Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
8
Getting to/from the Tramp
Kiwi Discovery
( 03-442 7340, 0800 505 504;
www.kiwidiscovery.com;
37 Camp St, Queenstown)
services the Routeburn all year round. Sample sector fares are Queenstown to Routeburn
Shelter ($45, two hours), via Glenorchy; the Divide to Queenstown ($78, four hours); and
$116 for a return trip. It also offers a package that combines return-trip track transport to and
from Queenstown with a cruise on Milford Sound ($116).
vices from the Divide to Te Anau ($38, 1ΒΌ hours), with onward connections to Queenstown
($45, four hours).
flexible transport services to Routeburn Shelter from Queenstown/Glenorchy ($45/25).
transport from Queenstown to Routeburn Shelter ($45) and from the Divide back to Queen-
stown ($90).
Info & Track Centre
( 03-442 9708;
www.infotrack.co.nz;
37 Shotover St;
7am-9pm)
plies
the Routeburn Shelter to Queenstown route ($45).
car-relocation service from either end of the Routeburn Track, so you don't have to back-
track over parts of the country you've already seen. Similar services are available for the
Greenstone Caples Track and the Rees-Dart Track.
The Tramp
Day 1: Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls Hut
4 HOURS, 8.8KM, 560M ASCENT
The track begins with a crossing of
Route Burn
on a swing bridge to its true left (north)
bank, before winding for 1km through a forest of red, silver and mountain beech to a foot-
bridge over
Sugar Loaf Stream
. The forest here is magnificent, with red beech trees tower-
ing overhead. Once across the stream the track climbs gently for 20 minutes until it reaches
the swing bridge over the small gorge carved by
Bridal Veil Falls
. More impressive rock
scenery follows as the track sidles
Routeburn Gorge
, providing ample opportunities to peer
at the deep pools at the bottom. The dramatic views end at Forge Flats, a gravel bar along a
sharp bend in the Route Burn and a popular place to linger in the sun.
