Whatever your favourite outdoor activity, Teetotal campsite is probably near it. Boating, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, ice skating – this area has you covered. It’s also dog-walking heaven; the Teetotal area is a general recreation area where dogs are allowed off leash, with many kilometres of walking options. Keep an eye out for kaka flying overhead.
Campsite information: The campsite has 12 non-powered sites and bookings are not required – spaces are first come, first served. Dogs are allowed and are not required to be on a leash, but they must be under control at all times. The DOC/ NZMCA pass can be used year-round.
Getting there: Follow SH63 west of St Arnaud for 1km. The campsite is on the right and is accessed via a gravel road.
Activities: From Teetotal campsite, it’s a two-minute drive or a 20 minute walk into the centre of St Arnaud. It won’t take long to explore the small settlement, but you can stop for a coffee at the Clinker Café, have a beer or a meal at the Alpine Lodge, or get some fish and chips to eat beside Lake Rotoiti.
The Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre has displays on the local geography and history.
The main attraction for dogs is the Teetotal recreation area, which offers extensive off-leash walking, both on-track and off-track over open ground. There are also mountain bike tracks through this area, with options for rides from easy to expert.
Please note that dogs are NOT allowed in Nelson Lakes National Park. However, there are a number of popular day walks in the park – a favourite is the Mount Robert Circuit, a five-hour tramping track that offers splendid views over Lake Rotoiti (good fitness needed).
For a gentler walk, try the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project. Extensive predator control in this 5,000-hectare area has brought back a wealth of native birds, including kiwi, South Island robins, tui and fantails. It’s important to follow the no dog rules, as they protect the kiwi population.
Dogs can, however, be taken into the nearby Mount Richmond Forest Park with a permit. To obtain a permit, contact the Wairau/Renwick DOC office (03 572 9100; [email protected]).
There are lots of great walking options there – for a short walk with stunning lake views, you can’t beat Lake Chalice. A one-hour walk leads to Lake Chalice Hut, which sits on the eastern end of beautiful Lake Chalice, the only lake in the Mount Richmond Forest Park.
For a longer trip, you can walk some or all of a 2hrs 30mins loop track around the lake.
In winter, there’s skiing and snowboarding nearby at Rainbow ski area – a 40mins drive from St Arnaud. It’s also possible to ice skate at the campsite, on Duck Pond.
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