Rotoiti Lodge Upgrade Project

The Rotoiti Lodge Outdoor Education Centre opened on 24 February 1968 thanks to the vision of a local police officer that youth should be able to experience personal growth by means of outdoor education in the Nelson Lakes National Park.

Since opening the lodge has hosted more than 120,000 school students from the Nelson-Tasman and Marlborough regions, as well as others from outside the Top of the South. The building has been well maintained but facilities such as the kitchen and main hall are showing signs of 50 years of wear and tear. It operates as a charitable trust and there are no surplus funds for anything other than basic maintenance. We think it deserves more than a facelift to ensure it remains a viable choice for schools to take students for a variety of outdoor education experiences.

Rotoiti Lodge was built with volunteer labour from service clubs and groups, including Rotary Clubs in Nelson and Marlborough. Members of the Rotary Club of Whakatu have been volunteering their time over the last few years to paint the lodge and have taken on this project to give the lodge a well-deserved upgrade. We’re being supported by other Rotary Clubs in Nelson-Tasman and Marlborough.

Many people have spent time as students at Rotoiti Lodge on school camps. Some will now have children or grandchildren of their own who may also make use of the lodge while at school in this region. We’re inviting all of them to help us ensure the lodge remains a viable option for today’s school groups by donating money to our fundraising appeal.