Passing through both Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks, the Routeburn Track is a fascinating slice of the South Island. The track can be hiked from either Glenorchy or The Divide, making it one of the area’s most popular and accessible hiking adventures.

Covering a distance of 33 kilometres (20 miles), the Routeburn Track can take between two and four days to hike. Three comfortable huts along the route provide a good excuse to take your time and explore what’s on offer.

You can hike the Routeburn Track in either direction, as it is a point-to-point walk rather than a loop. The track goes between The Divide (85km from Te Anau) and the Routeburn Shelter (25km from Glenorchy). There are a number of options for track transport, including bus transfers to your start and finish point or a vehicle relocation service which will deliver your car to your finishing point.

The Routeburn Track is considered an intermediate track and is suitable for anyone with a good level of fitness and hiking experience. There are some steep sections, with the highest point being the Harris Saddle at 1300 metres (4,200ft). With an impressive range of scenery on offer and a good chance of spotting kea, sections of the Routeburn Track are often enjoyed as a day walk.

A walk between two national parks

The Routeburn Track serves up a smorgasbord of scenery at every peak and turn.

Scenery along the Routeburn Track covers all that New Zealand’s remote wilderness areas are famous for. From picturesque rocky rivers and lush forest to immense mountains, glaciers and lakes. From kea flying overhead to the tiniest lichens underfoot. The Fiordland National Park section of the track is lush, green and dense. Then, as you enter Mt Aspiring National Park, the landscape changes as tussocks and schist rock take over. The transition between the two parks happens quickly and is what makes the Routeburn such a fascinating experience.

The Routeburn Falls Hut is a highlight of the walk, with its impressive position overlooking the Routeburn Valley below and the nearby Humboldt Mountains. The 48-bed hut is just 8 kilometres from the Routeburn Shelter and is a good place to rest up if you’re walking with young hikers.

Closer to The Divide end of the walk, Key Summit serves up breathtaking views over the Hollyford Valley and Darran Mountains.

How to access the Routeburn Track

The Routeburn Track is walked from either side of the divide, either at The Divide car park along the Milford road or the Routeburn Shelter near Glenorchy. Because you finish in a different location to where you start, you will need to ensure you have return transport arranged.

Bus transfers service either end of the Routeburn Track. Another option is a vehicle relocation service which delivers your car to your finishing point. While you are walking the 33-kilometre track, they will drive your car the 324 kilometres between the start and finish point!

It is not advised to walk the Routeburn Track outside of the Great Walks season due to the possibility of snow and poor weather conditions.

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