The Honeydew Walk is situated within the Rotoiti Nature Recovery Project area of Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes National Park. The area is on the east side of Kerr Bay and starts just beyond the Kerr Bay Campsite. The track is well-maintained and provides an easy 30-minute loop walk through the best stand of mature beech forest in the area.
The trail starts on the even shorter Bellbird Walk loop, which begins at the car park near the east jetty at Kerr Bay. It then takes you further into the beech forest, with several informative panels that detail the recovery project and help with plant and tree identification. One set clearly explains the difference between red beech (tawhai raunui), silver beech (tawhai or tahina) and mountain beech (tawhai rauriki).
You will notice the striking blackened trunks and branches of red and mountain beech trees. This is caused by a tiny scale insect that burrows into the bark and feeds on the sapwood. The insect excretes nectar through its anus, which leads to the growth of the black mould. Nectar-feeding birds, such as korimako and tūī, thrive in these forests, while entrepreneurial individuals process the nectar into honey and sell it under names like honeydew and beechwood honey.
If you want to take a longer walk, you can continue on the Loop Track for a 90-minute excursion. This track also connects with the start of the St Arnaud Range Track, a 1,000-metre climb to the range tops.
To access the Honeydew Walk from Saint Arnaud, head to the car park near the campsite and the east jetty at Kerr Bay. From State Highway 63, you can take either Kerr Bay Road or Bridge Street, then Lake Road to the car park.
