In terms of the huts themselves i definitely preferred routeburn flats its quieter, has amazing scenery and a really lovely dining area. What to know before hiking the milford track milford. There are 3 communal huts on the milford track, which must be booked well in advance through the department of conservation doc website. Everything you need to know about the routeburn track.
Routeburn shelter to routeburn falls hut routeburn track day 2. Great walks the routeburn track and milford track suffered major damage in the storm, with dozens of visitors needing to be evacuated by helicopter. A doctor in the hut looked after a couple of people who had been injured, mckay said. The routeburn track s origins are in historical maori walking tracks used to walk between locales. What facilities are in the routeburn track huts campsites. During great walks season october through april, huts and campsites along the track.
Our guides will also share information about the historical significance of the routeburn track and how it was used by maori and european pioneers. Head to the doc milford track hub here to book your huts online. The kepler track truly is one of the great walks in new zealand and is one of our favourites. Let us pick you up, and transport you direct to the start point.
The famous routeburn track in new zealand travel mavericks. The routeburn track is a wonderful track with a wonderful landscapes. Routeburn track new zealand guided walks ultimate hikes. Walk back via the greenstone or caples track, the bus it from glenorchy. Routeburn flats hut has 20 bunks and a camping area 5 minutes from hut. The famous routeburn track in new zealand travelcrazies. If you were unlucky and unable to book into the huts or campsites, then you can still do three day walk. We have booked the fiordland great walks milford, routeburn and kepler in advance, but due to changes, we had to cancel kepler track and try to book for other dates. In 1994, heavy rain created a slip which washed away part of the original track. You have 25 minutes from now to complete the payment process.
The milford track is extensively damaged and flooded around the hut so walking out was not an option for anyone on the routeburn or hollyford track, mckay said. On the way there we passed some beautiful views of the humbolts mountain range. Do not underestimate the track as some parts are a bit steep and you have to carry a backpack for 3 days. Looking for available kepler, milford, routeburn huts. When i leave lake howden hut, slush is falling from the sky, but when i gain elevation walking up key summit, a side trail, i find inches of white powder on the ground. The kepler track, a 60 kilometre panoramic hike, is designed to show off all the best features of fiordland enjoy mountains, native forest, waterfalls and glaciercarved valleys. After passing routeburn flats hut the track becomes harder as there is a gradual climb up to routeburn falls hut.
Only huts available are routeburn flat hut and howden hut. Hiking the routeburn track in new zealand we12travel. Due to recent extreme weather events in fiordland, routeburn track remains closed at. The routeburn track is a fantastic great walk in new zealand. For a full list of the equipment and preparation required for the routeburn track, plus the latest track updates and information on getting there, please visit the department of conservation website. You then descend to lake howden hut for a hot drink and picnic lunch, before gradually climbing through silver beech forest to earland falls. How to hike the routeburn track in one day 6 day hike. This mornings walk climbs steadily to the outlet of the river at lake harris dont forget to occasionally stop and look behind you for great views of the routeburn valley. The routeburn track huts have bunks, mattresses, gas, heating, toilets, basic cooking facilities, solarpowered lighting and cold running water. The routeburn track independent walk traverses wild and scenic mountain country in fiordland national park, between the hollyford and dart valleys at the base on new zealands southern alps. Independent walkers stay in doc huts, situated at lake howden, lake mackenzie and routeburn flats or routeburn falls. Make sure you call them and book your seat ahead so they know you are waiting for them to. It was my favourite morning on the routeburn track. But when i went to pick up my hut tickets the north.
Access to the routeburn track is via a swing bridge and you are immediately immersed in the stunning native beech forest. Enjoyed winding down at lake mackenzie hut in the afternoo. The ridge lines and views all the way through are stunning. The long climb to the harris saddle, the highest point of the track, is worth every step. Fiordland great walk the routeburn track closed for the. The routeburn track huts are the routeburn flats hut and campground, routeburn falls hut, lake mackenzie hut and campground, and the lake howden hut. It is important to plan and prepare your trip and be well equipped on a great walk. The ultimate hiking guide for the routeburn track how to. We continued our classic trek on the routeburn track. Routeburn track, how to organize the and which hut to book. I am an experienced walker and walked the track in 3 days 2 nights. Routeburn track new zealand hiking trails tourism new. The routeburn track is a 3 days oneway trail which starts at the divide near te anau and ends at the routeburn shelter near queenstown or vice versa.
The routeburn classic mountain run is a mountain running event in new zealand and is 32 km 20 mi in distance, following the entire routeburn track. Do i need to book the huts or campsites on the routeburn track. Entry to the track is at approximately 200m altitude, and the highest point is approximately 1255m at the harris saddle. The trail weaves through meadows, ice carved valleys, alpine lake shores, and forests all while presenting stunning views of the rugged snow capped mountain peaks. Routeburn track bus services, queenstown, new zealand. The routeburn track is nearly as famous as the milford track, but many people think that its the nicer one of both the countryside got more changes and something which is very important is that there are less sand flies, as most parts of the track are above the tree line. Plan to backpack the routeburn track in new zealand with this comprehensive guide including the daybyday route breakdown, tips on making the reservation for the trail and what are the best huts to stay at along the route.
If the routeburn track is fully booked, other options to consider in the surrounding area are. We were literally the last ones off the routeburn track when doc decided to close its huts and facilities. Routeburn track transport and walks glenorchy journeys. The routeburn track guided walk is a 3 day2 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. We did not plan ahead to tackle the multiday walk, so we drove from glenorchy and just did a few hours walk into the forest which is the start of the routeburn track. Even though i dont fully agree on the latter, i do think that the routeburn track hike is one of the best that tramping in new zealand has to offer and a must for every new zealand traveler whos into hiking. Day 2, routeburn falls hut to lake mckenzie hut, 11. On march 22nd at the lake mackenzie hut, ranger evan gave his 7.
I just registered an account with doc trying to book the huts, however the huts at lake mackenzie and routeburn falls are fully booked. Routeburn track get out and walk events and activities. Before you book your accommodation, it is necessary to check out how far. Offering a journey through deep beech forests along bright blue rivers, stunning alpine terrain complete with lakes and wide ranging vistas, it has become a highly sought after trip for both those living in new zealand, and also those visiting. Routeburn track south island 2020 all you need to know. Believe us when we say you need to book early this is one of the most popular tracks in the country. The huts do not provide cooking utensils or showers. The limited spaces mean that many visitors must find an alternative way to hike the routeburn track other than the classic 3day trip. It is an annual event which was first held in 2001, and draws many local competitors as well as many international runners.
Therefore, you will have to book quite far in advance in order to be successful for the dates you require, especially if you wish to travel in the height of the season which is janfeb. Routeburn road, fiordland national park new zealand. All of the tracks have camping or hut accommodation options, which you can book on the department of conservations website the routeburn track is one of the shorter great walks. A second swing bridge takes you back across the routeburn river to the open grassed flats around routeburn flats hut. Be aware that huts and campsites can book out many months is advance. Due to the limited numbers allowed in the huts and campsites, you are required to make a reservation during the great walks season from late october to april. Routeburn track wallking holiday new zealand great walk. Huts on the routeburn track the advised itinerary starting at the routeburn shelter is to do a 2 night3 day hike where the first night is at routeburn falls. I had to book for routeburn falls instead, which made the days a little unbalanced in terms of distance. Hiking the routeburn track in new zealand the adventure.
About 70 people were airlifted out of the section of milford road that is blocked on the te anau side of the homer tunnel, and from some of the walking track huts, yesterday afternoon. The routeburn track is a 3 day two night walk with four comfortable wellequipped huts routeburn flats hut, routeburn falls hut, lake mackenzie hut and lake howden hut and two campsites routeburn flats and lake mackenzie. The long climb to the harris saddle, the highest point of the track. Paul theroux, the american travel writer, described his hike on the routeburn track in chapter 2 of his 1992 book, the happy isles of oceania. Wonderful but book huts well in advance routeburn track. A complete guide to the kepler track how to plan your. Bookings for the coming summer season usually open in february exact opening dates.
In order to go to these points though, you will need to book a shuttle service. Routeburn track bus services, queenstown, new zealand info track. The track is very popular and there is a limit for people to walk it. Greenstone caples track, hump ridge track, and hollyford track. The routeburn track is very popular and there are limited places in the doc huts. Usually backpacked in 34 days, this 20 mile hike is possible to do in one. Only huts available are routeburn flat hut and howden hut, how should i arrange my trek to be able to see lake mackenzie.
A doc ranger is in residence during the great walks season late october to late april. I spent hours at routeburn flats watching the sun rise and photographing kea i got my lazy morning after all. The routeburn track is a 32km traverse through new zealands southern alps that links mount aspiring and fiordland national park. Find out about fees for the huts and campsites on the routeburn track and how. Plan to backpack the routeburn track in new zealand with this comprehensive guide including the daybyday route breakdown, tips on making the reservation for the trail and what are the best huts. Hiking guide to the routeburn track in new zealand in a. The routeburn track is being called one of and possibly the most stunning multi day hike in new zealand. Routeburn guided walks new zealand great walks nomad. If you want to do a great walk independently, you will need to book the doc. New zealands incredible routeburn track is popular for a reason, and to this day it is still one of the most beautiful hikes ive done.
The priority was to get them out, along with trampers on other parts of the routeburn or hollyford tracks. The forest is so beautiful here in the mt aspiring np. Once in a hut, people get very territorial about bunks and guard them for the rest of a day. The wide variety of flora and fauna on display is sure to impress. The distances between the huts is also chosen wiser.
Well tell you all about the elevation, difficulty, how to book onto the trail, description of each hut and everything you need to know about this epic hike. You can buy hut tickets and make reservations at doc visitor centres nationwide. Altogether is the routeburn track one of the finest tracks of the world if you are lucky with the weather. There is an annual mountain run the routeburn classic along the routeburn track approx 32 km usually held in april each year that is completed in times of 39 hours depending on individual ability. Actually, the track has been closed between routeburn falls hut and lake mackenzie hut due to heavy snowfall and avalanche risk, so im lucky that its my last day. Your accommodation is now reserved but is not confirmed until you complete the payment process. There are four serviced huts on 33 kilometers, but only two campsites. This steady climb through the beech forest crosses 2 swing bridges and offers spectacular views of the valley below. Routeburn track new zealand hiking trails tourism new zealand.