Routeburn Track

Routeburn Track is a 32 km tramping route in Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks, spanning the Southern Alps divide and run as a point-to-point crossing. Typical completion is 2–4 days, depending on how many of the side trips you add along the way. The highest point on the main route is Harris Saddle (about 1,255 m).

The track can be walked in either direction, with Routeburn Shelter on the Glenorchy/Queenstown side linked to The Divide Shelter on the Milford Road side. Most walkers plan a hut-based crossing, usually spending nights at Routeburn Falls Hut and Lake Mackenzie Hut (with Routeburn Flats Hut as another common option).

Day 1 is generally paced as a steady climb starting from Routeburn Shelter, following the Routeburn River to Routeburn Flats and continuing to Routeburn Falls. Day 2 climbs through wetlands and tussock-covered flats toward Harris Saddle and then descends along the exposed Hollyford Face to Lake Mackenzie. Day 3 continues the descent toward The Divide, passing Earland Falls and dropping through to Lake Howden before connecting to the Key Summit Track turn-off and onward to the road end at The Divide.

This route is managed as one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, with three huts plus an emergency shelter at Harris Saddle. Hut and campsite bookings are required for the Great Walks season; outside that season the track is colder and wetter and the same facilities/hazard management can’t be assumed.

Weather and water conditions matter on Routeburn Track: Fiordland receives very high rainfall, flooding of track sections can follow heavy rain, and stream/river levels can be unsafe to cross when high. The exposed parts around the saddle and Hollyford Face are also vulnerable to fast changes in conditions, so the practical focus is getting the right gear and timing for the day you’re in.

Seasonally, it’s best in the Great Walks period (1 November–30 April). Outside that window, winter conditions can bring snow/ice and sub-zero temperatures; the track is much more demanding and not recommended unless you’re experienced with alpine conditions, navigation, and river travel risk. Avalanche risk can extend into December, and during periods of hazard sections may be closed.

Packing and logistics are part of the route: there’s no dog policy on conservation land, and the track links ends that are far apart by road, so you need transport planning at both trailheads. Bring insect protection for wasps and sandflies and be ready for sun and cold exposure given the alpine environment and exposed sections. During wet weather, treat slippery descents and stream crossings as a higher-risk problem: scout ahead and be conservative about crossings if conditions look marginal.

More information: Booking, Wikipedia, Routeburn Track: Fiordland National Park