- Round The World Trip Destination Wish #3: Great Walks in New Zealand
- Milford Track Booked For April 2015
- New Zealand, On The Road Again After a 2 Month Break
- 8 New Zealand Great Walks in 8 Weeks
- Preparing for The Great Walks and Waiting Out Cyclone Pam
- Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk Day 1: Onepoto to Panekire Hut
- Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk Day 2: Panekire Hut to Waiopaoa Hut
- Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk Day 3: Waiopaoa Hut to Marauiti Hut
- Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk Day 4: Marauiti Hut to Hopuruahine Landing
- Wairoa and Taupo, In Between Great Walks
- Tongariro Northern Circuit Day 1: Mangatepopo Hut to Oturere Hut
- Tongariro Northern Circuit Day 2: Oturere Hut to Waihohonu Hut
- Tongariro Northern Circuit Day 3: Waihohonu Hut to Whakapapa Village
- Wellington, Christchurch, Mount Cook, and Queenstown, In Between Great Walks
- Routeburn Track Day 1: Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls Hut
- Routeburn Track Day 2: Routeburn Falls Hut to Lake Mackenzie Hut
- Routeburn Track Day 3: Lake Mackenzie Hut to The Divide
- Milford Track Day 1: Glade Wharf to Clinton Hut
- Milford Track Day 2: Clinton Hut to Mintaro Hut
- Milford Track Day 3: Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut
- Milford Track Day 4: Dumpling Hut to Sandfly Point
- Te Anau, In Between Great Walks
- Rakiura Track Day 1: Oban to Port William Hut
- Rakiura Track Day 2: Port William Hut to North Arm Hut
- Rakiura Track Day 3: North Arm Hut to Oban
- Stewart Island, In Between Great Walks
- Kepler Track Day 1: Te Anau to Luxmore Hut
- Kepler Track Day 2: Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut
- Kepler Track Day 3: Iris Burn Hut to Moturau Hut
- Kepler Track Day 4: Moturau Hut to Te Anau
- A Return to Milford Sound
- Coastal Pacific Train, Hitchking, And Nelson, In Between Great Walks
- Abel Tasman Coast Track Day 1: Marahau to Anchorage
- Abel Tasman Coast Track Day 2: Anchorage to Bark Bay
- Abel Tasman Coast Track Day 3: Bark Bay to Awaroa
- Abel Tasman Coast Track Day 4: Awaroa to Whariwharangi
- Abel Tasman Coast Track Day 5: Whariwharangi to Totaranui via Gibbs Hill Track
- Heaphy Track Day 1: Brown Hut to Perry Saddle Hut
- Heaphy Track Day 2: Perry Saddle Hut to James Mackay Hut
- Heaphy Track Day 3: James Mackay Hut to Heaphy Hut
- Heaphy Track Day 4: Heaphy Hut to Kohaihai
- Riding The Tranzalpine Train in New Zealand
- In Review: 69 Days of Backpacking in New Zealand
Previous entry: Day 2 – Routeburn Falls Hut to Lake Mackenzie Hut
Journal entry for April 5, 2015
Distance Hiked: 12.0 km
Ten minutes after leaving the hut I realized that I had left my small towel hanging by my bunk. I hesitated for a second on whether to go back to get it or not. In the end I decided to do it. I had paid 20 NZD for it after all.
The trail descends some 500 meters, but was in great condition (i.e. graded gravel) and never steep. On the way to Lake Howden Hut, I crossed a very nice stream, and saw Earland Falls.
When I arrived at Lake Howden Hut, most of the people I shared huts with the previous two nights were there having lunch. I took a break to snack. The weather was much nicer today. Still some clouds around, but no rain.
I was tight on time since I had a 2:15pm shuttle bus back to Queenstown. With two hours left, I still had about one hour to go to the end, and a one-hour side trip to Key Summit. I ended up doing the side trip in a hurry and it actually took me only 40 minutes. I left the backpack and big camera at the trail junction, so I only took one picture with my cell phone, but the 360-degree view from the top was very nice.
The last section of the track is through forest. I arrived at The Divide with 30 minutes to spare.
The bus first went to Te Anau through a very beautiful road with views of forests, sheep farms, and many lakes. After a short break and another two hours, I was back in Queenstown.
In conclusion, the alpine landscapes of Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks on the Routeburn Track were very different from what I had seen in the north island. I enjoyed the trail very much, despite having crappy weather the second day. My ratings below takes into account that I missed out on views on the best section of the track.
My ratings for the Routeburn Track:
Scenery: 7.5 – I got really bad weather during the second day, so I missed out on the best views.
Difficulty: 3.5 – Very easy aside from a small climb and descent on the second day.
Trail Condition: 9 – The trail was smooth and very well maintained.
For more info on this walk, check out the NZ Department of Conservation’s brochure and video for this walk.
Next entry: Milford Track Day 1 – Glade Wharf to Clinton Hut
