Bookings for the tracks will open on August 18 for Milford and August 19 for Routeburn. With this option you stay in Te Anau for a night, before going back to Queenstown. The risk of avalanche can extend into December. Discounts are not available online. The day finishes in the comfortable Routeburn Falls Lodge. They connect with the 4:35pm Tracknet bus from Queenstown to Te Anau. During winter, transport operators require minimum numbers and do not always operate a daily service. Queenstown and Te Anau have shopping and hire services to cater for all walkers’ needs. A self-guided alpine nature walk passes a range of native vegetation: beech forest, subalpine shrublands and alpine tarnsand bogs. Campers can't use hut facilities. The Routeburn Track, is an excellent walk for people interested in variety, lake river valley forests, mountain views, native birds or photography. Running water is turned off inside the huts. Avalanches are frequent. Bookings: Open, but heavily sold out Great Walks Season: 30 November 2020 – 30 April 2021. The dates available will be from 30 November 2020 to 30 April 2021. Tussock grasslands, herb fields, beech forest and bog plant communities are all passed through while walking on the track. During the winter months Fiordland can be very wet and cold. **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. Fiordland National Park experiences very high rainfall (up to 9000  mm per year) and weather conditions can change quickly in any season. Time: 4 hr 30 min – 6 hrDistance: 11.3 kmClimb steadily up the valley, through wetlands and tussock-covered flats, before sidling along the bluffs above Lake Harris to reach the highest point on the track at Harris Saddle/TarahakaWhakatipu (1,255 m). 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. Please contact us if you require transport outside of these months. Lake Mackenzie is not safe to walk on when frozen. Reopening the damaged sections of the Routeburn track is contingent on a geotechnical assessment showing visitors can … 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. Site by Codeyak . 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. 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/. Routeburn campsites have picnic tables and cooking shelters. Bookings for the Routeburn track will open at 9.30 am on Wednesday 19 August 2020. Walking the track at this time should only be attempted you are fit, experienced and well equipped. Due to rock fall danger, observe the no stopping zones along this track. This way you’re only staying in a hut for one night (again, not cheap! Earland Falls Track | Key Summit Track | Lake Howden Track | Routeburn Nature Walk. 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 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. Te Anau 9679 This section of the track is well-known for its impressive array of alpine plants. To have a safe and enjoyable trip, it's essential you have the appropriate clothing and equipment. If you get a discount you won't be charged a booking fee. Know the Outdoor Safety Code - 5 simple rules to ensure you have a great trip and make it home. 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 … Climbing up to Harris Saddle in springImage: DOC. If you are going into places avalanches could occur, be sure you: All transport must be arranged before starting the track. Travelling to or away from The Routeburn Shelter, Tracknet are able to arrange transport for you on Info & Track’s bus service. Travelling to or away from the Divide, Tracknet services include Milford Sound, Hollyford Track, Te Anau, Queenstown and Invercargill. The Routeburn track is set to be partially reopened next week after being closed due to damage from storms in February. Our walks include. Note: Lake Howden Hut is permanently closed. $130 for a dorm bed), you see the best bits, and you save money on not having a car relocation service relocate your car to The Divide. The Routeburn Track was an important route for both indigenous Māori and European settlers. 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. We hiked from East to West from the Routeburn Shelter to The Divide. 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. 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. From November to April, weave through meadows, reflective tarns and alpine gardens, and be rewarded with spectacular vistas over vast mountain ranges and valleys. Queenstown, Glenorchy and Te Anau have a full range of accommodation available. Bookings will open in September 2020, for trips from 2 November 2020 to 6 December 2020 on the partially open Routeburn Track. End the day at Routeburn Falls Hut, on the edge of the bushline and close to the impressive Routeburn Falls cascade. Spectacular views of U-shaped and hanging valleys dominate the landscape as you pass numerous waterfalls and alpine lakes. Your accommodation is now ‘reserved’ but is not confirmed until you complete the payment process. 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. All services have limited pick-up and drop-off locations. Tracknet Water can be obtained from the outside water tank; if this is frozen, then from the nearest water course or by melting snow. Located in Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park in the Otago and Fiordland regions. There are over 32 avalanche paths, some of which may bring avalanche debris to the valley floor and have the potential to cross the Routeburn Track – their start zones can't be seen from the track. DOC will provide two week's advance notice of the date. 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. Minimum numbers of four passengers are required and limited travel dates apply, contact us for further details. Book online. The tracks will open in time for the summer season. Snow and ice can sometimes make this trip hazardous early and late into the Great Walks season. Check the Fiordland National Park weather forecast (MetService website). After the cruise you have 2 hours and 20 minutes break in Milford. Thankfully, in May, the Department of Conservation (DOC) announced the track would be repaired and open … Be prepared for all conditions. for whom New Zealand is their primary place of established residence. Daylight is limited and the high mountains let little sunlight into the valleys. The valley opens up soon after this point, re-crosses the Routeburn and heads towards the Routeburn flats. Transport ex Queenstown. 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. This blog is all about the Routeburn Track day hike and how it can easily be accomplished from Queenstown, Glenorchy, or Milford Sound. 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. Your safety is your responsibility. Air New Zealand is a national partner with DOC for conservation, and is proud to support DOC's Great Walks. The part of New Zealand that the Routeburn Track winds … The track then descends and traverses along the exposed Hollyford Face, with expansive views over the Darran Mountains. Open in Google Maps. The track continues its descent through beech forest to Lake Howden (Lake Howden Hut was destroyed by storm damage in February 2020). The part of New Zealand that the Routeburn Track winds … The service from Routeburn Shelter to Te Anau has a bus change and stop-over in Queenstown. The 9:45am service has a long stop-over and the 2:15pm service has a 15 minute stop-over. After passing Sugarloaf Stream, you’ll climb to Bridal Veil Waterfall and continue above the gorge. Time: 1 – 1 hr 30 minDistance: 2.3 kmThe track climbs steadily through stunning beech forest, providing views of the Humboldt Mountains. While the Routeburn Track may be a shorter multi-day hike, it has some of the biggest scenery. While the Routeburn Track may be a shorter multi-day hike, it has some of the biggest scenery. A gradual descent then leads past the ‘Orchard’, an open grassyarea dotted with ribbonwood trees, to the impressive Earland Falls (174 m). Know how to use these tools. Destination Fiordland and Destination Queenstown have information about transport operators. The Routeburn Track is one of the 9 Great Walks in New Zealand. 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. The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s most popular tracks with approximately 13,000 walkers completing the track each year. Bookings will open in September 2020, for trips from 2 November 2020 to 6 December 2020 on the partially open Routeburn Track. 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. Difficulty: VARIOUS. Routeburn Track is partially open. Bookings for the Milford Track will open at 9.30 am on Tuesday 18 August 2020. 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. Huts and campsites must be booked in advance. Read more about Milford track bookings. 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. This 33km/20mi hike through Fiordland National Park on New Zealand’s South Island absolutely delivers as a world class hiking experience. 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. This service connects with the 12:15pm service from Queenstown to Routeburn Shelter. Until 7 December 2020, the section from Lake Mackenzie Hut to The Divide is closed due to significant storm damage. FIORDLAND’S GREAT WALKS – THE MILFORD, ROUTEBURN & KEPLER TRACKS MILFORD TRACK. It was damaged in a storm in early 2020. 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. 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. 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. Enjoy a day walk. This is a top day in the mountains. 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. Our loop packages will automatically assume that you will spend 2 nights on the track and will choose the default departure times. Tracknet’s service connects with The Divide Shelter on the Milford Road. A wide variety of native birds may be seen or heard along the track. Hut tickets must be booked through the Department of Conservation before buses are booked. Most walkers take 3 days (2 nights) to complete the whole track but longer or shorter options are available. It was damaged in a storm in early 2020. Most walkers take 3 days/2 nights usually staying at Routeburn Falls and Lake Mackenzie Huts. The Routeburn Track is located in the south-west of the South Island and runs between the head of Lake Wakatipu and State Highway 94, the Te Anau /Milford Road. © 2020 All rights reserved. This incredibly special place overlaps two National Parks; the Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park, and forms part of the Te Wai Pounamu World Heritage area (‘Place of Greenstone’). At 532 m, The Divide is the lowest crossing of the Southern Alps in New Zealand. 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. Alternatively, please contact us with your requirements. 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 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. Dress for these conditions. Take the opportunity to climb Conical Hill for the cream of these views. Play Video. A DOC ranger is in residence. Divide to Queenstown services (10:10am & 3:15pm) have a restroom break and possible bus change in Te Anau. It was recently featured in a 2018 National Geographic Adventure travel article. Weather conditions can change quickly in any season. The Milford track will be fully open from November 30 and the Routeburn from December 7. Phone: 0800 483 262 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. You need to be totally self-sufficient. 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 Huts do not have food, cooking utensils, showers or bedding. The Routeburn Track has a lot of challenging and complex avalanche terrain. See the forecast as a table or graph. Note: Lake Howden Hut is permanently closed. Bookings: To book a Routeburn Track Loop Transport Package click on the Loop Package link above that you require. When will bookings open for both tracks? Cold temperatures, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of the year. The Routeburn Track is one of the Classic Hikes of the world alongside such great walks as Torres del Paine in Patagonia, the Inca Trail in Peru, and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. 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. DOC will provide two week's advance notice of the date. Biodiversity inventory and monitoring toolbox, Intermediate: Great Walk/Easier tramping track, Check the Fiordland National Park weather forecast, New Zealand Avalanche Advisory for Fiordland, Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) for Wakatipu, Wanaka and Central Otago, Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) for Fiordland National Park, Te Rua-o-te-moko / Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, Whakatipu-wai-Māori / Queenstown Visitor Centre, Routeburn Track walking guide – pick one up when you collect your tickets at the Queenstown or Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre, track is well marked and signposted, but some sections are steep and rough, cold temperatures, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur, DOC manages avalanche risk and walkers may be flown (at their cost) over dangerous sections. The Routeburn Track is a “Great Walk” – one of nine multi-day tramping trails scattered about New Zealand. “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. Information on how to get a … The Routeburn Track must be pre-booked during the Great Walks season. 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! Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2021 - 1 November 2021). Please note this booking will automatically book you for 2 nights stay on the track. 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. 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. Bookings are required for huts and campsites. Walk the full track. From here it is a 20-minute climb to Key Summit, with panoramic views … Campsites have basic facilities including toilets, sinks and a water supply. In the Great Walks season (2 November 2020 – 30 April 2021): Best time to walk the track - there are more facilities and fewer hazards. There are 3 huts and 2 campsites, which must be booked well in advance during the Great Walks season. There is also a possible extra service from Queenstown to Routeburn Shelter at 4:00pm and Routeburn Shelter to Queenstown at 6:00pm. Gas is not provided – you will need to bring your own cooking stove. Choose your start date and the Track Loop Package that you require. Email: res@tracknet.net, 77 Manapouri-Te Anau Road Transport arrangements can be affected by bad weather. Until 7 December 2020, the section from Lake Mackenzie Hut to The Divide is closed due to significant storm damage. Time: 4 – 5 hr 30 minDistance: 12 kmLeaving Lake Mackenzie Hut the track crosses a small flat before climbing to the bush line. The Routeburn Track can be walked in either direction. 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. Payment is with Backcountry Hut Tickets or a Backcountry Hut Pass - buy these from a DOC visitor centre before you go. A steady descent leads to Lake Mackenzie Hut, set beside the enchanting Lake Mackenzie. 77 Manapouri-Te Anau RoadTe Anau 9679 New Zealand While the track is repaired, you can only do a return walk from Routeburn Shelter and go as far as Lake Mackenzie Hut. 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. 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. You must discuss an alternative option with transport operators before you begin your walk. Check Availability. 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. Day 3 is a pleasant walk out. While the track is repaired, you can only do a return walk from Routeburn Shelter and go as far as Lake Mackenzie Hut. Adult (18+ years): $15 per person, per night, Adult (18+ years): $5 per person, per night, avalanche equipment: beacon, snow shovel, avalanche probe, mountain radio or satellite messenger (optional). it can cold and wet, with ice, snow and short daylight hours, avalanche-prone bridges across some major watercourses are removed, DOC does not manage hazards such as flooding and avalanches, have the skills for the ATES class you are going into, have checked what avalanche advisory and alert information is available from the DOC visitor centre nearest the area where you want to go. 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. We have been guiding this famous valley since 1868 and love sharing the history, fauna and birdlife. A 9am transfer from Queenstown via Glenorchy to the beginning of the Routeburn Track. "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. Stay at Routeburn Falls Hut that night, get up, see the sunrise, hike back the way I came in and not bother with the other side of the Routeburn Track. res@tracknet.net. A swing bridge leads to open grassed flats, and the Routeburn Flats Hut and Campsite. 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. Tracknet offer reliable daily scheduled passenger bus and coach services to and from many of the most beautiful areas of the South Island. 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 service from Te Anau to Routeburn Shelter at 7:15am has a 2 hour stop-over in Queenstown. The road distance between each end of the track is 325 km - transport is needed at each end. You will have the opportunity to amend these times once you receive confirmation if needed. Snow and ice conditions on the Hollyford face and at the Harris Saddle can be extremely dangerous. The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s oldest trails and a renown Great Walk. Please note this booking will automatically book you for 2 nights stay on the track. Day 2 is the highlight of the Routeburn Track giving incredible views of mountains right out to the sea. Tracknet are able to provide timely transport connections to each end of the Routeburn Track. The track levels out, winding through more Lord of the Rings-esque forest before you arrive at Routeburn Flats, a stunning area (the hut itself is a short two minute detour from the track) that opens up to reveal your first view of the mountains. 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. To receive the discount we need to sight your membership card and Backcountry Hut Pass, so visit a DOC visitor centre in person. Booking opening dates are notified two weeks in advance of bookings opening. There are steep drop-off along sections of the whole track. Find out what to take. 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. You have 25 minutes from now to complete the payment process. During the Great Walk season, DOC manages avalanche risk and sections of the track maybe closed if there is avalanche hazard. Birdlife is prolific and tomtits, robins, New Zealand pigeons/kererū and bellbirds/korimako are commonly seen. From Lake Howden, the well graded track climbs steadily for about 15 minutes to the Key Summit Track turn-off. From the Key Summit turn-off, the gradual downhill walk is through silver beech forest to The Divide on the Milford Highway. take an avalanche transceiver, avalanche probe and a snow shovel. A massive storm tore through Fiordland in February of this year and caused significant damage to the last section of the Milford Track. Explore on Google Street View | Watch videos. track is not recommended for children under the age of 10, due to the exposed  mountainous environment and often adverse weather conditions. 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. All three of Fiordland's Great Walks are fully open for the first time since a storm in February extensively damaged two of them. This is one start/finish point. 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. Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2021 – 1 November 2021): Only walk at this time if you are fit, experienced and well equipped - facilities are greatly reduced and there are additional hazards. 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