Routeburn Track Day Walk

First off, the 44km drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy is a must-do! It rivals the marvelous drives of Te Anau/Milford and Lake Pukaki/Mt Cook. The road hugs the shore of blue-blue Lake Wakatipu with the high peaks of the Ailsa Range to the left and huge glaciated Mt Earnslaw rising above the twin valleys of the Dart and Rees rivers directly ahead at Glenorchy. Gorgeous-a-rama! (Watch YouTube: 1ktijhpgpzs)

The Routeburn “Great Walk” begins 26km north of Glenorchy, north of both the Rees and Dart River bridges. For a day walk on the famed Routeburn Track there are two good options—long and longer. The long day-walk is to the Routeburn Flats Hut, which is located in a meadowed valley amidst sky-scraping peaks. This walk is a gradual 200m ascent over 7km distance, most all the walk through a thick Beech forest. Views are limited the entire way, but there are a few swing bridges with some minor views and the emerald Routeburn River accompanies most of the track. My personal opinion is that this route is a bit dull and the “payoff” views at the Flats hut isn’t huge for the 1.5-hour one-way walk. But….

If you have the energy and fitness, the next 45-minute climb to the Routeburn Falls Hut (330m ascent) makes the longer day-walk option exceptionally worthwhile! Shortly after the Flats hut the track steepens and the views improve dramatically. Reaching the Falls hut you’ll pop above the 1,000m bushline to glorious 360° views, as well as cascading Routeburn Falls. This hut-side waterfall has plenty of waterfall pools for everyone—bring a swimsuit for the crowded hut environs. The Routeburn Falls hut has one of the best locations of any Great Walk hut in NZ— peaks, valleys, waterfalls…total ooh-la-la. Expect lots of “Great-walkers” clustered at Routeburn Falls’ two busy huts.

A day-walk on the Routeburn allows you to sample the famous Routeburn without all the planning/$$/shuttle hassle of the “Great Walk.” You can also try to pick a sunny day rather than getting stuck with whatever day you had to book. No need to pay heaps, plan heaps, and endure a night’s stay with the 70-odd people packing the two huts at the site. Gotta love great free NZ day-walks!

WALK: Straightforward walk with signs the entire route and a detailed mapboard at the carpark. Round-trip to the Falls hut and back is about 5 hours— an 18km, 600m vertical gain.