http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , New Zealand , South Island , Routeburn Track en-us Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:37:00 UTC Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:37:00 UTC Rain in the forecast and bitter cold nights...I was undecided as to whether I should hike the Routeburn Track... And then I talked with a former ranger who had spent several years working in the huts and she told me I could rent a Gortex jacket trekking pole and just about anything else I would need for the hike. So I decided this was an experience I couldn't pass up.The first day poured rain a http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-348279.html Forgot to publish at the time..will add the photos once we get back from Thailand...Yo yo fullas summers done fresh snow up the hills and temps have chilled down big time. Guide season pretty full on this time round and ready was for a break by the end. Did a mish down Stewart Isl with Forest Josh Rusteye couple weeks back. Primo time spent kiwi watching fishing drinking constantly eating a http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-273625.html The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand's most famous walks not a leisurely stroll through the park but actually a fairly tough hike. It starts out near a little town of Glenarchy and passes through forests and over mountains to come out near Milford Sound. Most people cover it as a 3 day hike but due to our time constraints we completed it in 2 days. We thought that was a good pace exc http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-266508.html After an amazing day at the glaciers ....picking up two friends and getting bitten to death by sand flies at our over night stop off we head south to Queenstown stopping at a few walks and falls and generally taking it easy until we reach queenstown ...tired and hungry After a good shopping trip for cheese crackers and wine we find the classiest camping ground in queenstown and set ourselves up http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-259051.html 171 Aspen Ldoge QueenstownA rest day in Queenstown to prepare for the Routeburn Track. We finally got to watch Lord of the rings the Two Towers but not even to the end. Gernot just doesn't like.181 Routeburn Falls Hut Routeburn TrackWe went by bus to the Routeburn shelter where the Track starts. This was a much lovelier walk then the Kepler Track and much nicer weather too. The path goes al http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-245751.html Day 93 cont Summits and Lakes The Divide to Lake HowdenFrom Milford Sound it was a half hour bus journey to the Divide 532m and the start of the Routeburn. The only passenger dropped off at the stop I was feeling a bit apprehensive as I put on my backpack and set off on the gravel track. Within five minutes of starting out it began to rain. Although not a torrential downpour it was annoy http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-240958.html O willem heeft hier een apart item van gemaakt. Oke dit is dus een stukje routeburn die we na de milford sound hebben gelopen.de vogel op de foto is de kea die zag je veel in fiordland maar behoorlijk irritante beesten. en beetje eng ze sprongen op onze motorkap en begonnen aan de ruitenwissers te knagen. De bossen die je ziet is beech forest ziet er heel mooi uit zo helemaal begroeid met bo http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-145244.html After all the countless times of good weather it appeared that my luck was finally running out when starting the routeburn. Yes we took on yet another tramp. the Routeburn is a great walk lasting 3 days but its fairly easy compared to the majority we've done as it is only around 37km however the walk involves lots of mountain passes and high altitude so can be difficult in bad weather. The walk b http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-143310.html Well finally I got to see NewZealand in all its glory. Since I've been here and even before that I had heard time and time again how wet and rainy NewZealand is. But for over a month all I saw was barely a couple of hours of moderate rain and drizzles here and there. Even in Fiordland considered to be one of the wettest places on earth I barely got a drizzle on the Milford and a just perfe http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-136399.html Now onto the Routeburn Track a three day hike over some mountains. The first day was a simple short hike up to our first campsite. Some mice got to a bit of the food over the night and a few bugs got to us but we layed out and watched the stars that night so we were pretty at peace with it all. Dustin Brad Meredith and I also ventured off the path up along the stream to some waterfalls. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-131569.html The Routeburn didn't waste anytime getting started so neither will I. The first 2 miles of the track are a straight climb up to Key Summit a peak just under 1000m from which you can see a 360 of Fiordland and the opening scenes from one of the Rings movies. With some of the surrounding mountains shrouded in cloud the view wasn't as good as it could've been but at least the rain had cleared so http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-127801.html I was a little nervous starting this walk because it's recommended you do it in 34 days and I had decided to do it in 24 hours. After the Abel Tasman I thought it would be better to do this type of hike in less time in order to have a lighter pack. I looked at the maps distance and topography of the trail and spoke to the Department of Conservation DOC who reluctantly admitted yes it was pos http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-117971.html Routeburn Track Day 1 December 18 2006We were packed and ready to gohellip most of our luggage was stored at the hotel and the few belongings we were taking with us were packed and on our backs. We were picked up at our hotel and whisked by bus to the start of the Routeburn track. We enjoyed the views from the bus all along as we drove north along the banks of Lake Wakatipu. The mountains wer http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Routeburn-Track/blog-113460.html