Itinerary Open All. The Routeburn Track opened in the 1880s. The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s oldest trails and a renown Great Walk. The Routeburn Track spans both Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks Distance: 32 km / Duration: 3 days. THE ROUTEBURN TRACK. Enjoy a day walk. Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park with jaw dropping scenery throughout. On this day, you will hike Mackinnon Pass, ascending around 500 metres to get to the top. Great Walk tracks are of a higher standard than most other tracks so are well formed, wide, and easy to follow. Magnificent Day Walk - Routburn Shelter Carpark to Routeburn Flats Hut. Being one of New Zealand’s 10 Great Walks, Routeburn Track is well maintained and held to a higher standard than most other trails. For a longer walk, you can connect with the Greenstone and Caples routes for a more challenging tramp. The record for the Routeburn Classic is 2:37:51. The only reason you need a map on a great walk is to track how far you’ve come and how much more you have to walk before lunch/dinner/any other food stop. We traveled in a group of 4 to South Island, New Zealand and had been discussing which trek should we head to. Bookings are required for huts and campsites. Make your way on this great walk in Mount Aspiring National Park with a gradual ascent through a magical world of ancient ferns, mosses, lichens and beech forest. Routeburn Track Packages. Routeburn Track: Great Walk, 32 km, 3 days, in in Fiordland NP and Mount Aspiring NP, South Island. Time: 1 hr 30 min – 2 hr 30 minDistance: 7.5 kmThe track begins at Routeburn Shelter, gently winding alongside the crystal-clear Route Burn (river). Glen March 1, 2015 at 3:11 pm # Great post, and as a Kiwi who has been there before – you’ve just inspired me to head back! Routeburn Nature Walk is a 2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Glenorchy, Otago, New Zealand that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. Book online. A self-guided alpine nature walk passes a range of native vegetation: beech forest, subalpine shrublands and alpine tarnsand bogs. The trip can be extended by also staying at other huts, or made into a circuit by linking with the Greenstone and Caples Tracks, which starts and finishes near the Routeburn Shelter. Routeburn Track Independent Walk 32 kms (about 13-17 hours walking) over 4 days This 3-day walk offers magical panoramas across glaciers, snow-capped peaks and tranquil mountain lakes. Pricing from 1 October 2019 - 30 September 2020. We found the Routeburn Track was certainly an epic alpine walk with stunning vistas of sweeping valleys below and majestic peaks above. This morning's walk climbs steadily to the outlet of the river at Lake Harris - don't forget to occasionally stop and look behind you for great views of the Routeburn Valley. Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2021 – 1 November 2021): Only walk at this time if you are fit, experienced and well equipped - facilities are greatly reduced and there are additional hazards. Fiordland National Park experiences very high rainfall (up to 9000  mm per year) and weather conditions can change quickly in any season. To receive the discount we need to sight your membership card and Backcountry Hut Pass, so visit a DOC visitor centre in person. Earland Falls Track | Key Summit Track | Lake Howden Track | Routeburn Nature Walk. Transport arrangements can be affected by bad weather. GW - 05 Heaphy Track, 73km ☐. While the track is repaired, you can only do a return walk from Routeburn Shelter and go as far as Lake Mackenzie Hut. Routeburn Track Day Hike. Routeburn Guided Walk Half Day Rated one of the world’s “Top Ten Classic Hikes”, the Routeburn Track is a must-do. 66km (41 miles) Discover. End the day at Routeburn Falls Hut, on the edge of the bushline and close to the impressive Routeburn Falls cascade. Key Summit (918m), on the western end is the site of a popular viewpoint and nature walk not far from the roadway, and the return to the Routeburn Flats Hut are both commonly done in a day. It's an ideal trip for groups or individuals. The Routeburn Track Day Walk is a return trip from the Routeburn Shelter end of the track. Any fit person can walk the Routeburn Track. As we hiked up and along the ridge line on day two, we were crossed two National Parks – Fiordland and Mt Aspiring. The Track; The Routeburn itself is classified as a New Zealand Great Walk, which means the track is well maintained, well defined and easy to navigate. Gas is not provided – you will need to bring your own cooking stove. Time: 4 hr 30 min – 6 hrDistance: 11.3 kmClimb steadily up the valley, through wetlands and tussock-covered flats, before sidling along the bluffs above Lake Harris to reach the highest point on the track at Harris Saddle/TarahakaWhakatipu (1,255 m). Walk the full track. it can cold and wet, with ice, snow and short daylight hours, avalanche-prone bridges across some major watercourses are removed, DOC does not manage hazards such as flooding and avalanches, have the skills for the ATES class you are going into, have checked what avalanche advisory and alert information is available from the DOC visitor centre nearest the area where you want to go. Booking opening dates are notified two weeks in advance of bookings opening. Routeburn Track Freedom walk one of the finest tracks in Fiordland National Park. The wide, well maintained easy graded track crosses several swing bridges, goes past Bridal Veil Falls and over the Routeburn Gorge before opening up to vast grassy flats. If you have any questions about the hike feel free to write them in below. Enjoy a day walk. A steady descent leads to Lake Mackenzie Hut, set beside the enchanting Lake Mackenzie. Day 1 Arrive Queenstown. Campers can't use hut facilities. Drive-times (one-way): Queenstown to Glenorchy (great for a breakfast stop) 45 minutes Glenorchy to Routeburn Shelter (Start of the Track) 30 minutes (unsealed road) Walking Time (one-way): Routeburn Shelter and car park to Routeburn Flats Hut 6.5 Kilometers (4 Miles) 2 - 3hrs walk Routeburn Flat Hut to Routeburn Falls Hut 2.3 Kilometers (1.4miles) 1 - 1.5hrs walk Ascending through lush forest and into a unique alpine herb field offering panoramic views of mountains, alpine lakes and bush clad valleys far below. WALKING DISTANCE: Between 13 - 18 kilometres ( moderate), TRACK: Well formed walking track (up to 9 kilometres each way), PICKUP: From all Queenstown accommodations. Journeying from Te Anau to The Divide, then hiking the Routeburn Track to Key Summit & back before heading back to your accommodation is a day you won’t forget in a hurry. One track end of the track is at the Routeburn Shelter (near Queenstown) and the other is at The Divide (between Te Anau and Milford Sound). take an avalanche transceiver, avalanche probe and a snow shovel. If you were unlucky and unable to book into the huts or campsites, then you can still do three day walk return options. The Routeburn Track is a 3 day (two night) walk with four comfortable well-equipped huts (Routeburn Flats Hut, Routeburn Falls Hut, Lake Mackenzie Hut and Lake Howden Hut) and two campsites (Routeburn Flats and Lake Mackenzie). The Routeburn Track can be walked in either direction. The Routeburn Track killed me. The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s oldest trails and a renown Great Walk. At 532 m, The Divide is the lowest crossing of the Southern Alps in New Zealand. Tour Details. The Routeburn Track opened in the 1880s. The Routeburn Track on New Zealand’s South Island is a classic walk with one of the best alpine crossings in this spectacular country. Birdlife is prolific and tomtits, robins, New Zealand pigeons/kererū and bellbirds/korimako are commonly seen. A magnificent alpine adventure. Dress for these conditions. Time: 1 – 1 hr 30 minDistance: 2.3 kmThe track climbs steadily through stunning beech forest, providing views of the Humboldt Mountains. The Routeburn Track is a popular great walk with an alpine adventure experience. The team will have a number of calls to make so we thank you for your patience at this time. To have a safe and enjoyable trip, it's essential you have the appropriate clothing and equipment. You can walk the Routeburn Track off-season, from April to October, however conditions can be treacherous, there are less daylight hours, and facilities at the huts are greatly reduced. The overcast sky lends an air of snowglobe-esque comfort at Lake Harris, whose steel waters sit undisturbed in a hanging valley. of the Darran Mountains across the Hollyford Valley. The Key Summit section of the track is a popular Alpine Tarn high in the Fiordland Mountains. The day finishes in the comfortable Routeburn Falls Lodge. This track combines personal achievement in addition to awe-inspiring scenery to make this trip unmissable. Bookings required. In the summer . The Track; The Routeburn itself is classified as a New Zealand Great Walk, which means the track is well maintained, well defined and easy to navigate. Exploring the old paths of the Maori travellers as we travel along their old ‘Greenstone’ trails, finding new enjoyment around each corner. The Routeburn Track Guided Walk is a 3 day/2 night all - inclusive guided walk through Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks, from The Divide on the Milford Road to the Routeburn Shelter near Glenorchy. Avalanches are frequent. As it is a relatively short track, much of the Routeburn Track is also accessible to day hikers. Until 7 December 2020, the section from Lake Mackenzie Hut to The Divide is closed due to significant storm damage. Recently glaciated there is a wealth of information imparted by your guide as you travel. On the way down we took a dip in the icy stream waters. This morning, with Andreas we’re leaving Te Anau early in the morning to hike the Routeburn Track. This walk offers spectacular views of Fiordland National Park. The walk is not that steep, and doesn't involve a lot of elevation if you turn around at Routeburn Flats - the serious climb begins at the turnoff to the Falls (which is an essential 5 minute diversion from the track). Walk the Routeburn, one of New Zealand’s finest tracks and a renowned alpine crossing. Key Summit (918m), on the western end is the site of a popular viewpoint and nature walk not far from the roadway, and the return to the Routeburn Flats Hut are both commonly done in a day. A short trip from bustling Queenstown, this Great Walk links Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks in Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. Our trip began with a three day walk on the Routeburn Track. The risk of avalanche can extend into December. Your safety is your responsibility. This half-day tour departs Queenstown for the awe-inspiring scenery of Mt Aspiring National Park. gravel track to the carpark. That about does it for a Routeburn Track day hike from the Routeburn Shelter to the Routeburn Falls Hut. pokemesh is now available for android devices. It’s a tough slog if you’re not used to this sort of thing, but well worth it. GW - 01 Lake Waikaremoana, 47km ☐. It was damaged in a storm in early 2020. You can enjoy anything from a 13 kilometre to 18 kilometre return journey, as there is an option of walking another 1.5 hours to view the entire magnificent valley from Routeburn Falls. There are steep drop-off along sections of the whole track. Weather conditions can change quickly in any season. The best tour of our trip!". The track is usually walked in three days, with overnight stays at Routeburn Falls and Lake Mackenzie DOC huts. The Routeburn Track can be walked in either direction. You can hike it in 2 to 4 days, depending on how long you want to hike each day, and you can stay in huts or camp along the trail. This is how I went from Te Anau to Queenstown on foot, crossing a little part of the Southern Alps. At 7:30 AM on my second day, I wave goodbye to Routeburn Falls and begin the ascent to Harris Saddle, the track’s 4,300-foot pinnacle. Snow and ice can sometimes make this trip hazardous early and late into the Great Walks season. As you travel northwest on a road that clings to the very edge of the lake, your guide will introduce you to the history and landscape of the region. From The Divide carpark follow the Routeburn Track for about an hour to get to to Key Summit Track. Huts and campsites must be booked in advance. The Routeburn Track, is an excellent walk for people interested in variety, lake river valley forests, mountain views, native birds or photography. A DOC ranger is in residence. The day before our departure we stocked up on wet weather gear. Highlights of the Routeburn Track include views of Mt Tutuko, Fiordland’s highest peak and the view from the track’s highest point, Harris Saddle, at 1,255 metres (4,117 feet) above sea level. Rated one of the world’s “Top Ten Classic Hikes”, the Routeburn Track is a must-do. At 32 kilometres long, the Routeburn Track is an intermediate level track and is usually completed over 2-3 days. 1 Day Tour. Why walk with us? This is an excellent guided option for the winter months also. This Great Walk affords breath taking mountain views as it passes through glacial valleys, through beech forest and alongside pristine alpine streams and lakes. You will enjoy a relaxed pace stroll on the half-day walk through the breathtaking forest. If you are going into places avalanches could occur, be sure you: All transport must be arranged before starting the track. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching and is best used from October until April. From November to April, weave through meadows, reflective tarns and alpine gardens, and be rewarded with spectacular vistas over vast mountain ranges and valleys. After a delicious Kiwi style picnic lunch, we turn and enjoy the valley in reverse. If you only have time for one walk on your drive to Milford Sound, and the weather is fine, this track is well worth the effort. Routeburn Track Day Walk. You will look, learn and understand and you will take home so much more - the highlight of your trip through New Zealand! A staple of the park since the early days, the display is backed by timeless tunes. The drive here is half the thrill - fantastic scenery along the lake to Glenorchy, then 2 river crossings, and finally, the increasingly narrow. Just 2.5 hours down the track, the woodland parts to reveal the rich grassland of Routeburn Flats, overlooked on all sides by cloud-scraping mountains, some so high they have permafrost. Explore forgotten paths of the Maori, as we travel along their old greenstone trails, finding enchantment around each corner. Our guide was knowledgeable and passionate about the forests, fauna, birds and most everything about New Zealand. Humboldt Mountains. It was so cold it was like millions of tiny needles pricking your skin. Snow and ice conditions on the Hollyford face and at the Harris Saddle can be extremely dangerous. 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