Angelus hut circuit (Up lakeside track and down Robert Ridge track)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 19.59 mi
- Elevation gain
- 4,862 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 4,862 ft
- Max elevation
- 5,885 ft
- TrailRank
- 51
- Min elevation
- 2,000 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 9 hours 27 minutes
- Coordinates
- 3003
- Uploaded
- January 13, 2023
- Recorded
- January 2023
near Saint Arnaud, Tasman (New Zealand)
Viewed 109 times, downloaded 5 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
Nelson Lakes National Park is one of the most beautiful areas in New Zealand for hiking. Two of the most popular hikes are Mount Robert Circuit and the routes going up to Angelus Hut, being Robert Ridge Track the most spectacular one.
I decided to take Robert Ridge Track on my way down from Angelus Hut and a combination of Lakeside Track, Lower Travers Valley Track and Cascade Track to go up to Angelus Hut making it a circuit this way.
In summary, this is a fantastic circuit, one of my favourites. It is long with good elevation gain on the first day so you better be in good shape.
Special mention for the weather as always in the mountain and in New Zealand in particular.
The views from the ridge are the highlight of the trip.
Full description and more pictures at Back from Summit: Mount Robert
I decided to take Robert Ridge Track on my way down from Angelus Hut and a combination of Lakeside Track, Lower Travers Valley Track and Cascade Track to go up to Angelus Hut making it a circuit this way.
- Day 1: Lakeside Track, Lower Travers Valley Track and Cascade Track
- Day 2: Robert Ridge track
Distance: 17.9 Km
Elevation gain: 1550 metres
Elevation lost: 600 meters
We start at the small car park located at the beginning of Lakeside Track. There is space for about 10 to 15 cars here. I recommend getting here early to be able to find a parking spot since this is a very popular hiking area.
Lakeside Track is an 8 kilometres track next to Rotoiti Lake. You may find a bit of ups and downs but it's mostly flat.
At about 5 kilometres you will get to a signpost indicating an optional 500 metres sidetrack to get to Whisky Falls.
At the end of the Lakeside Track you will encounter Coldwater Hut. This is a 12 bunk hut with a nice deck for the boats.
We start walking up the Travers River following the Lower Travers Valley Track. We found the vegetation a bit overgrown on some sections of this track. After 5.75 kilometres we get to a swing bridge and a bit further we get to the end of the Lower Travers Valley Track. From here we could continue upstream following the Upper Travers Valley Track but instead we make a right turn to get into Cascade Track.
Cascade Track is about 6 kilometres long. The first 4.6 kilometres we are walking inside the forest on a well-marked track with a fine slope. The higher we get the fewer trees we find. After the 4.6 kilometres we get to a spot where we need to cross a river. We could see a bridge higher up but following the track we ended up crossing the river without using the bridge. Later I asked the warden at the Angelus Hut and he told me you could cross the river both ways.
After crossing the river there is only left the hardest part of the day, the last 1.4 kilometres on rocky terrain with a very steep slope. Take it easy and soon you'll be at the top.
Once we get to Angelus Hut we leave our stuff at the hut and have a swim in the smallest of the two lakes, the only one where swimming is allowed.
Angelus Hut is quite a big hut and fairly new. DOC rebuilt it some years ago to make it much bigger since this is such a popular spot.
We enjoy the wonderful views with a hot drink in our hands. The peaceful Lake Angelus / Rotomaninitua and the mountains behind it and on the left, straight views to Angelus peak (2.075 m).
Distance: 12.9 Km
Elevation gain: 390 metres
Elevation lost: 1330 meters
Starting from the Angelus Hut first we need to ascend for about one kilometre in order to get to the ridge itself. From this point onwards it's going to be either flat or downhill all the way down to the car park.
On the way down this track passes very close to the summit of Julius Summit and summits Flagtop and Mount Robert.
The ridge as such goes for about 8 kilometres, ending once you get to Mount Robert. I don't remember seeing such a long ridge before. The ridge consists of mixed terrain with long rocky sections. It is beautiful and enjoyable although we have to be careful when the weather is not so good. Weather conditions can change quickly and make it a challenge to follow the track, even though the track is pretty well-marked.
Once you get out of the rocky part the track gets easier and often you can see the way to go from far ahead. It's so beautiful.
Soon after we pass Mount Robert's highest point we get to a small hut and a bit further we find a bench with marvellous views of Rotoiti Lake. From this point is all downhill. You'll get into the forest although you will get direct views of Rotoiti Lake a few more times.
We continue descending until we reach the first of the car parks, the highest one. It's quite big since lots of people leave the car here to do the Mount Robert Circuit.
We continue down the gravel road until we get to the second car park. This one is where the Mount Robert Circuit ends.
We still need to continue further on the gravel road for another 1.4 kilometres until we get to the spot where we left our car.
In summary, this is a fantastic circuit, one of my favourites. It is long with good elevation gain on the first day so you better be in good shape.
Special mention for the weather as always in the mountain and in New Zealand in particular.
The views from the ridge are the highlight of the trip.
Full description and more pictures at Back from Summit: Mount Robert
Waypoints
Mountain hut
Summit
Panorama
Waypoint
0 ft
Mount Robert (1421 m)
Waypoint
2,910 ft
Mount Robert high carpark
Waypoint
2,806 ft
Mount Robert low carpark
Wilderness hut
Waypoint
4,346 ft
River cross
Car park
Bridge
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