Located in Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park in the Otago and Fiordland regions
Bookings are open for the 2022/23 season.
33 km one way
In the Great Walks season (1 November 2022 – 30 April 2023):
Best time to walk the track - there are more facilities and fewer hazards. Bookings are required for huts and campsites.
Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2022 – 31 October 2022):
Only walk at this time if you are fit, experienced and well equipped - facilities are greatly reduced and there are additional hazards.
Outside the Great Walks season (May to 1 November):
Walking the track at this time should only be attempted if you are fit, experienced and well equipped.
Routeburn Track winter tramping safety information (PDF, 673K)
Bridges between Lake Mackenzie and Harris Saddle may be removed over winter to avoid damage from avalanches, so you must be competent at crossing swift, icy side streams.
Snow and ice conditions on the Hollyford face and at the Harris Saddle can be extremely dangerous. View current conditions on the Harris Saddle webcam.
Lake Mackenzie is not safe to walk on when frozen.
Climbing up to Harris Saddle in spring
Image: DOC
During the winter months Fiordland can be very wet and cold. Daylight is limited and the high mountains let little sunlight into the valleys. Alpine areas are usually covered in snow. Dress for these conditions.
The Routeburn Track has a lot of challenging and complex avalanche terrain. Avalanches are frequent. There are over 32 avalanche paths, some of which may bring avalanche debris to the valley floor and have the potential to cross the Routeburn Track.
If you are going into places avalanches could occur, be sure you:
Maps of avalanche paths: Lake Howden to Lake MacKenzie (JPG, 9,111K) | Lake MacKenzie to Falls Hut (JPG, 9,186K)
All transport must be arranged before starting the track. During winter, transport operators require minimum numbers and do not always operate a daily service. Transport arrangements can be affected by bad weather. You must discuss an alternative option with transport operators before you begin your walk.
You need to be totally self-sufficient. In addition to what to take in the Great Walks season, you also need:
Bookings are open for the 2022/23 season.
In the Great Walks season (1 November 2022 – 30 April 2023):
On this page:
Explore on Google Street View | Watch videos
The Routeburn Track can be walked in either direction.
Walk the full track. Most walkers take 3 days/2 nights usually staying at Routeburn Falls and Lake Mackenzie Huts. The trip can be extended by also staying at other huts, or made into a circuit by linking with the Greenstone and Caples Tracks, which starts and finishes near the Routeburn Shelter.
Enjoy a day walk. Earland Falls Track | Key Summit Track | Lake Howden Track | Routeburn Nature Walk
There are 3 huts and 2 campsites, which must be booked well in advance during the Great Walks season.
Huts have bunks, mattresses, heating, toilets, basic cooking facilities, solar-powered lighting and cold running water. A DOC ranger is in residence. Huts do not have food, cooking utensils, showers or bedding.
Campsites have basic facilities including toilets, sinks and a water supply. Routeburn campsites have picnic tables and cooking shelters. Campers can't use hut facilities.
Routeburn Track can be accessed from both ends: Routeburn Shelter, 25 km from Glenorchy along a partially unsealed road, and The Divide Shelter, 85 km from Te Anau.
The road distance between each end of the track is 325 km - transport is needed at each end.
Visit Fiordland and Destination Queenstown have information about transport operators.
To have a safe and enjoyable trip, it's essential you have the appropriate clothing and equipment. Find out what to take.
There are steep drop-off along sections of the whole track.
Weather conditions can change quickly in any season. Fiordland National Park experiences very high rainfall (up to 9000 mm per year) and weather conditions can change quickly in any season. Cold temperatures, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of the year. Be prepared for all conditions. Check the Fiordland National Park weather forecast – NIWA website.
The risk of avalanche can extend into December. During the Great Walk season, DOC manages avalanche risk and sections of the track maybe closed if there is avalanche hazard.
There is no cellphone coverage.
Your safety is your responsibility. Stay safe in the outdoors and follow the five essential steps of the Land Safety Code
Time: 1 hr 30 min – 2 hr 30 min
Distance: 7.5 km
The track begins at Routeburn Shelter, gently winding alongside the crystal-clear Route Burn (river). After passing Sugarloaf Stream, you’ll climb to Bridal Veil Waterfall and continue above the gorge. A swing bridge leads to open grassed flats, and the Routeburn Flats Hut and Campsite.
Route Burn on Google Street View
Time: 1 – 1 hr 30 min
Distance: 2.3 km
The track climbs steadily through stunning beech forest, providing views of the Humboldt Mountains. End the day at Routeburn Falls Hut, on the edge of the bushline and close to the impressive Routeburn Falls cascade.
Time: 4 hr 30 min – 6 hr
Distance: 11.3 km
Climb steadily up the valley, through wetlands and tussock-covered flats, before sidling along the bluffs above Lake Harris to reach the highest point on the track at Harris Saddle/TarahakaWhakatipu (1,255 m).
Shortly after the Harris Saddle, the track brings you to Harris Saddle Shelter (day use only). Here you can take a break from the elements and use the toilet facilities provided.
The track then descends and traverses along the exposed Hollyford Face, with expansive views over the Darran Mountains. This section of the track is well-known for its impressive array of alpine plants. A steady descent leads to Lake Mackenzie Hut, set beside the enchanting Lake Mackenzie.
Darren Mountains on Google Street View
Side trip: Conical Hill
Time: 1 hr 30 min – 2 hr return
A short, steep climb from the Harris Saddle up Conical Hill gives superb views of the Hollyford Valley through to Lake McKerrow and beyond to Martins Bay and the Tasman Sea.
Be aware:
Time: 4 – 5 hr 30 min
Distance: 12 km
Leaving Lake Mackenzie Hut the track crosses a small flat before climbing to the bush line. A gradual descent then leads past the ‘Orchard’, an open grassyarea dotted with ribbonwood trees, to the impressive Earland Falls (174 m). The track continues its descent through beech forest to Lake Howden (Lake Howden Hut was destroyed by storm damage in February 2020).
From Lake Howden, the well graded track climbs steadily for about 15 minutes to the Key Summit Track turn-off. From the Key Summit turn-off, the gradual downhill walk is through silver beech forest to The Divide on the Milford Highway. At 532 m, The Divide is the lowest crossing of the Southern Alps in New Zealand.
Side trip: Key Summit
Time: 1 – 1 hr 30 min return
This popular walk climbs above the bushline to an alpine wetland and, in good weather, offers magnificent views of the Darran Mountains and the Hollyford valley. A self-guided alpine nature walk passes a range of native vegetation: beech forest, subalpine shrublands and alpine tarnsand bogs. Birdlife is prolific and tomtits, robins, New Zealand pigeons/kererū and bellbirds/korimako are commonly seen.
Earland Falls on Google Street View
You need to pay fees to stay at the huts and campsites on this track. Fees vary depending on when you go.
Bookings are open for the 2022/23 season.
In the Great Walks season (1 November 2022 – 30 April 2023):
New Zealand citizens and those ordinarily resident in New Zealand*:
International visitors:
Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2022 – 31 October 2022):
1 May – 30 June
For all visitors:
1 July – 31 October
For all visitors:
Proof of eligibility is required for the New Zealand rate.
Walking the track outside the Great Walk season should only be attempted by fit, experienced and well equipped trampers.
In the Great Walks season (1 November 2022 – 30 April 2023):
New Zealand citizens and those ordinarily resident in New Zealand*:
International visitors:
Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2022 – 31 October 2022):
For all visitors:
Proof of eligibility is required for the New Zealand rate.
Discounts for Great Walks are not available online. If you belong to a group or organisation that is entitled to a discount we will need to see proof of your membership.
To receive your discount, you must email your organisation's membership card, showing your name, membership number and expiry date, to bookings@doc.govt.nz or go to a DOC visitor centre in person. Visitor centre staff will make your booking for you and apply your discount. No booking fee will be charged.
If you make your booking online yourself, you must contact bookings@doc.govt.nz or a DOC visitor centre within 48 hours of making the booking to receive your discount. Discounts cannot be retrospectively applied to bookings after this time.
In the Great Walks season (1 November 2022 – 30 April 2023):
Bookings are required for huts and campsites.
Book Routeburn Track huts online.
If you don’t have a valid booking for your stay, you may be charged a penalty, or turned away if the hut/campsite is full.
Outside the Great Walks season (1 May 2022 – 31 October 2022):
Bookings are not required.
Bunks in huts are first come, first served.
Payment is with Backcountry Hut Tickets or a Backcountry Hut Pass – buy these from a DOC visitor centre before you go.
Take the right gear to keep yourself safe on your tramp.
Tell someone your plans using the Outdoors Intentions form including when to raise the alarm if you haven't returned.
Te Rua-o-te-moko / Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre | |
Phone: | +64 3 249 7924 |
Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
Email: | fiordlandvc@doc.govt.nz |
Address: |
Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre Lakefront Drive Te Anau 9600 |
Postal Address: |
PO Box 29 Te Anau 9640 |
Full office details |
Whakatipu-wai-Māori / Queenstown Visitor Centre | |
Phone: | +64 3 442 7935 |
Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
Email: | queenstownvc@doc.govt.nz |
Address: |
50 Stanley Street Queenstown 9300 |
Postal Address: |
PO Box 811 Queenstown 9348 |
Full office details |