You will be picked up from your hotel in Queenstown for a picturesque hour drive along the lake towards Glenorchy. This stretch of road between Queenstown and Glenorchy was recently named “one of the most beautiful drives in the world” by Lonely Planet and you’ll see why at the stop at Bennett’s Bluff lookout along the way.
The beech forest signals the beginning of Mt Aspiring National Park where the journey starts, on the renowned Routeburn Track. It is a leisurely walk on a smooth and flat path following the picturesque Route Burn river before heading up to the Bridal Veil Waterfall. A swing bridge then leads through to the spectacular alpine pastures of the Routeburn Flats. You will learn about the history, birdlife, flora, and fauna in this remarkable part of New Zealand.
After finding a tranquil spot to rest, take in the views and enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch. Return back to walk back along the same track, this is a great option if you enjoy more of a scenic walk/hike as it is a total of 13km or 8 miles return and can take between 2 to 3 hours of walking time at a leisurely pace and gives you more time to marvel at the views.
If you are a keen hiker and feeling adventurous have the option of continuing up to the Routeburn Falls Hut which leads through stunning beech forest to take in the spectacular views of the Humboldt Mountains and the valley below. Recommended for people with a good fitness level as it is a total of 17.6km or 11 miles and can take between 5 to 7 hours of walking at a good pace.
This is the perfect option if you do not have time to do the full 3-day hike and you get to experience hiking over half of the Routeburn Track!
After your amazing hiking experience on one of New Zealand’s Great Walks, will then start the head back to Queenstown, where you will enjoy sitting back and taking in the views.