Wings Over Wairarapa 2011 
Routeburn Guided Walk
Back to IndexLearn about the 3 day Guided Routeburn Track as experienced by Julian, Kirra Holidays Victorian Business Development Manager earlier this season.
Routeburn Guided Walk Pre-Amble
There is a short DVD presentation summarizing the track for the 3 day walk, and a recommendation as to what to pack for. You are given information about the weather pattern for the duration of the walk, given a back pack, plastic bag liner to put all belongings into, a bed sheet, laminated card detailing the track and local information. A form also needs to be completed to detail Next of Kin details; any meal requirements.
Day One: Queenstown to Routeburn Guided Walk – Lake MacKenzie Lodge
An early start at 6.55am from The Station at Queenstown. The coach journey skirts around the rim of Lake Wakatipu past Kingston down to Te Anau for morning tea, and to collect any passengers wishing to join here, or who have done the Milford Track and completing the Ultimate Hike. The shops are nearby for any last minute purchases. The coach continues for approx one more hour to The Divide, where the track starts.
The track immediately starts to climb for the first hour. There is an optional walk to experience some great views down the Hollyford Valley. Lunch is at Lake Howden, then walking past some impressive waterfalls, more spectacular views then arriving at Lake MacKenzie Lodge for the first night. The Lake itself is only a two minute walk and the entire group including the two guides continued to the lake with swimming an option for the brave, as the water was freezing!
The lodge has 6 rooms of four bunk style beds – we were able to get our own room each for this night. The evening meal was great, with a great menu. The guides after dinner present a slide show of the track the following day, and give any advice, offer any first aid for any bruises.
Day Two: Routeburn Guided Walk: Lake MacKenzie to Routeburn Falls
The morning is quite a relaxed one initially; sandwich making for lunch commences at 8am ; full hot cooked breakfast at 8.30am; then pack up and departure for 9.30am. This is very laid back compared to the Milford Track which I experienced last year, with this all starting from as early as 6.30am.
Like day one, the track commences it’s ascent almost immediately for the first 1 ½ hours, with some intense bush walking, then zig zagging our way up the face of the mountain to the morning tea stop at the Ocean Peak Corner. This was my far the most impressive part of the track so far, with some of the best views in NZ I have ever experienced – being able to look down the valley right to The Divide, view the Milford Road, the ocean, the Hollyford Valley.
The walk that morning continued for another 6 km’s along the top edge of the valley to the lunch hut. There is an optional walk to the very top park of the mountain, however this was covered in snow and the track was closed. The afternoon the track follows the Routeburn Valley down to the Routeburn Falls. During the afternoon walk we encountered many waterfalls, lakes, a brief encounter with snow walking (some of the track had been covered in snow the previous week due to an avalanche). The end of the day arriving at the Routeburn Falls Lodge was rewarded with some magnificent waterfalls. Everyone from the group except one of us managed to jump into the water briefly, as the heat that afternoon was quite intense, and no one really cared initially about jumping into the water!
The evening again was enjoyed with a great evening meal, with great views looking down the Routeburn Valley.
Day Three: Routeburn Falls Lodge – Glenorchy - Queenstown
Today the starting times are the same, a great late start. The walk is only 10km and this will be achieved quite easily, as it is all downhill! The first hour or so is downhill walking through the forest, then to the morning tea stop by a lake and hut. This hut is set in a very tranquil setting. We continued along the track, with our guides taking us on an alternative track which is closer to the river. Lunch we were spoilt with a special spot beside the river again in the forest. The track then continues along the river, crossing over it several times. We arrived at end of the track, at approximately 1.30pm, where the road coach is waiting for the transfer to Glenorchy.
This is a journey of approximately 15-20 minutes, where the coach stops at the Glenorchy Hotel for a group photo and a few drinks, before continuing along the road following Lake Wakatipu again into Queenstown. Arrival is at 4pm.
The evening there is a group dinner held at the Novotel in CBD Queenstown, where a certificate and photo is presented for your achievement of completing the Routeburn walk.
Check out the Routeburn Guided Walk online with Kirra Holidays!
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