The pride of New Zealand’s wilderness, on the South Island in the Milford Sound area. The Routeburn Track is one of the Great Walks (GW), of which there are thirteen in New Zealand. The simple idea of doing the track in a single day came from a colleague who has lived here for a few years but had never walked it. Action provokes reaction, and off we went.
What to expect from the Routeburn Track, and is it even worth it?
A route through forest, a colourful valley, mountain ridges with glacier views and past plenty of waterfalls. Need a bigger draw than that? It really is that good, and if you can pray up some nice weather, the experience will be priceless. Which raises the question – is a 32-kilometre track worth walking? Or should you pick a different, shorter one that’s free? “Anything’s possible” is what I keep hearing in New Zealand, and yes, the Routeburn Track can be walked for free!
The trick is to form two groups, have two cars and set off from opposite ends. You simply swap keys when you meet, and once you finish the track you get into the other car and off you go. You won’t always have two cars, but there are still ways to walk this million-dollar track for free: hitchhiking (possibly the easiest anywhere in New Zealand!) or Facebook groups.
Tip: We especially recommend doing the track after rain, because the mountain water levels rise and the waterfalls will be roaring!
ROUTEBURN Track specs
The official information about the track talks about 33 kilometres, ideally spread over three days and two nights. As we mentioned, it can be walked in a single day and you’ll still soak up the atmosphere fully. Along the way you’ll come across regularly spaced shelters and places to stay overnight. The facilities have basics like water, gas and beds.
How the whole Routeburn Track feels is hugely influenced by the weather. We recommend checking the forecast with the MetService and Yr apps. Total elevation gain on the track is 1,626 m and our finishing time was 7:45:01.
Careful! Anyone who chooses the campsites is not permitted to use the facilities inside the huts! That said, in most cases nobody makes a fuss.
Which end should you start from?
Because the track runs one way, there are two starting points. The first is in the Glenorchy area, specifically the Routeburn Shelter. The second trailhead is on the opposite side of the mountains and is called The Divide Shelter.
You can’t lose either way – what I mean is that whichever point you start from, the track will always be gorgeous! We started from The Divide Shelter, which meant a bigger climb at the beginning, while the last 7 km were downhill. Work out for yourself whether you’d rather start with a sharper climb or a long, drawn-out one.
Prices
Access to the track is free. Additional costs come down to accommodation, which is tied to your walking pace, your budget and how you want to experience the track. Whether you stay in one of the four huts or at the two campsites on the track, the prices are the same. From the new season, which runs from 23 October to 30 April, the government has adjusted – or rather raised – the prices of all accommodation options on the Great Walks.
| Person | NZ residents | Tourists |
|---|---|---|
| Adults – hut / campsite | 65 NZD / 20 NZD | 130 NZD / 40 NZD |
| Children – hut / campsite | FREE | 130 NZD / 40 NZD |
The table above shows the prices for the various types of “accommodation” on the track. For my money it’s daylight robbery. But people are willing to pay, and believe us, the spots are often booked out before the season even starts. Insane, but that’s how it is.
The table above shows the prices for the various types of “accommodation” on the track. For my money it’s daylight robbery. But people are willing to pay, and believe us, the spots are often booked out before the season even starts. Insane, but that’s how it is.
On the other hand, the accommodation sits in beautiful quiet spots whose real asset is the views over breathtaking scenery that make you stop and take it in.
| Person | NZ residents | Tourists |
|---|---|---|
| Adults – hut / campsite | 15 NZD / 5 NZD | 15 NZD / 5 NZD |
| Children – hut / campsite | FREE | FREE |
What to take on the Routeburn Track
Your kit depends on how you tackle the track. For us, doing the whole route in one day, a small daypack was more than enough, containing:
- snacks, lunch, 1.5 l of water
- camera and GoPro
- a hoodie (the morning frost was playing up)
- sunglasses and a few other useless bits I’d forgotten to take out of the pack
For a multi-day trip, pack enough food, camping gear and enough clothing… even though we wear the same thing all the time, the weather can often surprise you, especially in New Zealand.
What we think
The track and the surrounding scenery are absolutely worth the effort over that distance. The views from the mountain ridges are breathtaking, not to mention the beautiful tall cascading waterfalls and clear mountain lakes. For now we’d put this walk in the top 5 in all of New Zealand – and it’s one you can simply hitch your way around.
At the same time, think through in advance how you want to walk the Routeburn Track, so you don’t regret the money and time you could easily have saved! The track is popular, and when we walked it there were another 201 people on it. We met plenty of hikers who only got halfway and then had to turn back to reach their car before dark. They’d simply heard it was possible to do the track in one day, but didn’t know how.
