared pitches. The nicer ones are lakefront.

This is one location where it pays to arrive early if you’re camping, so you can get a prime spot.

Campers are allowed to use the hut facilities (i.e., water sources, toilets and cook and eat inside Angelus Hut). For this reason, because of the high cost of a bunk in Angelus Hut, it’s worth considering bringing your tent. You can still use the hut, lounge on the deck and just retire to your tent for the evening – at a fraction of the cost. 

Pro tip: there is a great camping spot just below Sunset Saddle, south of Lake Angelus. You can find the Sunset Saddle track on maps.me. This is an unofficial, ‘wild’ camping spot and you do not have to book or pay any fees. Note that it is a bit of a hike from Angelus Hut, so you will be entirely on your own. This is a very special spot that’s not well-known, so if you stay here please treat the area respectfully and clean up your shit (literally). 

Weather

The weather at Angelus Hut and on the Angelus Hut Track will depend on which season you hike in. 

If you hike the Angelus Hut Track during the summer, from December to February, then you can expect warm days and mild evenings. 

That said, Angelus Hut sits at high altitude (1650m) and the weather in New Zealand’s mountains is notoriously fickle and can change at any time: freezing conditions can occur, even in summer. When we were there in mid-February, there was one night that went to almost 0C. 

Be sure to pack appropriately! Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. See our packing list below. 

In winter, Lake Angelus is completely frozen, snow blankets all 4 routes to Angelus Hut and you very well may have to dig your way through the snow to get there. 

Water

There is no running water found along 2 of the 4 official routes to Angelus Hut: the Robert Ridge Route and the Mount Cedric Track (which starts from Sabine Hut on Lake Rotoroa). If you hike along one of these routes, be sure to bring enough water for a 6 hour hike. (There is actually a very small water tank at Relax Shelter on the Robert Ridge Route, but you cannot depend on it actually having water).

The other 2 official routes, Speargrass Creek Route and the Travers-Cascade Track have ample running water. This is generally safe to drink and doesn’t need to be treated – it’s also usually delicious! 

You should treat all water at Angelus Hut as this is sitting rainwater and can be contaminated by bird and possum droppings.

Pro tip: for treating water on all our hikes, we use a Steripen – it’s a game-changer.

Food 

There are no facilities to purchase food at Angelus Hut, so you must bring all the food you need for the duration of your trek.  

Backcountry meals are very popular, because they are light and easy to prepare, if not a bit expensive. They can be purchased at many places in Nelson, including the supermarket and speciality outdoor stores. We prefer the Radix Meals, which can be found at MD Outdoors. 

If you would like to prepare your own food, instant noodles, pouches of beans, chickpeas and tuna, couscous and instant pasta packages are all great options. 

Pro tip: add dehydrated shitake mushrooms to your meals. They’re lightweight and have a lot of nutrition. They can be purchased at the supermarket and need to be soaked in cold water for 20 minutes before being cooked. (We actually discovered this trick whilst watching other hikers on the Heaphy Track).

Rubbish

Pack it out, folks! Make sure to bring a bag to collect your garbage and take it out with you. Please, please do not throw your rubbish out on the trail or leave it in the hut.

Pro tip: to minimise rubbish on the trail, decant as much of your food beforehand as possible. 

Safety

Even though Angelus Hut is a well-serviced hut with a well-marked trail, it is still a relatively isolated trek that traverses difficult terrain. We highly recommend walking with a personal locator beacon (PLB) or similar device in case of any emergencies. 

Travel insurance, as always, is essential. If something goes wrong, you want to be covered. We use and recommend SafetyWing. Trust us, we’ve used a lot of travel insurance and they really are the best.

Navigation

It is pretty easy to navigate the Angelus Hut Track. There are numerous, clear trail markers along the trail which are easy to follow. 

Below the bush line, the trail markers are orange triangles nailed to trees. Above the bush line, they are poles with an orange top.  

You don’t need a physical map, but it is a very good idea to download the maps.me trail in advance. If you would like to purchase a physical map of the Angelus Hut Track, you can do so from the DOC office in Nelson. 

Mobile Reception and Electronics

There is no reception at Angelus Hut, so make sure to download any offline maps or documents you may need (including your booking confirmation). 

There are no places for charging your electronics at the hut, so we recommend bringing a power bank to keep your devices fully juiced. 

Angelus Hut Track Breakdown

Pinchgut Track / Robert Ridge Route

• Distance: 12.2 km
• Time: 5 – 6 hours 
• Elevation: + 915m / – 220m
• Difficulty: Moderate to demanding

The Robert Ridge Route is the most popular track to Angelus Hut. This is a very exposed ridge subject to high winds – watch the weather forecast before tackling this one! In foggy conditions, visibility is limited. 

From the trailhead, you start with immediate steep switchbacks. The first 30 minutes is quite steep, after which the climb becomes more gradual. 

After 1 hour the track reaches the bush line, where there’s a nice bench overlooking the lake. Take a rest and congratulate yourself on doing half the day’s elevation (around 500 metres or so). 

10 minutes further is cute little Relax Shelter. There is a very small water tank here, but do not count on it being full. 

After you leave Relax Shelter, the trail is much more exposed. Walking along the high ridge brought back fond memories of the Larapinta Trail. 

Flagtop is the halfway point and a great stop for lunch. After Flagtop, the terrain becomes much rocker and more challenging. 

30 minutes before Angelus Hut you have to climb once more to the ridge overlooking Lake Angelus, where you are afforded excellent views. It should only take around 20 minutes to get down. 

Important: There is no water along this route so make sure to leave with full water bottles. 

Speargrass Track / Speargrass Creek Route

• Distance: 11.2 km
• Time: 5 – 6 hours 
• Elevation: + 800m / minimal descent
• Difficulty: Moderate 

The easiest of all the routes the Speargrass Track stays largely in the bush the entire time until you meet up with the Robert Ridge Route 1 km before the hut. 

Starting from Mount Robert Car Park, follow the Speargrass Track until the Speargrass Creek junction (about 2.5 – 3 hours). The track continues through the bush until it intersects with the Robert Ridge Route. 

In poor weather, this is the safest and best option. 

Travers-Cascade Track / Route

• Distance: 9.4 km
• Time: 6 – 7 hours (from Coldwater Hut / Lakehead Hut)
• Elevation: + 1030m
• Difficulty: Demanding

The Travers-Cascade Track is a a spectacular, albeit demanding, option. We found this route much more scenic than the Robert Ridge Route. 

From St Arnaud, first walk to either Lakehead Hut (9 km, 3 hr) or Coldwater Hut (12 km, 4 hr). 

From either hut, it is 2 hours until the Cascade Junction, where the track steadily and quite brutally climbs for 4 – 5 hours. You first climb through rough forest terrain, with lots of big roots and fallen trees to navigate. The trail can be overgrown in many parts with multiple hazards, making it slow going. 

The trail then reaches a mossy beech forest following the river. There are multiple nice spots for a break. After a short walk through the meadow, the track again enters the forest where it again very steeply climbs. 

When the track reaches the bush line, it is a steep poled route with many beautiful waterfalls (hence the name, Cascade Track). 

This is a great option to descend from Lake Angelus Hut and meet up with the Travers Sabine Circuit. 

Mt. Cedric Track / Route

• Distance: 6.8 km
• Time: 6 – 7 hours 
• Elevation: + 1200m
• Difficulty: Demanding

Another demanding option, this route goes from Sabine Hut on Lake Rotorua. It is most commonly used to incorporate the Angelus Hut Track into the final stage of a Travers Sabine Circuit. 

The Mt. Cedric Track is a very steep climb along an exposed ridge that should only be attempted in good weather. 

The track begins a steep climb immediately and steadily through the bush until it reaches the bush line. This route provides excellent views of Lake Rotorua. 

Important: there is no water along this route, so be sure to have enough for the entire day.

Unofficial route: Via Sunset Saddle

• Distance: 6.2 km
• Time: 6 – 7 hours 
• Elevation: + 1200m / – 400m
• Difficulty: Demanding

And finally, for the most demanding option of them all, there is an unofficial route to Angelus Hut from Hopeless Hut.

This route is extremely challenging, unmarked (except for the occasional rock cairn) and goes via Sunset Saddle at the south end of Lake Angelus.

This route climbs to around 2000m, before dropping down into the Lake Angelus basin.

This option should only be attempted in summer and by very experienced hikers.

Side Trips from Lake Angelus

Climb Mount Angelus

In summer, you can climb Mount Angelus/Maniniaro (2075m), with no special equipment or technical experience required. Without a pack, the entire return trip should take around 3 hours. 

Climb Sunset Saddle

Another fine side trip is to climb Sunset Saddle and then head west for 10 minutes along the Travers Range. Here you’ll find incredible views of the D’Urville and Sabine Rivers leading into Lake Rotorua. 

Travers Sabine Circuit

Adding a stay at Angelus Hut while completing the Travers Sabine Circuit is a very popular option – it’s exactly what we did! 

You can visit Lake Angelus at either the start or finish of the Travers Sabine Circuit. How you wish to do so is up to you and the options are pretty much unlimited: you can access Lake Angelus Hut from the Travers Sabine Circuit on any of the 4 official tracks leading to the Lake. It’s really a choose-your-own-adventure situation.

Our recommendation? Do the Angelus Hut Track at the start of your Travers Sabine Circuit. Lake Angelus Hut is the only hut on the circuit where bookings are required, so if you visit on the first night, you can have more fluidity for the rest of your hike. 

We recommend taking the Robert Ridge Route to Angelus Hut and the Cascade Travers Track down. See our post on the Travers Sabine Circuit for a full recommended itinerary. 

What to pack for Lake Angelus

Where to stay in Nelson Before and After the Hike

Budget

Tasman Bay Backpackers

Mid-range

Grampians Bay B&B

High-end

Delorenzo Studio Apartments 

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