The Routeburn track linking Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks is named a great walk for a reason, says Rob Brown.
The Wanaka tramper, author and photographer talks to Jesse Mulligan in the first of a series of conversations with the people who know New Zealand’s great walks best.
Rob Brown also runs a volunteer programme maintaining New Zealand's remote backcountry huts and tracks.
He's walked his local Routeburn track many times.
“It takes you about three days to do and at the end of it you definitely look back and think 'That went through some great country'.
“It’s got beautiful forests, high alpine tops, great views and traverses a special part of New Zealand.”
Though the 30km Routeburn can get “belted with some hard weather”, Brown says it’s definitely a track you can take your kids on to introduce them to the outdoors.
Each day’s walk is about 10 kilometres so there’s plenty of time to arrive at the huts early, chill out, and enjoy the surroundings at Lake MacKenzie and Routeburn Falls, Brown says.
And the bird life is fantastic.
“You’re getting this wonderful experience of old New Zealand.”
