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Home > Destinations > Pacific > New
Zealand > Routeburn Track versus Milford
Track
The Routeburn and Milford Tracks are New Zealand’s
two finest walks. When planning our trip and answering the
question, “Which is better.” we prefer the Routeburn
for several reasons including: 1) less commercial and smaller
group size (regulated by the National Park Service), 2) higher
elevation with drier climate and more clear skies with better
opportunities for views, 3) shorter duration, and 4) easier
gradient. The following table makes some basic comparisons:
| FACTOR |
ROUTEBURN
TRACK |
MILFORD
TRACK |
Elevation
Range |
465
- 1300 meters |
0
- 1073 meters |
Maximum
Elevation |
Near
Harris Saddle |
Near
Mackinnon Pass |
Predominant
Scenery |
Alpine
with panoramic vistas |
Valley
/ temperate rainforest |
Annual
Rainfall |
3
- 5 meters |
5
- 6 meters |
Degree
of Difficulty |
Moderate |
Moderately
easy with one strenuous climb |
Start
/ End |
The
Divide / Routeburn Shelter |
Lake
TeAnau / Milford Sound |
Maximum
Group Size |
24 |
45 |
Length
of Time |
3
days / 2 nights |
5
days / 4 nights
(no hiking on Day 5) |
Typical
Season |
November
2 - April 28 |
November
1 - April 4 |
Length
of Track |
25
miles (9 + 9 + 7) |
34
miles (1 + 10 + 10 + 13) |
On guided walks, we stay in staffed mountain huts equipped
with kitchen facilities, hot showers, drying rooms, hand
laundry, and quad-share, bunk-style sleeping accommodations.
All meals are included and specialist mountain guides are
provided. Although access to each track is tightly regulated,
the worldwide name cachet and historic tradition of the Milford
results in it being the busier of the two.
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