Routeburn Track - Mount Aspiring & Fiordland National Park

Routeburn Track, Mount Aspiring National Park and Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Most people walk the 32 km Routeburn Track in 3 days, staying at Routeburn Falls Hut and Lake Mackenzie Hut. It is well worth staying another two nights at the quieter Routeburn Flats Hut and Lake Howden Hut.
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

Click on the arrow button
below to explore this walk.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
From the carpark at Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Flats Hut is an easy 2 hr 30 min, 6.5 km.
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Routeburn Shelter is located next to the carpark at the end of the road. This end of the track is in Mount Aspiring National Park. The other end is in Fiordland National Park.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The view from the shelter.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The start of the Routeburn Track.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Swingbridge over the Route Burn (river).

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Looking upstream.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Looking downstream.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Immediately, it becomes obvious... This walk is going to be gob-smackingly beautiful. After only a few minutes, it is clearly in another league to all the other Great Walks we have done so far. (At this point, we had yet to do the Kepler, Milford, Rakiura and the Whanganui River Journey).

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Routeburn Nature Walk - This optional Nature Walk loops around and rejoins the main track. Let's check it out...

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Routeburn Nature Walk.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Routeburn Nature Walk. Here we are - back at the main track.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Swingbridge over Sugarloaf Stream.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Sugarloaf Stream.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Bridal Veil Falls.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
A toilet in the middle of nowhere.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
This is the turnoff to Forge Flat. It's only 2 minutes. Let's check it out.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Forge Flat was the site of an old blacksmith camp while the Route Burn bridle path was being made.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
A short path leads down to the Route Burn (river).

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The Route Burn (river).

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Back on the main track, it really is remarkable how much effort DOC has gone to, to make this track an easy and civilised walk.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Wow... This is a nice bit.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
The Routeburn is just so gorgeous..

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Here we are at the start of the Routeburn Flats.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
At this point, we take the right hand track and head to Routeburn Flats Hut - our home for the night.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
ROUTEBURN FLATS HUT - 20 bunk beds, gas cooking (during Great Walks season), heating, lighting, mattresses.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
ROUTEBURN FLATS HUT - Outside Covered Area.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
ROUTEBURN FLATS HUT - Kitchen.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
ROUTEBURN FLATS HUT - Dining Area.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
ROUTEBURN FLATS HUT - View from Dining Area towards Routeburn Flats.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
ROUTEBURN FLATS HUT - Back Bunkroom.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
ROUTEBURN FLATS HUT - Front Bunkroom.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
ROUTEBURN FLATS HUT - Toilets. The end door (the closed one) leads to a small room with just a handbasin. This means we can have a wash in private - a rare luxury on a Great Walk.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
ROUTEBURN FLATS HUT - Looking back from Routeburn Flats towards the hut. That big tree in front of the hut was full of Mohua (a rare NZ native bird) the next morning. Well worth getting up for.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Looking up the Left Branch of the Route Burn (river).

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
In the morning we set off upstream a short distance to the Routeburn Flats Campsite.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Routeburn Flats Campsite features two cooking shelters and 15 non-powered/tent sites.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Routeburn Flats Campsite.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
View from Routeburn Flats Campsite.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Heading back towards Routeburn Flats Hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Passing by Routeburn Flats Hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
The walk from Routeburn Flats Hut to Routeburn Falls Hut is an easy steady climb for 1 hour 30 minutes through stunning beech forest with some excellent views.
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Continuing along the track below Routeburn Flats Hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Back at the intersection we saw yesterday, we now head uphill to Routeburn Falls Hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Emily Creek bridge marks the halfway point of today's walk.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Sidling along below Phoenix Bluff. There is a risk of falling rocks here and trampers are asked to hurry through this section.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Next we come to a huge slip and this magnificent view over Routeburn Flats.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park61

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park75

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park77

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park78

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park83

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Wow... That's a different sort of hut. Quite zen.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
ROUTEBURN FALLS HUT - 48 bunk beds, gas cooking (during Great Walks season), heating, lighting, mattresses.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
ROUTEBURN FALLS HUT - Rear Walkway to Bunkrooms and Women's Toilets.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
ROUTEBURN FALLS HUT - Corridor between Bunkrooms (left) and Kitchen / Dining Room (right).

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
ROUTEBURN FALLS HUT - Looking right towards the bunkrooms.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
ROUTEBURN FALLS HUT - View from the deck.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
ROUTEBURN FALLS HUT - Bunkroom interior.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
ROUTEBURN FALLS HUT - Bunkroom.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
ROUTEBURN FALLS HUT - Back out on the deck and looking towards the kitchen / dining room and the Ranger's Hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
ROUTEBURN FALLS HUT - Dining Room.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
ROUTEBURN FALLS HUT - Kitchen & Upper Dining Area.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
ROUTEBURN FALLS - Just off the entrance deck of Routeburn Falls Hut is this rocky section which leads up to the falls.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Less than a minute later we're on top of the rocky outcrop behind the hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
ROUTEBURN FALLS

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Looking from the rocky outcrop behind Routeburn Falls Hut towards Routeburn Flats.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
The 4.3 km tramp from Routeburn Falls Hut to Harris Shelter (where we have lunch) takes 2 hours. The track climbs 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 / Tarahaka Whakatipu (1,255 m).
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Sunrise on the deck at Routeburn Falls Hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Routeburn Falls.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
View from the track above Routeburn Falls Hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
We're climbing up there.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
The going is rocky.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Now we are heading to that dip in the horizon in the far distance. That's Harris Saddle.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Looking back towards the top of the Routeburn Falls.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
The endangered Pīwauwau / New Zealand Rock Wren (Xenicus gilviventris) can sometimes be seen around here.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
View of Lake Harris.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Looking back down the valley at how far we have come.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Now we begin to sidle across the bluffs above Lake Harris. The wind is blasting strongly in our faces - and, just quietly, I hate sidling. It means narrow tracks and big drop-offs - and I don't like heights.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Looking back from a viewpoint next to the track.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Sidling...

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
The wind was howling down the lake.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
View of Harris Saddle.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Oh wow... And then we come to this point on the track and it was all worth it - just for this one shot.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Mount Aspiring National Park
Harris Saddle.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Harris Saddle. Now we cross over from Mount Aspiring National Park to Fiordland National Park.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Harris Saddle with Harris Shelter and the Darran Mountains in the distance.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Harris Shelter and the track to climb up Conical Hill.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Harris Shelter and Conical Hill.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Harris Shelter.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Harris Shelter. Lunchtime. That steel roof is great to lean back on but very cold on our backs.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The 7 km tramp from Harris Shelter to Lake Mackenzie Hut takes 4 hours. If the weather is clear, we will enjoy spectacular views of the Darran Mountains as we make our way along the exposed Hollyford Face for most of this part of today's walk.
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Looking down into the Hollyford Valley and across to the Darran Mountains.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Coming up to the end of our walk along the Hollyford Face.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
There it is - Lake Mackenzie Hut down there in the distance (just to the left of centre in this photo). Don't get too excited though... It takes ages to get there.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Looking down on Lake Mackenzie.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Looking down on Lake Mackenzie.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The track enters beautiful forest.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
There's the hut!

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - 50 bunk beds, gas cooking (during Great Walks season), heating, lighting, mattresses.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - Looking from the deck towards the Ranger's Hut and Lake Mackenzie.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - Dining Area.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - Dining Area and seating around Woodburner for heating the hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - Kitchen.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - Seating around fireplace. On this very spot, we get to hear what is famously known as New Zealand's longest hut talk by a ranger. It is very interesting - but after a 6 hour alpine traverse, it's hard to stay excited by this lengthy lesson in trapping stoats.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - Looking from the corner of the deck towards the Toilets. The open door leads to the Upstairs Bunkroom.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - The Upstairs Bunkroom.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - Heading back down from the Upstairs Bunkroom.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - Toilets and Ablution Block.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - Looking from the Toilets and Ablution Block towards the Second Bunkroom.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - The Second Bunkroom.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT - Ranger's Hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Lake Mackenzie.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Heading towards the Mackenzie Campsite and the Split Rock.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
MACKENZIE CAMPSITE - 9 gorgeous tent sites, cooking shelter, toilet.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
MACKENZIE CAMPSITE - Cooking Shelter.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
MACKENZIE CAMPSITE.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
It is just a very short walk from Mackenzie Campsite to the lake.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Lake Mackenzie.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Returning almost to the campsite, now we will take the track to Split Rock.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The track to Split Rock is far less civilised than we've become used to on the Routeburn.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
That's it... The Split Rock. We can actually walk right through the split to the other side if we want.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The Split Rock.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Heading back from the Split Rock to Lake Mackenzie Hut and dinner and New Zealand's Longest Hut Talk By A Ranger about how he started the very admirable stoat trapping program in these parts.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Lake Mackenzie.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Lake Mackenzie.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE MACKENZIE HUT.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The fairly easy 8.6 km walk from Lake Mackenzie Hut to Lake Howden Hut takes 4 hours.
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Looking down into the Hollyford Valley.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
This bit of the track is called The Orchard.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The Orchard.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
A toilet.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
A stunningly beautiful little waterfall.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Some of the bridges on the Routeburn are taken out by helicopter during Avalanche Season.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
From this point we can hear the roar of Earland Falls in the distance.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
This is the Flood Detour if the flow over Earland Falls is too great to pass underneath.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Earland Falls.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Earland Falls - 174 metres high.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Earland Falls - After heavy rain the falls cascade right onto the track, enabling hikers to walk "under" the waterfall.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
From Earland Falls on, the track gets easier and much more civilised.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
There's Lake Howden Hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE HOWDEN HUT - 28 bunk beds, gas cooking (during Great Walks season), heating, lighting, mattresses. UPDATE: This hut was destroyed in a landslide in February 2020. It has not been replaced.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE HOWDEN HUT - Dining Area.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE HOWDEN HUT - Dining Area and Woodburner for heating the hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE HOWDEN HUT - Bunkroom.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Lake Howden - just a few metres from Lake Howden Hut.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
LAKE HOWDEN HUT - Viewed from beside the lake at night.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The track to The Divide Carpark (at the end of the Routeburn Track) begins here...

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
...And leads up past the Toilets and Ablution Block.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Lake Howden Toilets. These toilets are only used during the Great Walks Season.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The end cubicle just has a handbasin. This is where we can have a well-earned wash in private. Luxury...

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The fairly easy 3.4 km walk from Lake Howden Hut to The Divide takes 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. It is very definitely well worth doing the 1 hour side trip to Key Summit - possibly the most spectacular part of the whole Routeburn Track.
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The track climbs steadily for the first 15 minutes or so.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Here we will turn off to the left and head up to Key Summit.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
The track zig-zags up and up...

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Key Summit.

ROUTEBURN TRACK - Fiordland National Park
Key Summit. This sign describes an interpretative brochure that used to be available to guide walkers around the Key Summit Alpine Nature Walk ahead. It's a shame not to have that information nowadays.