Routeburn Guided Walk Half Day
Enjoy a half day hike on Routeburn Track filled with native birds, waterfalls, and rich local history.
After pickup you drive along the picturesque Queenstown-Glenorchy Road beside Lake Wakatipu. Beyond Glenorchy you will drive through Paradise and at the road end enter Mt Aspiring National Park and the renowned Routeburn Track. Cross the swing bridge and enter a spectacular Beech Forest. The path is smooth and flat, allowing you to look for birds as they flit through the trees - a treat is to see the Mohua (yellowhead) a rare endemic bird usually seen in small breeding flocks plus the native bush robin and NZ's smallest native bird the rifleman.
The track follows the Routeburn River as it roars through a magnificent gorge before plunging beneath the rocks. It is a gradual ascent through 130million year old magical world of ferns, mosses, lichens & beech forest. The wide variety of flora and fauna on display is sure to impress. Guides will also share information about the historical significance of the Routeburn Track and how it was used by Maori and European pioneers. There are plenty of waterfalls to enjoy and lots of places to rest along the river. The trail is a gentle nature walk loop of around 1.5 hours.
Duration: 4 hours and 30 minutes
Pick-up from Central Accommodation, Queenstown, New Zealand