The location of this hut is astoundingly beautiful but the hike in and out are truely fantastic,-traversing the Robert Ridge and then descending and coming back through the beautiful valley floor. A fantastic loop track with the possibility to do extended loops if desired.
Time to complete
2 or 3 Day options
Accommodation style
Back-country hut OR Camping
Track type
Loop - Return via same or alternate track
Distance
23km / 36km
Difficulty
Medium - Advanced
Bookings required
Yes
Spend the night at the spectacular Angelus Hut on the shores of Lake Angelus
Experience a wide range of New Zealand alpine landscapes
Visit the Blue Lake- the worlds clearest lake
Route-find your way over Waiau Pass and into the Waiau Valley
Wild camp under the stars
Finish the hike with a soak at some natural hot pools
This is a popular hut for people travelling the Travers-Sabine Circuit and doing the Waiau Pass Route, however it also serves as a fantastic overnight trip for people who are after something shorter. Lake Angelus is a wonderfully located lake at roughly 1650m elevation with towering peaks rising from most of the lakes surrounding. Getting here is no easy task however. The Robert Ridge Route will have you ascend to almost 1800m elevation before a final descent at the end towards the lake. Route finding over the tops is generally quite easy in good weather with a reasonably defined track however there are a few small sections where rockfall has to be navigated walking between poles along the trail.
Track condition
-Mostly very well taken care of trails sub-alpine, almost great walk standard
-Route finding over the range is generally quite easy walking between poles with some rock hopping to be undertaken in small sections
Optionals
-From Angelus Hut a larger loop can be taken via the Mt Cedric Route however I recommend an extra day at either Sabine Hut or Speargrass Hut as the Mt Cedric Route is reasonably demanding
There are a good amount of carparks at the trailhead however if needed there are shuttles from Nelson/St Arnaud that generally leave early in the morning.
Trail start/finish location: Mt Robert Carpark, St Arnaud
-Huts:
Angelus Hut is a modern ‘Great Walk’ quality serviced hut with great facilities
-Camping:
It is possible to camp amongst the tussock surrounding the hut
-Booking:
Note that the Angelus hut needs to be booked all year round
-Back-country hut pass:
Can not be used
All the alpine areas in New Zealand are extremely unpredictable. We had a -10C wind chill the evening we trekked here late December. Always be prepared for the worse even with a favourable forecast.
Summer Alpine | Example packing list
Spring / Autumn Alpine | Example packing list
Being an alpine crossing, the pass is not recommended for winter hiking however is it possible to make a smaller trip in this area by doing one of the separate circuits. Check in with the local Department of Conservation office before attempting and they can inform you of any track closures and avalanche danger.
Department of conservation website | Shuttle company for transport | Nelson Lakes National Park Weather
12km | 6 Hours
2-3hr
The first day starts with a steady climb with switchbacks taking you up above the tree line in about 1.5 hours. Emerging from the tree line the path is well formed heading over the Robert Ridge. A small shelter is encountered about 3 hours in which is a good place for a snack and should be used as a temporary shelter if the conditions aren’t suitable for the exposed ridges ahead.
2-3hr
Following this, the trail has gentle undulations some rocky terrain to navigate. Eventually the trail opens up to a dramatic outlook over lake Angelus and it is just a quick 30min descent to the hut
Robert Ridge
18km | 7-9 Hours
Sunrise at Lake Angelus
26km | 8-10 Hours total
4-5hours
Day 2 begins with a short ascent over rocky terrain heading towards Sabine Hut on the Mt Cedric Route. After reaching the highest point and beginning the descent, care needs to be taken navigating some tricky rocky outcrops. The rocky route finding then transitions into a formed track and is a good spot to stop and take in the Sabine River . From here there are some gentle slopes through tussock covered hills (pictured) before descending into tree cover where the track turns into a steep switchback descent under the tree line for about 2 hours until Sabine Hut is reached.
4-5 hours
After reaching the hut, continue back towards Robert ridge and spend the night at Speargrass Flat Hut, walking out to the Robert Ridge Carpark
Ridge lines en-route to Lake Angelus
Lake Angelus Campsite
A diverse landscape with pristine alpine lakes and several mountain passes to navigate
A great walk journey from alpine peaks to the sea
