Few walks anywhere cross from one great national park straight into another. The Routeburn does exactly that — starting in warm beech forest inside Mount Aspiring National Park, climbing to an exposed alpine saddle with the Tasman Sea visible on a clear day, then descending into the older, wetter light of Fiordland. It's quieter than its famous neighbour, the Milford Track, and feels more like wilderness because of it — you earn what you see here rather than being delivered to it.
Bring: Full waterproofs · Sleeping bag (huts provide bunks only) · Trekking poles · Sandfly repellent
Harris Saddle at 1,255 m is the high point in every sense — on a clear day you can see the Tasman Sea and the entire Hollyford Valley laid out below. Routeburn Falls at dusk, five minutes above the hut, turns the mountains pink behind the cascade. And kea, New Zealand's alpine parrots, are genuinely fearless — expect them to investigate your boots at Falls Hut without the slightest concern for personal space. The walk's real character, though, is in the contrast: warm beech forest at both ends, a fully exposed alpine crossing in the middle.
| Day | Segment | Distance | What It's Like |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Routeburn Shelter → Falls Hut (via Flats Hut) | ~9.8 km | Easy warm-up along the crystal-clear Route Burn river through cathedral-quiet beech forest. |
| 2 | Falls Hut → Lake Mackenzie Hut | 11.3 km | The big day — Harris Saddle, exposed bluffs above Lake Harris, the whole Hollyford Valley below. |
| 3 | Lake Mackenzie Hut → The Divide | 12 km | A long, satisfying descent past Earland Falls and through ancient beech forest to the road end. |
One honest note worth knowing before you plan: Lake Howden Hut, which many older trail guides and trip reports still list as a stop on Day 3, was destroyed by storm damage in February 2020 and will not be rebuilt. The site is now a day-rest stop only, not an overnight option — Day 3 is a single long push from Lake Mackenzie all the way to The Divide. Don't plan around a hut that no longer exists.
Key Summit, a short side trip near The Divide, is worth the extra hour — alpine wetland with tarns and bogs, and bird life tame enough that tomtits and robins barely move when you pass.
It's a point-to-point track, 325 km by road between the two ends, so transport needs planning either way. Shuttles run from both Queenstown and Te Anau in season — Routeburn Express and Tracknet are the main operators, and booking ahead in peak season is worth doing. Self-driving to the Routeburn Shelter trailhead is possible but not recommended: the car park is exposed and break-ins have been reported, so a shuttle is the safer choice over leaving a car there for several days.
This pairs naturally with the Milford Track on a longer Fiordland trip — many people do Routeburn first, then Milford the following week, using Queenstown as a base for both.
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Plan My Trip →We strive to keep our guides accurate and up to date. However, outdoor activities involve inherent risks, including the possibility of serious injury or death. Weather, trail conditions, wildlife activity, forest regulations, permits, entry fees, opening hours, transport schedules, mobile network coverage, emergency closures, and local access restrictions can change rapidly and without notice.
This guide is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for official guidance, local authorities, certified guides, or your own judgment. Before your trip, verify the latest official information, honestly assess your fitness and experience, carry appropriate safety equipment, and comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and safety instructions.