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If you live in New Zealand or your primary reason for travelling to Fiordland is to do the Routeburn Track then we recommend you contact the operators directly with information and booking enquiries. FreePhone in NZ is 0800 659 255
http://www.ultimatehikes.co.nz/
If you are thinking of combining this with one of our other HikeSouth walks then we would be happy to help with your enquiries.
As part of your itinerary in the "walking capital of the world" make sure you try the Routeburn Track. Here is how it works ....
Pre departure briefing in Queenstown the afternoon before departure at
2.00pm
DAY 1:
Queenstown, The Divide, Lake MacKenzie
Walk 5-6 hours / 14km ( 8.7 m )
A
coach takes you from Queenstown to the Divide on the scenic
Milford Road. Climb a well-graded track through Silver Beech
forest to the Key Summit turnoff. From here we leave the forest
for the alpine environment of Key Summit, with breathtaking
Routeburn views with a panorama of the Hollyford, Greenstone
and Eglington Valleys.
You then
descend to Lake Howden hut before gradually climbing through
lush Silver Beech forest to the base of Earland Falls. Continue
traversing around the mountainside with the glimpses of the
Hollyford Valley just a teaser for what is to come tomorrow.
Pass through the natural clearing of the Orchard before descending
into the Mackenzie basin. Lake MacKenzie is 5 minutes further
on from the lodge, a good place take it all in on your first
night away from it all.
DAY 2:
Lake Mackenzie to Routeburn Falls
Walk 5-7 hours / 15km ( 9.4 m )
Today is
divided into three distinct sections: the climb out of the
Mackenzie Basin to Ocean Peak Corner, the traverse across
the Hollyford Face to the Harris Saddle and the descent to
Routeburn Falls.
From the
lodge you skirt Lake Mackenzie and follow the track into the
forest. As the track starts to climb you leave the trees and
enter the alpine world of daisies, buttercups, gentians and
edelweiss.
The traverse
along the Hollyford Face is for many people the most spectacular
scenery of the whole track. With the Darran Mountains in front
of you and the Hollyford Valley far below, you are in big
country. After lunch at the Harris Saddle the views get even
better if you climb Conical Hill with a 360 degree panorama.
Walking around
Lake Harris and just before your arrival at the lodge you
are greeted by the Routeburn Falls and stunning views of the
lower valley. |
