The Saint Arnaud Range is a mountain range in the central north of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

's South Island

South Island

The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...

. It lies between Lake Rotoiti

Lake Rotoiti, Tasman

Lake Rotoiti is lake in the Tasman Region of New Zealand. It is a substantial mountain lake within the borders of the Nelson Lakes National Park. The lake is fed by the Travers River, water from it flows into the Buller River. The greatest depth is 82 metres and it is surrounded by beech forest...

 and the upper reaches of the Wairau River

Wairau River

The Wairau River is one of the longest rivers in New Zealand's South Island. It flows for 170 kilometres from the Spenser Mountains , firstly in a northwards direction and then northeast down a long, straight valley in inland Marlborough.The river's lower reaches are noted for the surrounding...

, and marks the eastern boundary of Nelson Lakes National Park

Nelson Lakes National Park

Nelson Lakes National Park is located in the South Island of New Zealand.It was formed in 1956 and covers some 1,020 km². It is centered at two large lakes, Rotoiti and Rotoroa. The park also includes surrounding valleys and mountain ranges...

.

The lower elevations are covered primarily in beech

Nothofagus

Nothofagus, also known as the southern beeches, is a genus of 35 species of trees and shrubs native to the temperate oceanic to tropical Southern Hemisphere in southern South America and Australasia...

 forests, while higher elevations (above about 5,000 feet) are alpine.

Recreation

The St Arnaud track ascends the western side of the range from the village of Saint Arnaud

Saint Arnaud, New Zealand

Saint Arnaud is a small alpine village located in the north of New Zealand's South Island, west of the mountains of the Saint Arnaud Range and 90 kilometres southwest of Nelson near the historic Tophouse Settlement...

 (about 3 hours climb).

The Rainbow Ski Area

Rainbow Ski Area

Rainbow Ski Area is a ski resort in the Tasman Region of New Zealand's South Island.It opens a little later than other ski resorts, with an operating season from mid-July to mid-October...

is on the eastern side of the range.