Routburn Track - NZ

[Kainas]

I have been meaning to post these picutres for the last few months..but I took thousands of pictures (and that is alot of out-of-focus photos to delete). While I am currently in the process of turning my entire trip into a website, I thought I should upload some of the very best photos so far.

Also...a very amateur photographer. Please be kind.

[Kainas]

Day 1 - Routeburn Shelter to Routerburn Flats Hut
The view of the river, only 20m into the walk.

The path is wide and clear, and we met several runners.

It was an awesome sight to see snow-capped mountains everywhere.

[Kainas]

Day 1 - Routeburn Flats Hut...our first night of hiking EVER!!!!
I don't think any other hut was quite as calm. Sitting outside on an old wooden picnic table, surround by snow-capped mountains, listening to a bubbling stream. It was the best, and we are so glad we didn't go an extra 1.5hours up the track to the much newer hut.

[Kainas]

We could not get over the sheer volume of water around us.

[Kainas]

We saw snow...my husband saw it for the first time!!
This was on the tramp up Conical Hill. Notice the lack of backpacks...thank goodness for that...we left them at the bottom in the emergency shelter.

The view from the top of Conical Hill

[Kainas]

The view back along the track

The Faery Glen, about 30minutes before McKenzie Hut...aptly named as this place really seemed like something out of a magical story.

The view down to McKenzie hut..still a solid 45minutes down hill. You can see the more expensive 'guided walks' hut in the background as well.

[Kainas]

A nice leisurely 4hour walk, the first overcast day of the trip.

Earldom falls is massice (174m). We took a great deal of photos, the camera got very wet, and well...it has never worked properly since!

[Kainas]

The 'end of hike' photos are always the best ones. This was our first hike ever, and wow, it was awesome...

(60minutes later we catch a bus, and 2 hours later we start our second hike...ever)

Hope you liked the pictures. Stay tuned for the Hollyford Track pictures.

[geoskid]

Hi Kainas,
Thanks for the photos. - The river water looks very blue, - luvly. The track between Routburn Flats Hut and McKenzie Hut looks pretty speccy. How busy were the huts each night?
Good stuff,
Geoskid

[Ciaran]

Great pics there, brings back some good memories. Did you get to do the North Col side track up the North Branch from Routeburn Flats Hut? A fantastic day walk.

Loved the section between Harris Saddle and Lake Mckenzie, although some of the bridges had been removed, and the shelteron the saddle was just being built.

Looking forward to the pics on the Hollyford, another fantastic walk as you would well know.

Let us know when the webpage is up and running. NZ is truely a spectacular country for walking, but I'm afraid the secret is already out!!

[Kainas]

I must have taken 100 photos of water, it was so crystal clear.

Huts:
Routeburn Flats (an older hut, most people use Routeburn Falls Hut which is a further 1.5hours down the track). 4 people + us.

McKenzie hut. Absolutely packed. 40people. Noisy Americans in the kitchen and in the bunkhouse. The hut warden was a hoot. Gave a 30minute talk that had every laughing until they cried. Too busy sleeping to notice the snoring. (bunkhouse slept 32 on 4 bunkbeds.

Lake Howden hut. 6 people (it can sleep alot more), very quiet. Was my favourite hut I think for the peace and quiet.

Hut quality was very high. Hut wardens were awesome. Toilet paper and flushing toilets...also awesome.

[Kainas]

Great pics there, brings back some good memories. Did you get to do the North Col side track up the North Branch from Routeburn Flats Hut? A fantastic day walk.

No, we arrived at Flats hut at the end of our first night (and bed that night was the first real sleep in 36hours). The thought of even walking from the hut to the picnic table seemed exhausting!!

Let us know when the webpage is up and running. NZ is truely a spectacular country for walking, but I'm afraid the secret is already out!!

I am still blown away by what we saw and what we did. Surely no place compares.

[Steve]

I can't get over how awesome your shots are! Looks amazing.

[Mickeymoo]

Some very nice shots there, looks like you had a great time of it.

[Darren]

G'Day
Im hopfully taking the family to nz next year and im going to skive off for 2 days and do the Routburn. I know that amount of time wont do it justice but i will be spending time away from my girls. It looks great.
What time of year did you go
Thanks
Darren

[Kainas]

We went over Christmas 14th dec to 29th dec. We did the routeburn first up.

I imagine it would be difficult to do the Routeburn in two days, as the start and finish are very far apart (from a driving perspective I mean).

[Darren]

from what i can see its only 350k's. that will be a snack for them
Darren

[Kainas]

True, I was thinking more about public transport schedules.