The Routeburn Track (33km, 3 days) is the shortest of DOC’s Great Walks and is among the most popular with around 13,000 people hiking it each year. That makes it almost as popular as the Milford Track. It traverses both the Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks.
Buckley Track Transport, Glenorchy Journeys and Info & Track operate transport from Queenstown and Glenorchy to the eastern trailhead and TrackNet run buses between the Divide and Te Anau and will also take you back to Queenstown. The Routeburn is a one-way track with around 350km of road between the two trailheads and transport can cost around $125 if you want to return to your starting point after hiking the track.
Bookings for hut accommodation on the Routeburn Track are required during peak season (Nov–Apr) when the huts cost $65 per night. Huts cost just $15 per night off-season.
You can walk the track in either direction and some people combine this track with the Caples or Greenstone Tracks. The following route describes the track, starting from the eastern trailhead near Glenorchy.
Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls Hut (8.8km, 3–4 hours)
The first part of the track is mostly easy walking. After two to three hours it passes the Routeburn Flats Hut and starts a steady climb for an hour or so before reaching the Routeburn Falls Hut.
Routeburn Falls Hut to Lake Mackenzie Hut (11.3km, 5–6 hours)
This exposed alpine section starts off with a climb past Routeburn Falls to Lake Harris and then follows the mountainside to Lake Mackenzie. This is the highest section of the track and during this section it crosses between Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks.
Lake Mackenzie Hut to The Divide (12km, 4–5½ hours)
The track gradually descends to Howden Hut at the junction where the Routeburn and Greenston/Caples Tracks cross. It then climbs for around 20 minutes before the descent to the end of the track at the Divide.