For more than 50 years the Rotoiti Lodge Outdoor Education Centre has been operating in the Nelson Lakes National Park, providing outdoor programs for schools throughout the top if the South Island and beyond. It boasts some of the country's most iconic scenery - a short walk will see you surrounded by native beech forest which is home for many of our native species. A climb upwards will see you at the top of one of our two ranges, which mark the start of the mighty Southern Alps, rewarding you with panoramic views and unique alpine environments. And of course, the majestic Lake Rotoiti right on our doorstep. This provides us with the perfect environment to create and deliver quality outdoor programmes, all with a focus on personal growth, group development and connection to nature and our environment.

A little bit of history...
Police Sergeant Noel Oxnam first envisioned a youth hall in Nelson in the 1960s to improve relations between police and urban youth, raising £3,000 through public subscription. When the project stalled, Oxnam, newly appointed to the Nelson Lakes National Park Board, proposed establishing the Lodge within the Park. With backing from the Park Board and a National Parks Authority subsidy, fundraising continued, with high schools and community groups contributing significant amounts, securing preferential booking rights for schools. Volunteer labor, business donations, and community funding propelled construction forward in 1967, and the Lodge officially opened on February 24, 1968, thanks to the dedication of figures like Chief Park Ranger George Lyon.
Initially managed by the Nelson Lakes National Park Board, the Lodge expanded to include a classroom for biology and geography in 1980. When the Department of Conservation was formed in 1987, it assumed management, but by 2000, financial independence was secured under a 30-year lease arrangement with the Department. Today, the Lodge continues its mission, hosting outdoor education camps for schools and providing a retreat for local groups. Despite small changes over the years, its original vision remains intact—offering youth a unique space for personal growth through outdoor education.