The Routeburn Track is one of the most diverse and beautiful hiking tracks in New Zealand. As one of the 10 Great Walks, it is important you are properly prepared before hitting the Track. In this article you’ll learn how to book your hike, important packing tips, and other essential info to know before you go!
Written by Guest Author: Bailey Busslinger
The Routeburn Track is often touted as one of New Zealand’s most amazing hikes, and rightly so. This 33-kilometer-long trail (that’s more than 20.5 miles, folks!) stretches across both Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park, boasting some of the South Island’s most unique and stunning landscapes.
We’re talking about towering mountain cliffs, powerful waterfalls, and turquoise alpine lakes. It’s no surprise the Routeburn Track is a bucket list trail for hikers all over the world!
However, views like those on the Routeburn Track don’t come easily. Not only is this a challenging hike, it also takes a bit of planning and preparation to be ready to tackle this beast of a trail.
After hiking the trail on three different occasions, I’ve become somewhat of an expert when it comes to the Routeburn Track. From booking the huts and campsites to all the things to pack for the unpredictable weather – I’ve got all the tips you’ll need!
So without further ado, here is everything you need to know about hiking the Routeburn Track in one detailed guide.
Article Contents
Routeburn Track Essential Info
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Trail Length: 33.1 kilometers (20.6 miles)
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Elevation Gain: 750 meters (2,462 feet)
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Time: Typically 2 to 3 days to complete the entire Track
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Trailhead: Either the Routeburn Shelter near Glenorchy or The Divide on Milford Road
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Type of Trail: Point to point (it ends at a completely different location than it starts and transport back to the trailhead needs to be organized in advance)
The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. These 10 officially designated Walks are famous throughout the country and offer some of the most diverse and breathtaking scenery New Zealand has to offer. You can expect landscapes that look like they’re straight out of a Lord of the Rings novel.
The popularity of the Routeburn Track also presents its own set of challenges. If you plan on completing the entire 33-kilometer trail, you must book your huts and campsites for each night you spend on the trail well in advance.
Additionally, the Routeburn Track is located on the South Island in a region that is famed for its very unpredictable (and wet!) weather. Landslides have closed the trail on occasion, and in the winter, certain parts of the trail are dangerous due to avalanche risk and safety concerns.
It is a challenging hike, but as someone who has completed it on three different occasions, I can tell you with confidence that it’s totally worth it.
Psst! Find out the best time to visit New Zealand to optimize your chances of having ideal weather while hiking the Routeburn Track.
Planning Your Routeburn Track Hike
There are lots of different ways you can choose to hike the Routeburn Track, and planning your itinerary carefully is your first step to tackling this epic trail.
Step #1: Choose Your Trailhead
One of the things that sets the Routeburn Track apart from most hiking trails in New Zealand is that there are two different trailheads to choose from. Since it is a point-to-point trail, the hike ends in a different location than it starts, and you can choose to start from either end.
a) Routeburn Shelter
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begin on the northeast end of the trail, near Glenorchy
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hike in a southwest direction
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slightly more popular route
One option is to begin at the Routeburn Shelter and Carpark trailhead, which is located just outside of the small town of Glenorchy in Mount Aspiring National Park. Glenorchy is a small town that most people visit from Queenstown. It is only a short 45-minute drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy and this stretch of road is often referred to as one of the most scenic drives in all of New Zealand.
b) The Divide
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begin at the southwest point of the trail, near Te Anau
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hike in a northeast direction
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slightly less popular route
The other trailhead is located along the road to Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park. It’s called The Divide. You’ll find the exact location about an hour’s drive from the town of Te Anau and 40 minutes from Milford Sound. It’s a large parking lot that is also used for a popular day hike in the area called the Key Summit.
Whichever trailhead you don’t choose will become your endpoint.
Good to know: It’s important to note that while each trailhead is only 33 kilometers from each other via the Routeburn Track, by car they are actually 324 kilometers from one another. This is because of the huge mountains that separate them and no road connecting via the most direct route. So, you will need to arrange transport from one end of the hike back to your car at the start (more on that below.) It will take you about 4 hours to drive from one trailhead to the other – so be sure to account for that in your planning!
Step #2: Decide how many days you’ll need
The next thing you need to do is decide how long it will take you to hike the Routeburn Track. The entire trail is 33 kilometers long in total and gains more than 750 meters (2,462 feet) in elevation, so it definitely isn’t an easy hike.
Most people choose to complete the Routeburn Track in either two or three days, with the latter option being the most popular. The number of days you choose should reflect how much hiking you want to do per day.
In my opinion, hiking the trail over three days is more enjoyable because you have less distance to cover each day. You can stop for more photos, breaks, and enjoy your evenings each night with other hikers. Plus, with the limited places to stay along the trail, three days spaces your walking distance each day out more evenly than any other duration of time.
For these reasons, I suggest allowing three days to hike the Routeburn Track, spending two nights either in campsites or huts along the trail.
Routeburn Track Hiking Itineraries
Below, you’ll find itineraries that you can copy to fit your starting point and the number of days you plan to spend on the trail.
Hiking the Routeburn Track over 3 Days
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Recommended itinerary
If you want to hike the Routeburn Track over three days, the most ideal itinerary is:
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Day One – Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls Hut, 9.8 kilometers
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Day Two – Routeburn Falls Hut to Lake Mackenzie Hut, 11.3 kilometers
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Day Three – Lake Mackenzie Hut to The Divide, 12 kilometers
Hiking the Routeburn Track over 2 Days
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Good if you’re short on time
If you want to challenge yourself and complete the entire Routeburn Track in only two days, the most ideal itinerary is:
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Day One – Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls Hut, 9.8 kilometers
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Day Two – Routeburn Falls Hut to The Divide, 23.3 kilometers
Why is Day 2 so much longer? For this itinerary, although the first day is shorter it involves hiking uphill the majority of the elevation gain. This way, although day two is longer, it involves a long section of downhill which will make it more achievable.
Hiking the Routeburn Track in 1 Day
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Only recommended for very experienced hikers or trail runners
Some people do hike the entire Routeburn Track in just one day, but unless you are a super experienced hiker or trail-runner, I really wouldn’t recommend it.
Day Hikes on the Routeburn Track
If you don’t have time to complete the entire Routeburn Track, you can still hike sections of the trail on day hikes. This way, you don’t need to worry about booking the huts or campsites, and still get to enjoy portions of one of New Zealand’s most spectacular hikes.
In fact, hiking the beginning section of the Routeburn Track from the Routeburn Shelter and back in one day is one of the best things to do in Glenorchy and Queenstown.
Some great day hikes on the Routeburn Track include:
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Routeburn Nature Walk – Starting from the Routeburn Shelter, this short 40-minute walk is mostly flat and takes you along the Dart River through some of the lushest greenery in Mt Aspiring National Park. It’s one of the most popular day hikes to do from Queenstown.
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Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls Hut and back – At 15 kilometers long, this makes for a decent day hike. Hike to the Falls Hut and take in views of the valley and waterfalls before returning back the way you came.
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Routeburn Shelter to Lake Harris and back – This makes for a more challenging day hike at over 20 kilometers long and a 750-meter elevation gain. Most people take about 8 hours to complete this trail. With that said, Lake Harris is a highlight on the Routeburn Track and to me, my favorite spot!
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The Divide to Lake Mackenzie and back – This hike is a great one to tackle on the road to Milford Sound. It is about 20 kilometers long, and not too challenging taking you to the bright blue Lake Mackenzie in Fiordland National Park
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The Key Summit – This is one of the most popular day hikes on the South Island. It technically only starts on the Routeburn Track before turning off to a new trail. It’s only 7 kilometers long, and is considered a challenging day hike.
Huts vs. Campsites on the Routeburn Track
Because the Routeburn Track is one of the Great Walks in New Zealand, you need to stay in allocated campsites or huts when spending the night on the trail. Whether you choose to stay in huts or camp depends mostly on your budget and gear.
Here’s what you can expect from each:
Huts on the Routeburn Track
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more expensive
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you need to carry less gear
Huts in New Zealand are shelters with bunk beds and basic kitchen facilities that hikers can stay in. If you stay in huts, then you don’t need to bring a tent or mattress, and only need to carry your sleeping bag, clothing, and food. During the summer months, huts on the Routeburn Track also have gas stoves for cooking.
The huts cost $65 NZD per adult per night during the Great Walks season (beginning of November to the end of April) and $15 NZD outside of this time. Children (17 and under) who are residents of New Zealand stay for free, whereas children who are international visitors are charged $32.50 per night during the Great Walks season.
Camping on the Routeburn Track
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you’ll need to supply & carry your equipment
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it’s a much cheaper option
Camping is significantly cheaper than staying in huts, and therefore better if you’re traveling New Zealand on a budget. But the downside is that you definitely need to bring more gear with you. First of all, you’ll need to bring your tent and sleeping pad/mattress. You also won’t have access to the hut kitchens meaning you’ll need all your own cooking equipment too.
Campsites on the Routeburn Track cost $20 NZD per adult per night during the Great Walks season and $5 NZD during all other months. Children who are residents of New Zealand stay for free, but international children pay $10 NZD per night during the Great Walks season.
It’s important to note that you can’t simply freedom camp on the Routeburn Track. You need to stay in designated campsites. This rule is in place to protect the trail and if you don’t follow it you risk a hefty fine.
Psst! Check out these delicious and easy one-pot camping meals to plan your food for the route!
Where to Stay on the Routeburn Track
There are three different places you can stay on the Routeburn Track. Starting from the closest to the Routeburn Shelter, they are:
Routeburn Flats Hut and Campsite
Located only 7.5 kilometers from the Routeburn Shelter and Carpark, Routeburn Flats Hut and Campsite is the easiest place to get to. The hike to get there is mostly flat and really quick. For this reason, many people choose to skip staying here completely and instead continue on to spend their first night at the Routeburn Falls Hut and Campsite.
In the Flats hut, you’ll find 20 bunk beds with mattresses, a large kitchen and common area, heating, lighting, gas stovetops for cooking, and bathrooms with flushing toilets and running water.
The campsite, on the other hand, is very basic with only pit toilets (outhouses) and flat areas to pitch your tent. When I camped here I really enjoyed it and the views of the valley from our tent were stunning. However, sandflies (or little black flies as they are commonly called in NZ) are everywhere – be sure to bring bug repellent as these guys bite!
Routeburn Falls Hut and Campsite
A further 2.3 kilometers from Routeburn Flats Hut and Campsite is the very popular Routeburn Falls Hut. This new hut is modern and huge! Seriously, it has 48 bunk beds and the common area is massive. Around the hut is an outdoor patio that offers a view over the valley – it’s breathtaking!
Besides bunk beds and mattresses, Routeburn Falls Hut also has large bathrooms with flushing toilets and running water, a kitchen area with plenty of seating, heating, lights, and gas stoves.
Routeburn Falls Hut is one of the most luxurious huts in New Zealand. It is also the most popular place to stay on the Routeburn Track, and for that reason, it often books up quickly.
Most people stay at the Flats Hut if the Falls Hut is already completely booked.
Psst! Planning to camp elsewhere in NZ? Check out our list of the best campsites in New Zealand to help you plan your route.
Lake Mackenzie Hut and Campsite
The final hut and campsite on the Routeburn Track is Lake Mackenzie. It is located 11.3 kilometers from Routeburn Falls Hut and this hike involves passing the Harris Saddle (the most difficult part of the Routeburn Track, but also the most beautiful). From the Divide, Lake Mackenzie is 12 kilometers.
The Lake Mackenzie Hut has 50 bunk beds and all of the other luxuries you’d expect from the huts on the Routeburn Track.
The camping is more basic with pit toilets and a covered cooking shelter. Individual campsites are flat, but the campsite itself is spread out on a hilly area through the forest. It is really quite nice and is located only steps from Lake Mackenzie.
Lake Mackenzie is a bright blue lake that —if you can brave the cold —you can take a refreshing dip in! It’s really a spectacular lake and my personal favorite place to stay along the Routeburn Track.
Important Note: Lake Howden Hut is no longer open. It was damaged in a landslide in 2020 and is no longer an option for a place to stay on the Routeburn Track.
When to Hike the Routeburn Track
The summer is one of the best times to visit New Zealand because it’s the best time for hiking. “The Great Walks season” refers to the months that are best for hiking any of the Great Walks including the Routeburn Track. Although the exact dates change annually, the Great Walks season generally starts each year at the beginning of November and runs until the end of April.
During the Great Walks season is when you’ll get the best weather and have the easiest time hiking the Routeburn Track. Outside of these months, there is a chance of trail closures, avalanches, and limited facilities in the huts.
In the winter months, hiking the entire Routeburn Track is not recommended due to severe avalanche risk at the Harris Saddle. If you want to hike the Routeburn in the winter then I recommend only doing shorter day hikes instead such as the hike from the Routeburn Shelter Carpark to Routeburn Falls Hut, or the hike from The Divide to Key Summit or Lake Mackenzie.
The only downside to hiking the Routeburn Track during the Great Walks season is that it can be busy. This means you need to book your huts/campsites well in advance as well as transport…
How to Book the Routeburn Track
It is important to make the correct bookings well before you begin your hike on the Routeburn Track. You need to book your overnight stays in either huts or campsites in advance in addition to shuttle transportation.
Booking Huts and Campsites
During the “Great Walks season”, it is essential that you book your stay at any of the huts or campsites on the Routeburn Track well in advance. In fact, they often are fully booked months in advance, so the sooner you get around to it the better!
Huts and campsites are both booked online on the Department of Conservation website. Bookings for the Great Walks seasons usually open in July prior to the season start, but the exact date changes each year so it is best to follow the DOC for updates. If you have exact dates you want for hiking the Routeburn Track, then I recommend booking on the day that bookings open just to ensure you don’t miss out.
Outside of the Great Walks season bookings are not required. However, you must still pay for your stay. Visit a nearby DOC office the day of or before your hike to make this payment and obtain your payment receipt. The closest DOC offices to the Routeburn Track are located in Te Anau and Queenstown.
Insider Tip: If a hut or campsite is fully booked on the Track for your desired dates, keep checking back on the website as cancellations happen all the time and spaces do become available, sometimes even a day or two in advance!
Shuttles and Transfers
Since the Routeburn Track ends in a completely different place than it starts, you’ll need to organize transport. There are a couple of companies that provide a shuttle service for hikers specifically for the Routeburn Track including Glenorchy Journeys and InterCity.
These shuttles will pick you up at one end of the Routeburn Track and then drive you back to the other (where you parked your car.) If you don’t have a car, they also provide transport from Queenstown to the beginning of the trail, and then again from the end of the trail back to Queenstown.
Rates vary but you can expect to pay between $50-85 NZD for a one-way transfer depending on the route.
An alternative to booking and paying for a transfer is to organize a vehicle relocation. With this, a professional company will drive your car to your chosen endpoint on the Routeburn Track. Although this is generally more expensive, it is handy if you want to continue on with your South Island road trip from there.
What to Pack to Hike the Routeburn Track
There are some essential items you should bring with you on the Routeburn Track. Some things to remember include:
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Food – There is nowhere to buy food on the trail so you need to bring your own.
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Garbage bag – You must pack and take out any garbage you bring in or create on the trail.
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Cooking dishes and equipment – Although the huts have gas stoves during the Great Walks season, you’ll still need your own pot, plates, cutlery, etc. Campers need to bring a gas stove for cooking as the hut stoves are only for those staying in the huts.
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Sleeping bag – One with compression straps will be easier to store in your backpack.
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A tent and mattress – Only required for campers. Those staying in huts are provided a bunk bed with a mattress.
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Reusable water bottle – There are lots of streams that you can safely drink from on the Routeburn Track along with taps at huts. A 750 ml bottle per person should be sufficient.
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Booking receipts/confirmations – Proof of your hut/campsites bookings and payment is required. Print it off as a paper copy as it’s often required.
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Battery pack – For recharging devices such as cameras and phones. There is nowhere to charge devices along the trail. (This is the exact one we use and love!)
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Insect repellent and/or baby oil – Sandflies (little black flies) are common on the Routeburn Track. While these tiny bugs aren’t dangerous, they leave an itchy bite that’s super annoying. Insect repellent helps keep them away. Alternatively, rubbing a little baby oil on your ankles (where they typically swarm!) will prevent these pesky critters from landing on you, making them far less annoying.
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Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat – The sun in New Zealand is notoriously harsh. Sun protection of all kinds is a must!
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Waterproof layer and bag protection – It rains a lot on the Routeburn Track. Be sure to have a waterproof jacket handy and a backpack cover to keep all your belongings dry in case you have to hike in the rain!
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Proper hiking clothes – Wearing moisture-wicking clothing and packing layers will keep you comfortable during this multi-day hike. Check out this guide that goes over what to wear hiking in all types of weather.
Final thoughts
With all of this advice and information, you’re sure to be prepared to hike the Routeburn Track. Be sure to plan your route to your fitness level, book your huts and campsites in advance, and pack the right gear. Being prepared for this challenging, yet rewarding, trail will make sure you have the best experience possible.
Honestly though, you’re going to love it! Having hiked the trail three times before, I still want to do it again – it’s just that beautiful! The Routeburn Track is easily one of the best things to do in New Zealand, that much is for sure.
About the Author
Bailey is a lover of road trips, craft beer, and mountain peaks. When she isn’t out on a hiking trail, you’ll find her writing all about her life and adventures on the South Island of New Zealand on her blog, My Queenstown Diary.
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Hi! If Routeburn Falls is already full and we have to stay at the Flats, is the hike from Flats to Lake Mackenzie too long/hard to accomplish in 1 day? I’m wondering if we should reverse the course and Start at Divide shelter and end at Routeburn Shelter in that case (stopping at Lake Mackenzie and Flats)?