12 things you need to know about hiking the Routeburn Track
Everything you need to know to plan and walk the spectacular Routeburn trek in New Zealand.
The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, which means it’s one of the best multi-day trails in the country.
The Routeburn hike starts near Te Anau in Fiordland National Park, and finishes near Glenorchy, in Mount Aspiring National Park.
Following the well-maintained track through both national parks, you’ll experience alpine terrain, climb through beech forest, traverse alpine tops, and skirt past emerald green lakes.
The Routeburn trail heads are close to the adventure hub of Queenstown, which means hiking this hike is relatively accessible and a highlight of the South Island.
I hiked the Routeburn solo, in two days, on a budget.
That’s not how everyone will do it, but from my experience I picked up a few tips I can share.
Key details
The Routeburn Track is 32 kilometers (20 miles) long.
Most hikers take 3 days to complete the entire track, staying at the huts or campsites on the way.
You can walk the one-way track in either direction.
Book via the DOC Great Walks booking page
Planning the Routeburn walk: Things to know before you go
As a one-way walk, there are a few logistics involved in planning the Routeburn. Hopefully these tips help you out.
1. The Routeburn Track runs through both Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Park
The Routeburn Track is located in the South Island of New Zealand, spanning Fiordland National Park and Mount Aspiring National Park.
The track runs through the Southern Alps, connecting a valley near Glenorchy with the Divide on the Milford Road.
Hitting two national parks makes the trail one of the best things to do in New Zealand.
You’ll get to see a range of landscapes, from the mossy beech forests and blue rivers down low to the waterfalls and peaks up high.
2. You can walk the Routeburn Track from either end
The Routeburn Track is a one-way hike that can be started from two different points.
The Divide on the Milford Road, near Te Anau in Fiordland National Park is around 3 hours 45 minutes from Queenstown.
The Routeburn Shelter on the Glenorchy-Routeburn Road, is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Queenstown.
You can hike the Routeburn in either direction, depending on which direction best fits your schedule, transportation, and the availability of huts and campsites.
There’s transport and car relocations available for both ends of the track, and each direction is equally scenic and challenging.
3. The best time to hike the Routeburn Track is between October and April
The Great Walks hiking season runs from late October or the start of November through to the end of April. During this time, bookings are required for huts and campsites on the Routeburn walk.
From October to April, the weather is generally more settled and you shouldn’t encounter snow or ice on the track. Summer days in Fiordland (from December to February) can be beautiful and crisp, with clear blue skies and daylight until 9.30pm.
In spring and autumn, you’re more likely to get rain, but it’s Fiordland so it can rain anytime!
I hiked the Routeburn in mid-April and got lucky with stunning weather.
It was sunny and clear, without much wind — perfect for walking.
I was camping though, so even though it was beautiful and sunny during the day, it went below zero at the Lake Mackenzie campsite. I was so cold I wore all the clothes I packed, and a beanie, while wrapped up in my sleeping bag.
Still worth it.
4. The Routeburn is the shortest Great Walk
Hiking over Harris Saddle, past alpine lakes, is a highlight
The Routeburn Track is 32 kilometers (20 miles) long.
Most hikers take 3 days to complete the entire track, but you can complete the hike in 2-4 days.
This makes it one of the easier Great Walks to tackle, although you’ll still need a moderate fitness level to walk the track.
If you want to see what the Great Walks are all about, or just want one hike that covers the most amount of stunning scenery, the Routeburn is a great option.
5. You can hike the Routeburn outside of the Great Walk season — if you’re prepared
Outside of the Great Walk season, you don’t need to book the huts and they cost only $25 per person per night (the facilities are stripped back a bit).
In May and October, you can get lucky with the weather and hike the Routeburn with no problems.
However, in the winter months, snow and bad weather can make the hike far too dangerous to attempt — people have died doing so.
Only attempt the Routeburn hike in these months if you’re experienced and well equipped. And always check the weather before setting out, and make sure you plan accordingly.
The weather conditions are one of the most dangerous aspects of travelling in New Zealand.
Also note that the Great Walk huts are huge, and even though they have fireplaces they are still freezing cold in autumn and spring.
Take lots of warm clothes and be ready to make many cups of warm tea.
6. If you miss out on booking the Routeburn huts, you can still hike the trail
The Routeburn Track is one of the most popular Great Walk hikes, so when hut bookings open up around the middle of the year, spots can get snapped up quick.
If you want to book space in a hut, aim for earlier or later in the season, and mid week.
Weekends and most of December and January are peak travel times in New Zealand. That’s when New Zealanders are on holiday and lots of locals are trying to hike the Great Walks as well.
Late October and early April can be great times to hike the Routeburn and an easier time to get space in a hut.
Staying at campsites is a great option if you miss out on the huts.
The campsites don’t book out nearly as fast as the huts.
That’s hardly surprising, given that means you have to carry a tent, as well as cooking equipment (the huts come with gas stoves).
You can hire gear in Queenstown if you go this route and aren’t travelling with a tent.
As mentioned above, it can also be cold in the campsites, so pack enough warm clothes.
The upside of camping is more flexibility with dates, and the campsites are MUCH cheaper than the huts.
7. Guided hikes can be a great way to see the Routeburn if you’re a newbie hiker or miss out on bookings
Going on a guided hike means your space in the huts will be taken care of. You might even be staying in a private lodge.
This is a great option if you’re new to multi-day hiking and not confident doing the Routeburn alone.
8. You can walk parts of the Routeburn Track as day hikes
If you don’t have the time to hike the whole Routeburn, or miss out on booking the dates you want, you can still do day hikes from either the Te Anau or Glenorchy ends of the track.
The Key Summit hike is one of the best day hikes in Fiordland.
From Glenorchy, you can walk in the Routeburn Flats hut and back.
Or you can hike the Routeburn nature walk, a 40-minute loop from the Routeburn shelter.
9. You can hike the Routeburn in two days
Although most people walk the Routeburn in three days, it isn’t a long hike, so you can definitely hike the whole track in two days.
If you start at the Te Anau end, you could stay at Lake Mackenzie the first night and hike all the way out to the Routeburn shelter on the Glenorchy end the next day.
I did a rough approximation of this, by hiking in from the Glenorchy end, staying one night at the Lake Mackenzie campsite, and then turning around and hiking back out again.
The section of the track between Lake Mackenzie and Glenorchy is long-ish, but apart from one big climb to get up above the lake, it’s not too difficult.
So, if you’re pressed for time, you can definitely manage it.
It helped to save me money, as I didn’t need a car relocation or shuttle transport at the end of the track — I just parked at the Routeburn Shelter trailhead.
Hiking the Routeburn in three days just gives you more time to enjoy the scenery, and it gives you a little more flexibility with the weather.
If you’re covering a long section of the trail in one day, you don’t have as much time to wait for rain or clouds to pass.
10. You can hike the Routeburn in one day, if you're very fit
Hiking the entire Routeburn Track in one day is possible, but it is a challenging endeavor and typically only attempted by experienced hikers who are very fit and have a good understanding of the track's difficulty and length.
The Routeburn Track is 32 kilometers (20 miles) long, and while it's not an excessively difficult trail, it does have significant elevation changes and can be demanding.
Having said that, if you’re not weighed down by a heavy pack, you can move fast and cover the distance quickly.
If you plan on hiking the Routeburn in one day, I recommend doing it in the summer months (December, January, February, March) as you’ll have more daylight hours.
While walking the track, I saw a lot of people trail running the entire track, which could be another option if you enjoy running.
11. The track is moderately difficult
Although the Routeburn is an overnight trek, it’s one of the more accessible multi-day trails as the track isn’t too difficult.
The track is very well maintained. It’s easy to walk because the surface is wide and even; no tripping over tree roots or wading through mud.
There are some climbs on the Routeburn trail, but as long as you have a moderate level of fitness you should be able to walk the track without a huge amount of hiking experience.
The huts are positioned so you don’t have to walk more than 5 hours on any day, which for me is the perfect amount of hiking in a day.
12. Routeburn track transport includes shuttles and car relocation services
Private transport
If you have your own vehicle or are renting one, you can drive to the starting point and park there. Both ends of the Routeburn Track have car parks.
The challenge with driving is managing the logistics of getting back to your car.
I walked in and back out the same way.
Another option is to organise a car relocation — this isn’t a cheap option, as the distance from one end of the track to the other via road is roughly 320 kilometres. You’ll have to pay for the service plus the cost of petrol.
Fiordland Outdoor offers a car relocation service from $329 per vehicle.
Trackhopper offers the same service from $335 per vehicle.
Routeburn track shuttles
Various shuttle companies operate between Queenstown, Te Anau, and the Routeburn Track trailheads.
These shuttles are convenient if you don’t have a car, or need a return trip to your starting point after the hike. Shuttle services offer flexibility in terms of departure times and can be booked in advance.
Check out these shuttle operators for transport to and from the Routeburn:
Guided hike operators
If you book a guided walking package, you won’t need to worry about transport.
These operators typically take care of transportation, accommodations, meals, and provide informative insights about the area, making your journey more enjoyable and informative.
What to expect on the Routeburn track
The Routeburn is a mountainous trek through alpine gardens and past mountain tarns. It’s incredibly scenic and you can expect views the whole way.
I was surprised by how quiet the track felt — being a Great Walk, I was prepared for it to be busy. But with everyone strung out along the track, it’s actually very peaceful.
Day 1: Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls hut
The Routeburn Shelter area provides basic facilities, including restrooms and information boards.
From the Routeburn Shelter, the track leads into a lush, ancient beech forest. The trail is mostly flat until you reach the turn off for the Routeburn Flats Hut.
After the turn off, the well-graded trail climbs steadily uphill, and as you gain elevation, the forest gradually opens up, revealing glimpses of the surrounding mountain vistas.
The Routeburn Falls Hut has incredible panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, making it a great place to unwind and appreciate the natural beauty of the region.
Behind the hut is the impressive Routeburn Falls, a series of small falls tumbling out of the rock faces.
Day 2: Routeburn Falls Hut to Lake Mackenzie Hut
The section of the Routeburn Track from Routeburn Falls Hut to Lake Mackenzie Hut is the most scenic section of the hike.
This portion of the track covers approximately 8.6 kilometers (about 5.3 miles) and offers a diverse range of landscapes.
Leaving the Routeburn Falls Hut, the track passes through alpine meadows and tussock grasslands. The track starts to climb more steeply as it approaches Harris Saddle, the highest point on the Routeburn Track.
The trail becomes narrower, and you'll find yourself surrounded by rugged mountains and alpine vegetation. This section of the track offers stunning views of the valleys below and the peaks of the Darran Mountains.
At Harris Saddle, hikers will find the Harris Saddle Shelter, a great place to rest and take in the alpine scenery.
Leaving Harris Saddle, the track winds around the side of mountains before it begins its descent toward Lake Mackenzie. As you make your way down, the landscape changes once again, transitioning from the alpine terrain to lush rainforest.
Lake Mackenzie is a stunning sight, with emerald green waters — you might be tempted to take a plunge after a hot day of hiking.
Day 3: Lake Mackenzie Hut to the Divide
The final leg of the trail covers approximately 12.1 kilometres (about 7.5 miles).
Leaving Lake Mackenzie Hut, the track starts with a gradual descent through dense beech forest.
The trail is well-maintained, and the cool shade of the forest provides a refreshing start to the day's hike.
As you continue, you'll encounter the impressive Earland Falls. This majestic waterfall cascades over a sheer cliff face.
There's a short side track to get closer to the falls, allowing hikers to experience the refreshing mist and thundering sound of the water.
After passing Earland Falls, the track reaches the picturesque Lake Howden.
Near Lake Howden, hikers have the option to take a side trip to Key Summit. The Key Summit Track is a steep but rewarding climb that leads to a panoramic viewpoint of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
After enjoying the side trip to Key Summit or Lake Howden, the track continues its descent through a diverse landscape of ancient beech forest, moss-covered rocks, and fern-filled gullies.
The trail winds its way down, offering glimpses of the stunning Hollyford Valley as you approach the end of your journey.
The hike concludes at The Divide, along the Milford Road, which is about 3 hours 45 minutes from Queenstown.
Routeburn Track FAQs
Is the Routeburn Track worth it?
The Routeburn Track is one of the best multi-day hikes in New Zealand, so it’s well worth walking all or some of the trail. On the Routeburn, you’ll get to see some of New Zealand’s best mountain scenery.
Which is harder, the Routeburn or the Kepler?
The Kepler Track is almost twice the length of the Routeburn, so it’s a lot more challenging. The Routeburn still has some steep climbs, but the shorter track makes it more accessible if you’re not a long-distance hiker.
Which is harder, the Milford Track or the Routeburn?
The Milford Track is longer than the Routeburn, but both trails require a similar level of fitness. If you’re moderately fit, you’ll be able to hike both trails.
Do you need hiking boots for the Routeburn?
I recommend hiking the Routeburn trail in hiking boots, but the trail is well maintained so you could walk it in sneakers.
If you’re walking the track in summer it shouldn’t be too muddy, but it’s always a good idea to have decent footwear if you’re carrying weight.
Which direction is best for the Routeburn?
Both directions are equally scenic, so the best direction to walk the Routeburn depends on logistics. I hiked from the Glenorchy end of the trail as it was more convenient to Queenstown.
I have heard the hiking the track in the opposite direction gives you better views, but I just stopped a lot to look around anyway.
What level of fitness do you need for the Routeburn?
You will need to be moderately fit to hike the Routeburn, as there are some steep climbs and you’ll need to carry your own bedding, food, and cooking equipment in your pack.
Having said that, the Routeburn is a great place to start if you’re new to overnight tramping or backpacking. The hut facilities and well-maintained track make it accessible to anyone who’s keen on getting out there.
Thanks for reading this far! I hope this information helped you get a clearer idea of how to tackle the Routeburn trek.
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