Short answer: The Routeburn Track is a Great Walk through Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks, walked in three days and two nights by most walkers. DOC's 2026/27 Great Walk season runs from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, and the two road ends are 325 km apart. Explera DMC New Zealand plans the huts, transfers and guides for walking groups.
This briefing is for travel agents and tour operators who sell Queenstown and Fiordland. The track is short, but it is not a loop, so the transfer plan matters as much as the hut bookings.
What is the Routeburn Track?
- Route. It can be walked in either direction. DOC's section distances add up to about 33 km, not counting side trips.
- Time. Most walkers take three days and two nights, usually staying at Routeburn Falls Hut and Lake Mackenzie Hut.
- Huts. The huts are Routeburn Flats, Routeburn Falls and Lake Mackenzie. Harris Saddle Shelter is for day use only.
- Highest point. Harris Saddle/Tarahaka Whakatipu, at 1,255 m.
- Side trips. Key Summit takes 1 to 1.5 hours return. Conical Hill, from Harris Saddle, takes 1.5 to 2 hours return.
What do groups need to book?
- Huts and campsites. In the Great Walk season, every hut and campsite must be booked through DOC's booking system. Without a valid booking, walkers can be charged a penalty or turned away.
- Fees. For international visitors from 1 November to 30 April, DOC lists NZ$132 a night for an adult in a hut and NZ$66 for a child aged 0 to 17. Campsites are NZ$42 for an adult. Confirm fees at booking.
- Facilities. Huts have no food, cooking utensils, showers or bedding, so groups carry their own. A DOC ranger is present in the Great Walk season.
How do the transfers work?
- Two road ends. Routeburn Shelter is 25 km from Glenorchy, partly on unsealed road. The Divide Shelter is 85 km from Te Anau.
- The distance between them. The road ends are 325 km apart by road, so transport is needed at both ends and must be arranged before the walk.
- Our plan. We book the drop-off and pick-up for each group, and the luggage transfer to the next hotel.
Who is the Routeburn right for?
- Fit walkers. DOC notes steep drop-offs on some sections and does not recommend the track for children under 10.
- Weather. Rainfall can reach 9,000 mm a year, parts of the track flood after heavy rain, and sections can close when there is avalanche risk.
- Summer only for most groups. From May to late October the track does not operate as a Great Walk and needs alpine skills and equipment. We sell it from November to April.
- Check, Clean, Dry. Didymo has been found in creeks between Harris Saddle and Lake Mackenzie, so walkers clean their gear between waterways.
How Explera DMC New Zealand can help
We plan Great Walks and guided walking and coach and private transfers for travel agents and tour operators. See our Glenorchy and Te Anau pages, our Great Walks booking guide, our Te Anau briefing and our Check, Clean, Dry briefing.
FAQ
When is the Routeburn Track Great Walk season in 2026/27? From 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027.
How long does the Routeburn Track take? Most walkers take three days and two nights.
How much is a hut night for international visitors? DOC lists NZ$132 for an adult and NZ$66 for a child from 1 November to 30 April.
How far apart are the two ends? The road ends are 325 km apart by road.
Can groups walk the Routeburn in winter? Only with alpine skills and equipment. From May to late October it does not operate as a Great Walk.
Sources
- Routeburn Track, Department of Conservation, checked 26 October 2026
Talk to the trade desk
Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal b2b.expleradmc.com.
