Adventure · 15D | 14N
Milford, Routeburn & the Tongariro
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing between two volcanoes, the Routeburn over the Harris Saddle, and four days on the Milford Track to Sandfly Point.
- Best time
- November to March
- Route
- Tongariro · Queenstown · Routeburn · Milford Track
Day by day
15 days, planned in full
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing between two volcanoes, the Routeburn over the Harris Saddle, and four days on the Milford Track to Sandfly Point.
Day 1
Arrive in Auckland
In and south the same afternoon to Taupō, kit checked, and the fortnight's weather windows talked through.
- Night
- Taupō
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Nineteen kilometres between Ngauruhoe and Tongariro, over the Red Crater at 1,886 m and past the Emerald Lakes.
- Night
- Tongariro
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3
Taranaki, or a rest day
Either the Pouakai crossing under Mount Taranaki, or a day off at the thermal pools, depending on how day two went.
- Night
- Tongariro
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
Day 4
Fly to Queenstown
North to Auckland and south over the Alps, then a hotel by the lake and a briefing for the Routeburn.
- Night
- Queenstown
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 5
The Routeburn, day one
Up the Route Burn valley through beech forest to a lodge at the flats, with the Humboldt range across the river.
- Night
- Routeburn lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6
The Harris Saddle
Over the saddle at 1,255 m with the Conical Hill side trip, then the long traverse above the Hollyford to Lake Mackenzie.
- Night
- Routeburn lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7
Down to the Divide
Past Earland falls and Howden to the Divide, then the road to Te Anau and a hotel bed for two nights.
- Night
- Te Anau
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8
A day between walks
The Te Anau glowworm caves in the morning and nothing after it — the Milford Track starts tomorrow and takes four days.
- Night
- Te Anau
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 9
The Milford Track, day one
The boat up Lake Te Anau to Glade Wharf and an easy five kilometres along the Clinton to the first lodge.
- Night
- Glade House
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10
Up the Clinton valley
Sixteen kilometres up a glacier-cut valley under 1,500 m walls, with waterfalls on both sides after any rain, to Pompolona.
- Night
- Pompolona
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11
The Mackinnon Pass
Eleven zigzags to the pass at 1,154 m, the memorial cairn, and the long descent past Sutherland falls at 580 m.
- Night
- Quintin
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12
To Sandfly Point
Twenty-one kilometres down the Arthur valley past Mackay falls and Bell Rock, then the boat across Milford Sound.
- Night
- Milford Sound
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13
The fjord, from the water
A cruise on the sound with the walking done, under Mitre Peak and Stirling falls, then the road back to Queenstown.
- Night
- Queenstown
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch
Day 14
Ben Lomond, or the lake
A last 1,400 m climb above the town for anyone still willing, or the gondola and a long lunch for everyone else.
- Night
- Queenstown
- Meals
- Breakfast, dinner
Day 15
Fly home
Queenstown to Auckland and the connection through Singapore or Sydney.
- Meals
- Breakfast
What's included
- 14 nights in guided-walk lodges, mountain accommodation and town hotels
- Return economy airfare and both internal flights
- Guided Milford Track — four days, all lodges, meals and packs carried between
- Guided Routeburn — three days with lodge nights and all meals
- Tongariro Alpine Crossing with a guide and shuttle transfers
- Great Walk hut passes and Department of Conservation fees
- Milford Sound cruise and all road and boat transfers
Not included
- New Zealand visitor visa
- Travel insurance covering multi-day alpine walking, which is compulsory
- Personal walking gear, boots and waterproofs
- Meals not named in the itinerary
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*Per person on twin sharing. Prices move with season and availability — we confirm yours in writing before anything is booked.
Plan this trip
Make Milford, Routeburn & the Tongariro yours.
Dates, hotels, pace, who's coming — all of it moves. Send us the outline and a planner will price a version built round you, usually within twelve hours.