Traversing through wild and scenic mountain country, the Routeburn track has become a firm favourite for walkers everywhere. The area is a haven for birdlife. You'll find robins, fantails, parakeets, bellbirds and yellowheads and the insatiably curious keas. From mountainous peaks to sheer rock faces to alpine basins the variety of terrain will astound you. You also find pristine lakes, gushing waterfalls and great forests.
You'll start out on the well formed track through the divide. There is an optional ascent to the Key Summit and with it gorgeous views of 3 valleys. Afterwards, you'll walk through lush silver beech forest to the base of Earland Falls. Quite a sight in the wet and there's a good chance that it might be. Fiordland gets more rain than anywhere else in the country. From Lake MacKenzie Lodge onwards, the scenery changes from ancient forest to meadows filled with buttercups and daises. After climbing up Harris Saddle you can ascend Conical hill for the ultimate lookout and the best photo ops. After you descend into the Routeburn Valley, you'll come across the Routeburn Falls. This will give away to the flats and the track will shadow the river as it makes its way through a magnificent gorge. You'll come out where you started the walk.
You will need at least one set of clothes to walk in and another dry set to change into at night. It is not possible to dry clothes in the huts. It is essential that this clothing is carried as your safety and the safety of others could well depend on it. Cotton clothing such as jeans, T-shirts and sweatshirts are not suitable. Polypropylene, which is quick drying comes recommended by the Department of Conservation.
Fiordland National Park
Allow 3 days
