The Routeburn Track and Milford Sound

The country of New Zealand has designated nine so-called “Great Walks,” which are multi-day hiking treks that require advance bookings (sometimes months in advance). Amy and I chose to take on the Routeburn Track, a 24-mile, 3-day hike through the mountains of Fiordland National Park in the southern part of the South Island. After spending three days on the track, we emerged tired, sore, and—in my case anyways—quite dirty and smelly. (If anyone ever offers you cologne called “Three Days on the Routeburn,” you should be very, very afraid….) But we also hiked most of the track with huge grins on our faces. Time and time again, we were blown away by the eye-popping beauty of area. The Routeburn Track has some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery we have ever seen. Huge, impossibly steep peaks surround you at every turn. Glaciers, waterfalls, rainforest, beech forest, gorges, lakes, swing bridges….. Wow.

Prior to setting off on the hike, we rented backpacks, sleeping bags, and cookware in Queenstown and also took along three days worth of food. (Most hikers try to make their packs as light as possible. Us? Well, uh, we stubbornly brought along two boxes of wine…. although I suppose the alcohol helped with the added back pain---so maybe it’s a wash.) In lieu of tents, our accommodation along the track were spartan “huts,” which provide roughly fifty hikers each night with a non-heated bunkhouse, a communal kitchen and living area, and bathrooms (but no showers). We greatly enjoyed cooking our dinner, socializing, and playing cards amongst travelers and languages from all over the world…. Although, then again, we did not enjoy listening each night to snorers and sleeptalkers from all over the world. (Next time: Bring ear plugs!)

We lucked out with two days of sun, although we hit a bit of fog on our second day that prevented us from seeing much of anything from the track’s summit. I just wish that our photos did justice to the stunning beauty of this track…

At the end of the track, we caught a shuttle to nearby Milford Sound before finally heading back to Queenstown. While at Milford Sound, we took a boat cruise through the sound….. and I’ll just let the pictures fill you in. (Hint: It did not suck.)

Hard to believe, but we only have two more days in New Zealand before heading to Australia. We are catching a bus tomorrow to Christchurch---but we can’t leave Queenstown without doing what Queenstown is famous for: bungee jumping. Stay tuned!