Nelson Lakes National Park

The Nelson Lakes National Park region is a tangle ofpeaks, snow crowned in winter, bare and scarred in
higher ranges in deep, narrow, forested valleys,summer, rise above river valleys where the red and
products of the often counteracting influences ofsilver beach of the higher slopes give way to flax, rata,
prehistoric glaciation in continual book..and golden kowhai on the floors. The spectrum of
Nelson Lakes National Park itself comprises 101,000 haplant life is vast, from sub alpine to rainforest species.
of mountainous country. Through it runs the mightySheltered by high eastern and southern ranges open
Alpine Fault, the western boundary of the Southernto weather from the west and north, the Nelson Lakes
Alps. It is plainly discernible even from the valley floors,National Park is prone to heavy rainfall on the western
for the ranges to the north-east of it soar to heights inside. The snow can fall to low levels when
places greater than 2000 m. Along the line of thelow-pressure centres pass to the north and the air is
Alpine fault a remarkably straight series of saddles andcold. Snowstorms can last for several days, and thick
peaks separate the higher mountains on the easterncoatings of snow lie on the tops, with heavy rain and
side from the lower ranges on the ways.often snow in the valleys. Storms are most likely in
Along the mountain wall of the Alpine fault are scarredspring and early summer, usually brought on by
and denuded slopes, alternating with heavy forest ofdisturbance from the west. Settled weather is most
great beauty. This is magnificent country, wild evencommon from late January to April.
where it has been harnessed for human use. Massive