Routeburn Track Trailhead (Routeburn Shelter) - Routeburn Track Trailhead (Routeburn Shelter) Routeburn Track

32 kms walk hike.. or as we did.. a 6 hour run... ONLY in good weather as it can and does KILL over the mountain top. This track is WORLD CLASS.... we have done it well over a dozen times...but be prepared for ANY weather even in Mid summer... it can and does SNOW.... with driving hail and freezing rain....

Simply amazing. I found the track itself quite easy as a lot of the walk was very well maintained or board-walked, though there was a good variation in the walking terrain. The views along the track are simply amazing and the huts I stayed in were also very clean and well maintained. I went just after peak season and the wardens had left the huts a few days before. The walk was quite busy, even in low season but everyone was very friendly and there was a good social vibe in the huts. This track connects to the Greenstone and Caples tracks which I also did on the same hike!

This is an amazing hike. There are great views and good options to combine this with, such as getting picked up at the other end and going out on the Milford Sound before heading back to Queenstown or wherever. It's not a very long hike though must people do it over 3 days and 2 nights. Depends on your fitness. I think the first hut is too close as we were there by 10:30am walking slowly, so we stayed at Lake Mackenzie campgrounds but got there around 7pm. Perfect if there were a middle option. Either way, tons to see with lakes and mountains and not too many people.

Nice walk for sure, but I expected better... let's say "nice but not as outstanding as it is advertised". Also, it's a "family friendly walk", which, unfortunately, means anything but challenging. Plus, there are way too many warning signs. Gees, some warning signs seem to be there for 6 year old kids, other just as tourist attraction...!! As a normal person, after a while, seeing a red sign make you read it just for having a laugh.... Anyway, I really don't know why on the website they have written 2-4 days as one full day (walking easy)(also, walking, not tramping) one night and a short walk in the following morning it's enough to do it all... we did it in 24h and, if we had left earlier in the morning, we could have done it all in the same day. And, as an experienced hiker (who also is pretty annoyed by the fact in NZ they use the word "tramping" meaning "hiking" and the world "hiking" for "having a stroll in an unsealed road"), I can see this is a family friendly track, and, unlike what it's written, experience is not really required. Just make sure you have warm clothes and blanket for the night, but this is all, really. There are too many facilities which prevent you to really enjoy nature. Gees, people even complain because there is not Wi-Fi in the hut!! You cannot tell me people who complain for this reason are experienced hikers, common...!! Also, I am quite disappointed I could not put my tent near the lake, easily the best part of the track. I am not going to dirty around, I am an experienced hiker, I know how to camp. And, as, unfortunately, everywhere in NZ, there are not outdoor places where to make a fire as, again: I am an experienced hiker and I know a big deal on how to make a fire without burning a whole forest, gosh!! Just put a circle of rocks where to make a fire like anywhere else in the world... Nice but overrated, oversold, and this, made me feel underwhelmed... shame... the place is nice but, if the place wasn't that oversold, I wouldn't have felt a bit disappointed. You understand that the name "Great walk" is just a selling advertisement. Anyway, recommended but not as beautiful as touristic websites and Instagram advertise. 7/10

We did it over 2nights. We really enjoyed every minute. Great views. We stayed on camping sites. Well maintained. Lots of waterfalls.

There are plenty of options for doing this walk, can be done either direction or you could just do half and turn around. If you stay in huts make sure to book as there is limited availability and the ranger checks all tickets. Also some good earplugs are essential, 24 people per dorm room. There’s a few smaller streams around for refilling water bottles. A few really good swimming spots including near routeburn flats but you will also be attacked by sandflys there. There’s an optional two hour return hike to the summit which is more steep and rough but you can spend a lot of time up there. From routeburn shelter to routeburn falls is sheltered in forest, after that its exposed to the sun so take sunscreen.

This is one the most beautiful walks and a hard one at that. Lots of side walks and other tracks branching off the main track. We’ll worth the tenting experience. Valley of the trolls a spectacular side track with lots more to offer.

Great walk over 2 nights/3 days. Views were amazing. Well worth it. Definitely book huts so you don't have to carry the tent. We were fortunate that all 3 days were beautiful and sunny (sun block is a must). There were a few additional side walks you can do along the way, Conical hill being one of them (it was a bit of a challenge to get up and down and only worth it if there are no clouds). The other additional turn offs we did (gorge flat, key summit and routeburn flats) were not hard but worth it. No cellphone reception on the track so put phone on flight mode to save power for your camera. Track terrain varies a lot so have to be careful where you stand. Saw quite a few rolled ankles during my 3 days (pack sports tape).