The Routeburn Track - New Zealand

The Routeburn Track is a spectacular 3 day hike on the South Island of New Zealand.

The track is 33 kms in length and is generally accessed via Glenorchy and finishes on the Te Anau side of the range, though you could easily do this in reverse.

If you are doing this walk point to point, you  will need to organise a bus transfer or car shuffle.  If there is more than one of you doing the walk, then the car shuffle option through a third party works really well and is cost effective.

The track is really well sign posted so you don't need to be constantly looking at your GPS unless you have destination syndrome - but this hike may not be for you!

You could do this track in less time but why would you.  The first two days of this hike were amazing - an option I would consider is to spend a couple of nights at Routeburn Falls Hut and spend more time exploring the area between Routeburn Falls and the Harris Saddle and then walk back out to the Routeburn Shelter which would save you a car shuffle.

Using the hut facilities means you don't have to carry a tent, sleeping pad and cooking gear.

You could easily camp if you didn't mind carrying those additional items and were flexible and could choose some nice weather days - which might mean some better sleep than in the communal huts.

The communal huts had great facilities and you would be very thankful for a roof over your head if the weather turned a little pear shaped for your hike.  The Routeburn Hut was better accommodation than Lake MacKenzie but Lake MacKenzie was an inviting place for a swim if you don't mind your water temperature a little icy! 

The recommended breakdown for the three days of hiking is:

Day 1 - Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls Hut - 9.8 kms

Day 2 - Routeburn Falls Hut to Lake MacKenzie Hut - 11.3 kms (not including a climb to the summit of the Harris Saddle which you will need to do for amazing views of the Darran Range and views out to sea)

Day 3 - Lake MacKenzie Hut to the Divide 12 kms

More posts to follow detailing the individual day hikes.