res@tracknet.net. Travelling to or away from The Routeburn Shelter, Tracknet are able to arrange transport for you on Info & Track’s bus service. Until 7 December 2020, the section from Lake Mackenzie Hut to The Divide is closed due to significant storm damage. Gas is not provided – you will need to bring your own cooking stove. A short, steep climb from the Harris Saddle up Conical Hill gives superb views of the Hollyford Valley through to Lake McKerrow and beyond to Martins Bay and the Tasman Sea. Explore on Google Street View | Watch videos. This well formed, easily graded track begins to climb steadily up the gorge after about half an hour through red, silver and mountain beech forest into the narrow Routeburn Gorge, then around the open, grassed Routeburn … 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. Difficulty: VARIOUS. Queenstown to The Divide service has a 15 minute stop-over at Te Anau Department of Conservation (DOC) Visitor Centre for passengers to collect hut tickets. During the Great Walk season, DOC manages avalanche risk and sections of the track maybe closed if there is avalanche hazard. Be prepared for all conditions. Thankfully, in May, the Department of Conservation (DOC) announced the track would be repaired and open … Please note this booking will automatically book you for 2 nights stay on the track. The part of New Zealand that the Routeburn Track winds … Please note this booking will automatically book you for 2 nights stay on the track and on the last day of your walk will connect to the 12:45pm Milford Sound Cruise. A 9am transfer from Queenstown via Glenorchy to the beginning of the Routeburn Track. Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai, https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/routeburn-track/. Despite its length (the hike is only 33 kilometers long), travelers need to deal with many obstacles such as booking the accommodation along the trail well in advance and with the fact that both Routeburn Track ends are located almost five hours drive apart. Payment is with Backcountry Hut Tickets or a Backcountry Hut Pass - buy these from a DOC visitor centre before you go. Routeburn Track can be accessed from both ends: Routeburn Shelter, 25 km from Glenorchy along a partially unsealed road, and The Divide Shelter, 85 km from Te Anau. The Routeburn Track, is an excellent walk for people interested in variety, lake river valley forests, mountain views, native birds or photography. Bookings will open in September 2020, for trips from 2 November 2020 to 6 December 2020 on the partially open Routeburn Track. The track is open for independent walkers and guided walks during the Great Walks season (late October to late April) and walkers should always check the weather conditions. From May to October, it can be cold and wet, with ice, snow and short daylight hours - only attempt if you have alpine, navigation and river crossing skills. They connect with the 4:35pm Tracknet bus from Queenstown to Te Anau. During the winter months Fiordland can be very wet and cold. While the Routeburn Track may be a shorter multi-day hike, it has some of the biggest scenery. The track continues its descent through beech forest to Lake Howden (Lake Howden Hut was destroyed by storm damage in February 2020). The Routeburn Track is a “Great Walk” – one of nine multi-day tramping trails scattered about New Zealand. Our walks include. The risk of avalanche can extend into December. Avalanches are frequent. Queenstown and Te Anau have shopping and hire services to cater for all walkers’ needs. “The reopening of the Routeburn Track is another crucial milestone in the flood recovery work taking place in the Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks, after the Milford Track was reopened last week. Proof of eligibility will be required for the New Zealand rate. Climbing up to Harris Saddle in springImage: DOC. Find out what to take. Over a metre of rain fell in parts of Fiordland in just over a 60-hour period - over three times the monthly average - from Sunday to Tuesday, causing major flooding and landslides, trapping hundreds of tourists and trampers. for whom New Zealand is their primary place of established residence. Routeburn Track is one of the most rewarding hikes in New Zealand, but it is also one of the most tricky-to-plan treks in the country. The Routeburn Track was named one to the top eleven trails in the world by National Geographic Adventure magazine and is rated as one of New Zealand’s best Great Walks. Hut tickets must be booked through the Department of Conservation before buses are booked. Queenstown, Glenorchy and Te Anau have a full range of accommodation available. The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s most popular tracks with approximately 13,000 walkers completing the track each year. DOC will provide two week's advance notice of the date. Please note this booking will automatically book you for 2 nights stay on the track. Huts and campsites must be booked in advance. After passing Sugarloaf Stream, you’ll climb to Bridal Veil Waterfall and continue above the gorge. Until 7 December 2020, the section from Lake Mackenzie Hut to The Divide is closed due to significant storm damage. Transport arrangements can be affected by bad weather. In the Great Walks season (2 November 2020 – 30 April 2021): Best time to walk the track - there are more facilities and fewer hazards. Book online. Starting at Routeburn Road end, the track crosses a suspension bridge and starts as a gentle sidle up the true left hand side of the Routeburn River. The Routeburn Track in New Zealand is most commonly hiked over a couple of days, but it is possible to see a great portion of the track on a day hike! Open in Google Maps. Know the Outdoor Safety Code - 5 simple rules to ensure you have a great trip and make it home. "Ordinarily resident in New Zealand" means those: who hold a residence class, student or work visa; and, who have lived in New Zealand for six of the previous 12 months; and. You have 25 minutes from now to complete the payment process. The track then descends and traverses along the exposed Hollyford Face, with expansive views over the Darran Mountains. With soaring mountain peaks, huge valleys, waterfalls and jewel-like lakes the track links the Mount Aspiring National Park with Fiordland National Park .The highest point of the track is 1,255 metres above sea level - so the views are simply spectacular. Located in Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park in the Otago and Fiordland regions. The Routeburn Track is one of the 9 Great Walks in New Zealand. You must discuss an alternative option with transport operators before you begin your walk. All three of Fiordland's Great Walks are fully open for the first time since a storm in February extensively damaged two of them. While the track is repaired, you can only do a return walk from Routeburn Shelter and go as far as Lake Mackenzie Hut. Bookings will open on Wednesday 19 August 2020 at 9:30 am, for hiking from 7 December 2020 to 30 April 2021 on the fully open Routeburn Track. Tracknet offer reliable daily scheduled passenger bus and coach services to and from many of the most beautiful areas of the South Island. Bookings are required for huts and campsites. A wide variety of native birds may be seen or heard along the track. A massive storm tore through Fiordland in February of this year and caused significant damage to the last section of the Milford Track. Great Walks season: partially open 2 November 2020 – 6 December 2020 Great Walks season: fully open 7 December 2020 – 30 April 2021 Duration: 2–4 days Distance: 33.1 km (one way) ROUTEBURN TRACK Photo: Shellie Evans (tikitouringnz.blogspot.co.nz)Photo: Daniel Deans Photo: Bernard Spragg Routeburn Track officially reopens The Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand’s most historic tracks and the alpine pathway between the Fiordland and Whakatipu communities, has officially reopened end to end. New Zealand citizens and those ordinarily resident in New Zealand*: A 10% discount is available to members, staff and instructors of the following organisations, who also hold a valid 12 month Backcountry Hut Pass: NZ Mountain Safety Council; NZ Federated Mountain Clubs; NZ Deer Stalkers Association; NZ Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR); Scouts New Zealand; GirlGuiding NZ. The dates available will be from 30 November 2020 to 30 April 2021. There are 3 huts and 2 campsites, which must be booked well in advance during the Great Walks season. Tracknet are able to provide timely transport connections to each end of the Routeburn Track. If you get a discount you won't be charged a booking fee. 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. We hiked from East to West from the Routeburn Shelter to The Divide. The world famous Routeburn Track will be closed for the "foreseeable future" and Milford Track until at least the end of February following this week's devastating storm. This way you’re only staying in a hut for one night (again, not cheap! **Note Key Summit is Open** From The Divide car park, follow the Routeburn Track (one of the Great Walks) for about an hour to the junction where the Key Summit Track branches off from the main track. You will have the opportunity to amend these times once you receive confirmation if needed. Te Anau 9679 Phone: 0800 483 262 The Routeburn Track is located in the south-west of the South Island and runs between the head of Lake Wakatipu and S.H.94 the Te Anau /Milford Road. Information on how to get a … Due to rock fall danger, observe the no stopping zones along this track. Earland Falls Track | Key Summit Track | Lake Howden Track | Routeburn Nature Walk. Campsites have basic facilities including toilets, sinks and a water supply. It’s arguably one of the most popular Great Walks in New Zealand and offers a fantastic combination of native bush, towering mountains and alpine lakes. The Routeburn Track was an important route for both indigenous Māori and European settlers. 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. It was recently featured in a 2018 National Geographic Adventure travel article. The other start/finish point of the Routeburn Track is the Routeburn Shelter, which is at the Mount Aspiring National Park end of the Routeburn Track near Glenorchy. The Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand’s most historic tracks and the alpine pathway between the Fiordland and Whakatipu communities, has officially reopened end to end. The Kepler Track remains open and operational and people who had planned on doing the Milford or Routeburn in the coming weeks could potentially do that instead. Bookings: To book a Routeburn Track Loop Transport Package click on the Loop Package link above that you require. The Routeburn track is set to be partially reopened next week after being closed due to damage from storms in February. Bookings will open in September 2020, for trips from 2 November 2020 to 6 December 2020 on the partially open Routeburn Track. Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2021 - 1 November 2021). With this option you stay in Te Anau for a night, before going back to Queenstown. The well graded track crosses Sugarloaf stream (start/finish of the classic five pass tramp) and the Bridal Veil waterfall and leads to a steeper climb that goes above the gorge to Forge Flats, the site of an early blacksmith camp. The Milford track will be fully open from November 30 and the Routeburn from December 7. Bookings are open for trips from 2 November 2020 to 6 December 2020 on the partially open track, and from 7 December 2020 to 30 April 2021 on the fully open track. Bookings: Open, but heavily sold out Great Walks Season: 30 November 2020 – 30 April 2021. With soaring mountain peaks, huge valleys, waterfalls and jewel-like lakes the track links the Mount Aspiring National Park with Fiordland National Park .The highest point of the track is 1,255 metres above sea level - so the views are simply spectacular. Walkers will have the option to hike the Routeburn Return – a four-day three-night return experience replacing the Routeburn Great Walk beginning on March 12. Over 2 weeks we did day day walks of most of Southland's great walks (Routeburn, Kepler, MIlford) and this was the best of the lot. The part of New Zealand that the Routeburn Track winds … Most walkers take 3 days/2 nights usually staying at Routeburn Falls and Lake Mackenzie Huts. The Routeburn Return experience is longer and more challenging than the traditional Great Walk, as walkers will now trek about two-thirds of the original track before turning back to head out the same way, staying at either Routeburn Falls or Routeburn Flats each way, Fleming says. All services have limited pick-up and drop-off locations. Wind through the Routeburn gorge along the, Adult (18+ years): $65 per person, per night, Child (17 years and under): free but booking still required, Child (17 years and under): $32.50 per person, per night, Adult (18+ years): $20 per person, per night, Child (17 years and under): free but booking still required, Child (17 years and under): $10 per person, per night. This is a top day in the mountains. The Routeburn Track can be walked in either direction. During winter, transport operators require minimum numbers and do not always operate a daily service. Please contact us if you require transport outside of these months. The drive here is half the thrill - fantastic scenery along the lake to Glenorchy, then 2 river crossings, and finally, the increasingly narrow gravel track to the carpark. Spectacular views of U-shaped and hanging valleys dominate the landscape as you pass numerous waterfalls and alpine lakes. Weather conditions can change quickly in any season. Running water is turned off inside the huts. Todays weather forecast, by the hour and long term. Snow and ice conditions on the Hollyford face and at the Harris Saddle can be extremely dangerous. The Routeburn Track has a lot of challenging and complex avalanche terrain. Transport ex Queenstown. You need to be totally self-sufficient. End the day at Routeburn Falls Hut, on the edge of the bushline and close to the impressive Routeburn Falls cascade. This service connects with the 12:15pm service from Queenstown to Routeburn Shelter. Routeburn campsites have picnic tables and cooking shelters. Fiordland National Park experiences very high rainfall (up to 9000  mm per year) and weather conditions can change quickly in any season. Routeburn Track is partially open. This section of the track is well-known for its impressive array of alpine plants. The service from Te Anau to Routeburn Shelter at 7:15am has a 2 hour stop-over in Queenstown. It was damaged in a storm in early 2020. The service from Routeburn Shelter to Te Anau has a bus change and stop-over in Queenstown. DOC will provide two week's advance notice of the date. take an avalanche transceiver, avalanche probe and a snow shovel. The 9:45am service has a long stop-over and the 2:15pm service has a 15 minute stop-over. Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Flats Hut 7.5 km, 1.5 – 2.5 hours The first segment of the Routeburn Track makes an ideal day walk for those who are short on time. Play Video. Enjoy a day walk. This is one start/finish point. See the forecast as a table or graph. In addition to what to take in the Great Walks season, you also need: Take five minutes and learn how to prepare for a multiday tramp and #MakeItHomeNZ. Air New Zealand is a national partner with DOC for conservation, and is proud to support DOC's Great Walks. This well traveled and well maintained track usually stretches 32km, but as of February 2020 the track is only open to the Mackenzie hut due to track damage, trampers will have to hike back out the same way they came in. Time: 4 – 5 hr 30 minDistance: 12 kmLeaving Lake Mackenzie Hut the track crosses a small flat before climbing to the bush line. Discounts are not available online. Note: Lake Howden Hut is permanently closed. Take the opportunity to climb Conical Hill for the cream of these views. A swing bridge leads to open grassed flats, and the Routeburn Flats Hut and Campsite. A steady descent leads to Lake Mackenzie Hut, set beside the enchanting Lake Mackenzie. Your accommodation is now ‘reserved’ but is not confirmed until you complete the payment process. FIORDLAND’S GREAT WALKS – THE MILFORD, ROUTEBURN & KEPLER TRACKS MILFORD TRACK. Time: 1 – 1 hr 30 minDistance: 2.3 kmThe track climbs steadily through stunning beech forest, providing views of the Humboldt Mountains. From here it is a 20-minute climb to Key Summit, with panoramic views … Bridges between Lake Mackenzie and Harris Saddle may be removed over winter to avoid damage from avalanches, so you must be competent at crossing swift, icy rivers. © 2020 All rights reserved. The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s oldest trails and a renown Great Walk. From Lake Howden, the well graded track climbs steadily for about 15 minutes to the Key Summit Track turn-off. The Routeburn Track must be pre-booked during the Great Walks season. Huts have bunks, mattresses, heating, toilets, basic cooking facilities, solar-powered lighting and cold running water. Read more about Milford track bookings. Tracknet Please note this booking will automatically book you for 2 nights stay on the track and on the last day of your walk will connect to the 12:45pm Milford Sound Cruise. Drive times to Queenstown or Te Anau are: 1 hour 45 minutes from Invercargill; 3 hours 30 minutes from Dunedin and 6 to 8 hours from Christchurch. At 532 m, The Divide is the lowest crossing of the Southern Alps in New Zealand. The cruise is 1 hour and 45 minutes with Cruise Milford, it ends at 2:30pm and connects to our 2:30pm bus Milford to Queenstown. While the track is repaired, you can only do a return walk from Routeburn Shelter and go as far as Lake Mackenzie Hut. Time: 1 – 1 hr 30 min returnThis popular walk climbs above the bushline to an alpine wetland and, in good weather, offers magnificent views of the Darran Mountains and the Hollyford valley. 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