{"id":3326,"date":"2017-07-28T13:50:05","date_gmt":"2017-07-28T17:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adventurousretirement.com\/blog\/?p=3326"},"modified":"2019-11-13T11:16:57","modified_gmt":"2019-11-13T16:16:57","slug":"great-walk-routeburn-track-from-glenorchy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventurousretirement.com\/blog\/great-walk-routeburn-track-from-glenorchy\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand Great Walk – Routeburn Track from Glenorchy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Choose to stay in a big tourist town \u2013 Queenstown, or the lesser known town of Glenorchy<\/a>?<\/h1>\n

\"Routeburn<\/a>When New Zealand is mentioned, those who have been there often point to a mandatory visit to Queenstown<\/a>. Most visitors hiking the Routeburn Track stay in Queenstown. It\u2019s likely if you went to the Southern Alps, you stayed in Queenstown for at least 1 night. Our attitudes towards \u2018Adventures in Style for Less,\u2019 led us to Glenorchy <\/a>instead.<\/p>\n

So why choose Glenorchy?<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Waterfall<\/a>Queenstown is often called the adventure capitol of New Zealand. It seems to be due the number of tour operators offering bungee jumping, jet boating, hiking, biking, winery tours, and skiing in winter. Queenstown is built up with hotels, motels, restaurants and stores along the lakefront. Still, Queenstown offers stunning scenery of mountains and lakes, situated in the Southern Alps.<\/p>\n

Are there other choices in the area as a central base to access the Routeburn Track?<\/h2>\n

Are there better choices? Yes! We did not choose Queenstown; we passed through Queenstown, had a meal, and quick look around, but stayed in Glenorchy.<\/p>\n

Glenorchy<\/h2>\n

\"Waterfall<\/a>If there is a preference for more natural beauty, fewer people, no noise, and being in a place that feels like you are completely surrounded by nature, consider Glenorchy. Glenorchy is a spectacularly scenic 45-minute drive northwest of Queenstown, on the northern shores of Lake Wakatipu<\/a> and adjacent to Mount Aspiring National Park.<\/a><\/p>\n

Glenorchy, New Zealand is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, rivers and lakes. An outdoor enthusiast\u2019s paradise, it\u2019s a great starting point for a hikes, salmon and trout fishing, boating, biking, and horseback riding. Some Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Chronicles of Narnia scenes were filmed in this area.<\/p>\n

While Queenstown is the mecca for adventures, many of those adventures actually start in Glenorchy. There are two in particular that we, as baby boomer travelers with an adventurous spirit chose \u2013 hiking the Routeburn Track and a combo jet boat on the Dart River coupled with a Walking the Aspiring Wilderness<\/a> adventure. Both pick up in Queenstown, but start from Glenorchy. After long hikes and wilderness activities, relaxing in the beautiful countryside is quite appealing rather than returning to the bustle of Queenstown. Glenorchy is a sleepy quiet town, with a few places to stay and a few places to eat and drink, unlike the tourist area of Queenstown.<\/p>\n

There are some food and drink options available in Glenorchy. While there is a General Store, if you have kitchen facilities, do your food shopping in Queenstown.<\/p>\n

Glenorchy is for those who love nature; while Queenstown<\/a> is for those who want amenities close by.<\/p>\n

The Routeburn Track Hike<\/h2>\n

\"Routeburn<\/a>Our main reason for visiting Glenorchy is the Routeburn Track<\/a>. One of New Zealand\u2019s popular \u2018Great Walks,\u2019 the Routeburn Track is a world renowned magnificent hiking experience on New Zealand\u2019s South Island. Imagine viewing soaring mountain peaks, some with snow atop, vast valleys, multiple waterfalls, and crystal clear lakes. The Routeburn Track spans both Mount Aspiring National Park and Fjordland National Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Routeburn<\/a>It is easily accessible and can be done as a 1-day or 3 day\/ 2 night walk, guided or self-led. Many people are transported from Queenstown to the Routeburn Track. We were lucky enough to be included in one of Ultimate Hikes<\/a> 1-day trek up and down the mountain through the beech forest, crossing swing bridges, and lunching in a highland valley at one of the huts.\"Valley<\/a><\/p>\n

Ultimate Hikes<\/a><\/h2>\n

While we were invited guests by Ultimate Hikes, this is a totally independent and honest review based on my own experience.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Van<\/a>We were picked up in Glenorchy by our guide\/driver with other hikers in our group from Queenstown, and driven to the Routeburn Track carpark access point. Our guide told us about the area and mountains on our way to the Track \u2013 the history, geology, and cultural lore.<\/p>\n

Upon arrival, our Ultimate Hikes guide provided options for our hike, and adjusted the hike to suit the group. Our hike had the potential of being 16 km \u2013 10 miles, or more, depending on our pace and the time we chose to arrive back at the van.<\/p>\n

\"Rest<\/a>Kana, our guide from Ultimate Hikes and originally from Japan 20 years prior, asked our group of 5 hikers to choose the focus of our hike. We chose to focus on interesting aspects of nature, unusual things \u2013 birds, flowers, trees. With our interest in birds and orchids, we stopped often to watch the birdlife, and when Kana found some very unusual orchids \u2013 potato, onion and greenhood orchids; we would not have noticed them ourselves. Of course, Kana made other stops to share knowledge and the local lore of the forest, the trees \u2013 Beech, Manuka, Tea trees, birds, other animals, flora and fauna.  Kana shared the history of the area, other activities available, in addition to her naturalist knowledge.<\/p>\n

\"Greenhood<\/a>We learned quite a bit from Kana. For example:<\/p>\n