The Routeburn Track is our personal favourite walk as it takes your breath away every time (even if you do it repeatedly!). Being relatively short and somewhat easy to get to – is achievable for most people.
Routeburn Track is beautiful the whole 32 km and you have the option to travel as fast or slow as you want. Some people finish a lot faster than expected and have to wait for hours to catch the next bus. Others arrange the easy option of car relocation and drive away when they finish.
Routeburn Track takes you on a type of short cut from Queenstown to Milford Sound winding through the mountains between both Mt Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks. This makes the track truly awesome, and if you create your travel plans (accommodation, transport, hire gear) with this in mind you can see and do more with less driving time.
Our best advice – don’t leave the itinerary details to the last minute and take advantage of being close to so many iconic kiwi spots. Hire gear that you can return at the other end (ie. Easyhike, who deliver it to you) and plan to stay an extra night or two and relax while you are so close. There is a reason these places are so popular with travellers!
TRACK LOGISTICS
DISTANCE: 33 km (plus a few short sidetracks) one way – transport required.
DURATION: Your choice – most people spend 3 Days / 2 Nights but it is possible to spend between 1 to 4 days.
START: The Divide (Milford/Te Anau side) or Routeburn Shelter (Glenorchy/Queenstown side).
FINISH: Routeburn Shelter (Glenorchy/Queenstown side) or the Divide (Milford/Te Anau side).
ACCOMMODATION: Department of Conservation huts (bunks and shared facilities) and limited camping.
ROUTEBURN TRACK HIKING SERVICES
Packing food and gear for a hike is a hassle when relaxing on holiday. Get on the track and back with Easyhike, and enjoy the ease. Our specialty is car relocation and delivering on food and gear, but our true passion lies in helping you get out there and hiking happy.
Hiking Services
Milford Cruise Combo
from $329 per car (inc 2 Adults)
Local Support & Service
Track Transport Milford Cruise + Car Relocation
Best Value
Essentials Package
from $595 per person
Local Support & Service We know what you need, and what you don't
Track Transport Car Relocation OR Bus Transport
Hiking Food Selected for ease and your ideal tastes and diet
Hire Gear Clean, quality & light. Just the essentials to reduce your load
Easiest
Premium Package
from $960 per person
Let us take care of the details and seamlessly blend your walk into your travel plans
Track Transport Car Relocation OR Bus Transport
Hiking Food Selected for ease and your ideal tastes and diet
Hire Gear All the essentials, PLUS a few handy items to ease you into multi-day hiking
DOC Hut Tickets Subject to availability - so book well in advance!
A truly memorable experience. A mixture of weather conditions, but it didn't spoil the breathtaking scenery! I did the track over 3 days, finishing at The Divide. Stayed in DOC huts, that were all very clean. I also chose to use a food package from EasyHike company which delivered to my accommodation in Queenstown the day before my hike. Totally hassle-free, great food options, plenty of food, light to pack and carry. I was very happy. A must-do Great Walk!
Day 1: The Divide to Lake Mackenzie Hut (4 – 5 ½ hours, 12km) Day 2: Lake Mackenzie Hut to Routeburn Falls Hut (4 ½ – 6 hours, 11.3km) Day 3: Routeburn Falls Hut to Routeburn Shelter (3-4 hours, 9.8km)
It is possible to walk the track in the opposite direction (starting Routeburn Shelter, finishing at The Divide) however we recommend the above route because it means less uphill and logistically, it is the best use of your time.
If you have the time (5 days or so) you can connect the Routeburn with the Greenstone or Caples track and walk back to the other side of the mountains. Learn more about the Greenstone Caples Track here.
During the Great Walks season, the huts have basic cooking facilities, heating, bunks, mattresses, heating, toilets, solar-powered lighting, running cold water and A DOC ranger in residence. There are no cooking utensils or showers in the huts and bookings are required.
The Routeburn Track is very popular and we recommend you plan your trip early so you can secure your ideal dates. Our premium package includes DOC hut tickets and we also offer a hut only booking service.
Both starting/finishing points of the Routeburn Track are accessible by road. The distance between the Divide Shelter and the Routeburn Shelter is approximately 325km, so you do need to arrange transport. We can take care of all of your transport including car relocation and/or bus.
The Divide Shelter is approximately 1 ½ hour (85km) from Te Anau on the Milford Road. The Routeburn Shelter is accessed 30 minutes (25km) from Glenorchy and 1 ½ hour (70km) from Queenstown. The last 8km of the road is unsealed.
The weather in New Zealand and Fiordland National Park is very changeable. Even if the forecast is for fine weather or it’s the height of summer, you should always be prepared. Heavy rain, strong winds, cold temperatures, snow can happen at any time of the year so make sure you have the right clothing including warm layers and a rain jacket. Check the weather forecast before heading out – here is the Metservice weather report for Fiordland National Park.
A good level of fitness is needed to walk the Routeburn Track and you should make sure it suits your abilities. By walking in the direction of the Divide to the Routeburn Shelter, you will avoid the gradual climb to Harris Saddle, but there will be some steeper sections towards the Routeburn Falls hut and beyond. Talk to us about tramping poles which are an excellent tool to assist you throughout the hike.
See our Great Walks packing list for what you need to take, or book our Great Walk Gear Package and we’ll supply it all for you! Your footwear is one of the most important factors to consider. Most people opt for hiking boots over trainers but it’s a personal choice. Factors you should consider when deciding which footwear include your hiking experience, fitness level and how heavy your pack will be. We recommend hiking boots for support and comfort, but either way, your footwear needs to be well worn in and used to your feet, otherwise – hello blisters! No one wants blisters…
Food-wise, you’ll want to make sure you have enough to last the 3-day walk, plus contingency. Food should be lightweight, tasty, nutritious and provide you with much-needed fuel! Our food packages take care of this.
The Routeburn Track is well-maintained and easy to follow, but some sections are steep and can be slippery. Always stick to the track and look out for your fellow hikers. DOC rangers are stationed in the huts during the Great Walks season, but you should always check the weather before you go, and tell someone of your plans. The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council have some fantastic resources on keeping safe in the great outdoors.
The Routeburn Track is very popular and usually sells out 6 months to 1 year in advance. We recommend planning and booking your trip as early as possible to secure your ideal dates. The Great Walk Season runs from late October until late April every summer. If you are looking at hiking outside of the season, talk to us or find out more about walking in ‘winter’ here.
