Routeburn Valley Walk - Shared

Depart Queenstown and travel the spectacular lake-edge road toward Glenorchy, pausing at a scenic viewpoint along the way. In Glenorchy, we collect a fresh picnic lunch before continuing into the Routeburn Valley — home to one of New Zealand’s most iconic Great Walks.

The Routeburn Track has a history dating back to the 1500s, when Māori used the route as a passage to transport pounamu (greenstone) between the Dart and Arahura rivers. European explorers mapped the area in 1861, with a bridle path established in the 1870s. By the 1880s, it was already welcoming early tourists — making this a trail with over 140 years of recreational history. Today, it connects Mt Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks and is recognised as one of New Zealand’s premier Great Walks.

Our walk begins with a steady incline through ancient red beech forest, gaining approximately 343 metres over 4.5 kilometres (2.8 miles). The track is well formed and climbs gradually toward the spectacular Routeburn Flats. Along the way, we pass Forge Flat and the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls as the Bridal Veil Stream joins the river. The trail follows above the Routeburn River gorge, where white water has carved a dramatic chasm through the forest.

Listen for birdsong in the canopy and watch for curious bush robins, who may hop onto your boot if you stand still long enough.

After approximately two hours, a swing bridge leads into the alpine meadows of the Routeburn Flats. Here, the river widens and slows as it flows through open grassy flats, surrounded by towering mountain peaks. We continue toward the incredible Flats Hut area, where we pause for a relaxed picnic lunch in what feels like a natural amphitheatre — often with the unmistakable call of kea echoing overhead.

Following lunch (approximately 30 minutes), the return walk takes around two hours, with a gentle descent retracing the valley’s dramatic scenery.

The total walking time is approximately 4.5–5 hours, covering around 15 kilometres (8 miles), with the day concluding back in Queenstown around 4:30pm.

This tour is ideal for guests with walking experience who want to immerse themselves in one of New Zealand’s most celebrated alpine landscapes — a rewarding, iconic hike experienced at a steady, achievable pace.