Routeburn Track
Photo: Steffen Sledz (Zone42), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Routeburn Track is a 32 km long tramping (hiking) trail in the Fiordland and Mt Aspiring national parks on the South Island of New Zealand.
UnderstandThe Routeburn Track follows ancient Māori trails once used to traverse the Southern Alps. Today, it serves as a spectacular link between Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks.
PrepareThe Routeburn Track requires thorough advance planning and a backpack-only approach. Due to the rugged alpine terrain, the trail is not suitable for carts, strollers, or wheelchairs.
Get inWalkers can depart from Queenstown to enter the track via the Routeburn Shelter, or from Te Anau to enter via The Divide. Because the two trailheads are 350 km apart by road, transport must be arranged in advance.
WalkThe track begins at the Routeburn Shelter with a gentle climb along the true left bank of the Routeburn River, crossing it several times on wooden bridges.
Stay safeEnsure you follow the precautions outlined on the Department of Conservation brochures and any other information provided to you. The track traverses approximately 10km of exposed alpine which can be dangerous.
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Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Routeburn Track" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Steffen Sledz (Zone42), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons