This is the first day of my solo hike of the Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks where I combined the two tracks to make what was an epic four night, five day solo walk.

This video covers the stage from Queenstown where I meet the shuttle which transported me to the Routeburn Trailhead near Glenorchy. From there I walk first to the Routeburn Flats Hut and Routeburn Flats Campsite where I had arranged to camp. On arrival at the Flat’s Hut, I discover that there’d been 100% cancellations both at the hut and campsite and when the Ranger called out, I found I could secure the last bunk at the Routeburn Falls Hut.

This suited me perfectly as it enabled me to gain further elevation and equally as importantly, i’d be under cover for the night as the weather forecast was for heavy rain. When booking, there were no bunks available on the track which meant I’d planned to camp for the whole trip.

Highlights of the day included the stunning drive between Queenstown and Glenorchy, the Shuttle driver Bill who was an encyclopaedia of useful information, the magical Routeburn trail and river, meeting a cheeky Kaka and the South Island Tomtit, Miromiro, and meeting so many like minded people.

For more detail on what I’m carrying and how I prepared for this trip, watch here:

ℹ️Stats

📅 Date: 2nd December 2021

☀️Weather: stunning weather, sunny and beautiful

⏮ From: Routeburn Shelter, Routeburn Track, Mount Aspiring National Park, Otago

⏭ To: Routeburn Falls Hut, Routeburn Track, Fiordland National Park, Otago

🏡 Accommodation: $68 DOC Great Walks, Serviced Hut, Bookings are required for huts and campsites.

👏 Difficulty: Intermediate Great Walk / Easier Tramping Track

🥾Distance: 12.71km

🏔 Elevation Gain: 563 metres

🏔 Max Elevation: 996 metres

🏃🏼‍♀️ Moving Time: 3 hours 36 minutes

🕘 Elapsed Time: 6 hours 03 minutes

🥑Calories burned: 859

🥾 Boots: Iowa Lavena ii GTX Lowa Boots