There also begins Routeburn Track, but after you pass beech forest Routeburn and Key Summit tracks will split. Key Summit Track: Stunning views from the top - See 44 traveler reviews, 54 candid photos, and great deals for Milford, New Zealand, at Tripadvisor. Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai, https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/routeburn-track-key-summit-track/. up); the payoff is at the top. At the top, you get sweeping views in almost every direction. The Key Summit track via the Routeburn Track was my favorite of the ones we did on the South Island. The rain had mostly stopped and the storm clouds were lifting, and we watched the shadows of the cloud clusters fall on the trees and mountains as they were blown away by the brisk wind. These interesting short and overnight walks are great options for getting outdoors with children. From here it is a 20 minute climb to Key Summit, with panoramic views over the Humboldt and Darran Mountains. Thousands of new, … It's about 4-5 miles in total ~ 2 hours and while steep in some places not a hard hike and rewarding with magnificent views, Key Summit is a great introduction to walking in Fjordland - it's just over an hour's drive from Te Anau, there's plenty of parking, toilets, and the walk is well sign-posted. This walk begins at The Divide, about 85 km along the Milford Road from Te Anau. Key Summit is an outstanding easy excursion from the Milford Road or a quick side-trip from the Routeburn Track.

Key Summit is the first major landmark on the famous Routeburn Track - a DoC Great Walk which traverses Harris Saddle on its way to Lake Wakatipu. Ascend through lush forest and into a unique alpine herb field offering panoramic views, this walk offers an incredible day out in the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. However there is a pit toilet. Find key summit track stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. It said 3hr for return but we took <2hr for return. Located in Fiordland National Park and Milford Road/Milford Sound area in the Fiordland region, Mountain tarn at Key Summit Image: Shellie Evans ©, Boardwalk, Key Summit Track Image: Shellie Evans ©. The path itself is well-maintained and has a definite but manageable and steady uphill rise. Birdlife is prolific and tomtits, robins, New Zealand pigeons and bellbirds are commonly seen. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. turn off to Key Summit. The content on this page was created by Routeburn Track, Key Summit Guided Walk - Trips & Tramps. It is not intended to give any assurance that any particular provider meets … The track then continues on a gradual descent to the Lake Howden Hut, the perfect place to stop for lunch. 3-3.5hrs/3.4km return-easy hike of Key Summit Track is well-maintained and it’s constant uphill walk thus it’s suitable for of all ages. Key Summit is located at the southern end of the Routeburn Track in the heart of the Fiordland mountains. Can recommend this tramping route if you have just one day! Please take care and stay on the path -- the native vegetation grows in a unique soil environment and must be protected and preserved. This half-day walk to easily accessible off of the Milford Road from the Divide Carpark, one of the access points to the popular backpacking trip.

Key Summit is the first major landmark on the famous Routeburn Track - a DoC Great Walk which traverses Harris Saddle on its way to Lake Wakatipu. Until this diversion, and for a short time after, the trail is a gently sloping uphill walk under a canopy of trees. It is an amazing day walk, combining stunning … Lake Howden Track; Hollyford Track The views from the top are stunning, and at only 3 hours return, this walk isn’t overly demanding. In 1863, Government employed prospector Patrick Quirk Caples, travelled up from the Dart Valley along a route roughly following today’s track. The climb to Key Summit begins at The … Located in Fiordland National Park and Milford Road/Milford Sound area in the Fiordland region Near the top of the climb the trail forks as part of a worthwhile nature loop. 3-3.5hrs/3.4km return-easy hike of Key Summit Track is well-maintained and it’s constant uphill walk thus it’s suitable for of all ages. It passes a modest waterfall with some nice forest scenery, but it's when it breaks out of the trees that makes or breaks the walk. See this Tour and others like it, or plan your own with komoot! Fairly easy walk with stunning views from the top, We did this hike on the way out to Milford Sound and it took about 2.5 hours round-trip from the car-park. Walkers then head gradually downhill through silver beech forest to the divide on Milford Road. The hike itself is not that interesting (though we did see a kaka chewing on a branch on the way. The half day trek within Fiordland National Park was challenging enough for us that we used our hiking sticks, and we were rewarded with spectacular views. Near the top of the climb, the trail splits as part of a worthwhile nature loop. During the last ice age, which ended about 14,000 years ago, a huge glacier flowed down the Hollyford Valley and overtopped Key Summit by 500 m, with ice branches splitting off into the Eglinton and Greenstone Valleys. The smooth track heads uphill via a series of moderate switchbacks. more, Discover Milford Sound Information Centre & Cafe, Would you recommend this place or activity to a friend looking for an, Is this a must-do if you are traveling with a, Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for, Is this a place or activity you would suggest for, Are the prices for this place or activity. Detailed maps and GPS navigation for the hike: "Key Summit – Lake Marian Lookout Loop from Routeburn Track" 02:38 h 8.02 km. After a gradual climb a signed intersection points the way to the Key Summit Track, which veers above the Routeburn. Key Summit – Lake Marian Lookout Loop from Routeburn Track is an intermediate Hiking Tour. 3-3.5hrs/3.4km return-easy hike of Key Summit Track is well-maintained and it’s constant uphill walk thus it’s suitable for of all ages. Also, as in most places in NZ, dress in layers, as the amount of exposure and wind changes considerably over the course of the trek. You walk about ~40min in birch forest, then turn right up to expose trek to Key Summit, which is another ~20min. We are making our way far South on the South Island to Milford Sound. The track is well Hotels near Key Summit Track; Hotels near Milford Foreshore Walk; Hotels near Milford Beach Reserve; Near Airports. Wow, this is bang for your buck in terms of the ratio of views to climb. Track is well signed and there is no way to get lost there. Some more photos from Fiordland in New Zealand Deg Cel, yet knowing we will sweat when sun’s out to play. 3-3.5hrs/3.4km return-easy hike of Key Summit Track is well-maintained and it’s constant uphill walk thus it’s suitable for of all ages. The track continues and then ends to become an unmarked route along the Livingstone Mountains eventually leading down a spur to McKellar Hut on the Greenstone Track. Park your car at Divide car park to start part of the Routeburn Track about 1-1.5hr first then to Key Summit Track.

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