Key facts
- Fact 01
In the Great Walks season, bookings are required for all Routeburn Track huts and campsites.
- Fact 02
An adult Routeburn Track hut night costs $88 for New Zealanders and $132 for international visitors in the season.
- Fact 03
The Routeburn Track is 33 km one way and takes 2 to 4 days.
The Great Walks season on the Routeburn Track runs from Sunday 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, according to the Department of Conservation (DOC). From 1 November, bookings are required for every hut and campsite on the track. We read DOC's Routeburn Track page on 30 October, and the details below come from it.
The Routeburn Track is 33 km one way and takes 2 to 4 days, crossing Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks. DOC says most walkers take 3 days and 2 nights, usually staying at Routeburn Falls and Lake Mackenzie huts. There are three huts and two campsites, and DOC says they must be booked well in advance in the Great Walks season. Walkers without a valid booking may be charged a penalty, or turned away if the hut or campsite is full.
In the season, an adult hut night costs $88 for New Zealanders and $132 for international visitors, per person. Children pay $44 (NZ) or $66 (international), and infants up to 4 stay free. Campsites cost $28 for NZ adults and $42 for international adults per night. DOC says proof of eligibility is needed for the New Zealand rate. Bookings are open for the 2026/27 season.
The track can be walked in either direction. One end is the Routeburn Shelter, 25 km from Glenorchy, and the other is The Divide Shelter, 85 km from Te Anau. DOC notes the road distance between the two ends is 325 km, so transport is needed at each end, and it warns that avalanche risk can extend into December, when sections may be closed.
For the Glenorchy end, see our Glenorchy day trip guide. The Divide sits on the road to Milford Sound, covered in our Milford Sound planner.
Questions visitors are asking
When does the Routeburn Track Great Walks season start?
The Routeburn Track Great Walks season starts on Sunday 1 November 2026 and runs to 30 April 2027, according to DOC. During the season, bookings are required for all three huts and both campsites, and DOC says it is the best time to walk the track, with more facilities and fewer hazards.
How much does a Routeburn Track hut cost per night?
In the 2026/27 Great Walks season, a Routeburn Track hut costs $88 per adult per night for New Zealanders and $132 for international visitors. Children pay $44 or $66, and infants up to 4 are free. Campsites cost $28 for NZ adults and $42 for international adults.
Do I need to book the Routeburn Track?
Yes, from 1 November. DOC says bookings are required for Routeburn Track huts and campsites in the Great Walks season, and they must be booked well in advance. Walkers without a valid booking may be charged a penalty, or turned away if the hut or campsite is full.
Where does the Routeburn Track start and finish?
The Routeburn Track can be walked in either direction. One end is the Routeburn Shelter, 25 km from Glenorchy, and the other is The Divide Shelter, 85 km from Te Anau. DOC says the road distance between the two ends is 325 km, so transport is needed at each end.