7. Routeburn Track, New Zealand
best trek: lovers of expansive landscapes
Distance: 32 kilometers (20 miles).
Time: 3 to 4 days
Grade: moderate
The three-day Routeburn Track is one of the best ways to explore this pure natural beauty, which is as alpine as it gets outside of New Zealand’s South Island’s Alps. Through glacier-carved fjords, narrow valleys, and jagged mountains, this walk traverses the mountainous terrain of two spectacular national parks, Fiordland and Mt. Aspiring.
The ideal route connects Milford Road to the Routeburn Shelter (north of Queenstown), stopping for the night at campgrounds with spectacular views along the way. The views from Harris Saddle and Conical Hill, as well as frigid dips in spring-fed alpine tarns, are highlights. The primary difficulty with this much-liked climb is getting a spot among the few that are permitted at any given time. To avoid disappointment, make reservations well in advance through the NZ Department of Conservation’s Great Walks booking site.
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