Can recommend this tramping route if you have just one day! Park your car at Divide car park to start part of the Routeburn, Milford Road The Divide, State Highway 94 , Fiordland National Park, Milford, Auckland New Zealand, Key Summit is an outstanding easy excursion from the Milford Road or a quick side-trip from the Routeburn Track. Key Summit provides panoramic views over the Humboldt and Darran Mountains. Tour departs from Te Anau, with a drive along the Milford Road to the track. Key Summit is located at the southern end of the Routeburn Track in the heart of the Fiordland mountains. Experience a full-day guided walk on one of New Zealand's premier Great Walks - the Routeburn track, including Key Summit. Note: Near the summit, the park services have laid down a wooden walkway and path, but we could see spaces where visitors had walked off the path for pictures and left shoeprints in the mud or trodden on the local flora. Moderate switchbacks lead uphill, first through forest and then through open country with views that extend down the Hollyford Valley. 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. Park your car at Divide car park to start part of the Routeburn Track about 1-1.5hr first then to Key Summit Track. From here it is a 20 minute climb to Key Summit, with panoramic views over the Humboldt and Darran Mountains. As you drive down Highway 94 after entering Fiorland National Park, you will eventually come to a stop called The Divide. On the way here you will pass Mirror Lakes and Cascade Creek, which are lovely easy stops right next to the highway, or, do as we did, and head a bit further down the road to Milford then take the Hollyford Track turn off for the short walk across the swing bridge to the falls, 10 along the Marian Lake 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. A self guided alpine nature walk passes a range of native vegetation: beech forest, sub-alpine shrublands, alpine tarns and bogs. Key Summit – Lake Marian Lookout Loop from Routeburn Track is an intermediate Hiking Tour. It takes about 40-60 minutes one way to get to summit and I would grade it as easy walk comparing with Lake Marian track. At the top, you get sweeping views in almost every direction. I chose Routeburn x Key Summit Track as it seems to fit our needs in time for a relaxing day trek that is not too easy nor tough. If you only have time for one walk on your drive to Milford Sound, and the weather is fine, this track is well worth the effort. the Key Summit branch, often surrounded by the packs dumped by those doing the 3 day walk, who add this diversion to the trail before returning to the main trek. Moderate 2.5-mile roundtrip hike along the Routeburn Track (one of NZ’s “Great Walks”) - splits near the summit to take the side trail 20 minutes up to Key Summit (sign post at trail fork). Hotels near Key Summit Track; Hotels near Milford Foreshore Walk; Hotels near Milford Beach Reserve; Near Airports. 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. After about 30 minutes (2.5km) on the Routeburn you’ll branch off for a switchbacked ascent up to Key Summit’s head-swiveling viewpoint. 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. Key Summit is part of the Routeburn Track, which is one of the nine “great walks” of New Zealand. Near the top of the climb, the trail splits as … The content on this page was created by Routeburn Track, Key Summit Guided Walk - Trips & Tramps. At the top there there is flat ground to sit and eat, but no tables and chairs. Wow, this is bang for your buck in terms of the ratio of views to climb. The climb to Key Summit begins at The … 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. The smooth track heads uphill via a series of moderate switchbacks. It said 3hr for return but we took <2hr for return. From here, the track climbs steadily to the Key Summit Track turnoff. 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. Enjoy panoramic views over mountains and alpine lakes on this half-day walk off Milford Road on the Routeburn Track - it's suitable families with children. 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'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. Key Summit Track on the Routeburn Track By Leonie Freeman in collaboration with Department of Conservation Enjoy panoramic views over Fiordland mountains and alpine lakes as well as native vegetation and birdlife on this fantastic, easy half-day walk on … Thousands of new, … These interesting short and overnight walks are great options for getting outdoors with children. You walk about ~40min in birch forest, then turn right up to expose trek to Key Summit, which is another ~20min. Detailed maps and GPS navigation for the hike: "Key Summit – Lake Marian Lookout Loop from Routeburn Track" 02:38 h 8.02 km. 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. It is an amazing day walk, combining stunning … The Key Summit Track heads uphill from a signed intersection on the Routeburn Track. In 1863, Government employed prospector Patrick Quirk Caples, travelled up from the Dart Valley along a route roughly following today’s track. It is not intended to give any assurance that any particular provider meets … The track is well, graded and passes through pleasant forest with limited views. Key Summit Day Walk This is a wonderful day out with Fiordland Walks capturing the most amazing views of several valleys from lookouts on part of the Routeburn Track and beyond. We did this hike on the way out to Milford Sound and it took about 2.5 hours round-trip from the car-park. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The path itself is well-maintained and has a definite but manageable and steady uphill rise. It’s definitely worth doing the nature trail loop as well. When we first arrived it was a total whiteout, and we headed back down, only to see the clouds start to break up under a strong wind, so we turned around and headed back up and finally got decent views. Lake Howden Track; Hollyford Track Most of the way up is wooded, which we appreciated because it was raining, and we passed a stunning waterfall, but overall I wasn't too impressed until we got near the top and then LET ME TELL YOU was it amazing. Please take care and stay on the path -- the native vegetation grows in a unique soil environment and must be protected and preserved. Some more photos from Fiordland in New Zealand 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. We also did the Routeburn trail from the other side of the mountain, but it takes a lot longer to get up to alpine views. This hiking trail, part of which is on the Routeburn Track, has it all, including panoramic mountain views, alpine ponds, pristine forest and small waterfalls. For the first hour it's the start of the Routeburn Track, but then a sign directs you to the right to. The track … Perfect day trek. The path itself is well-maintained and has a definite but manageable and steady uphill rise. Until this diversion, and for a short time after, the trail is a gently sloping uphill walk under a canopy of trees. On a good day you will get spectacular views over the surrounding valleys and mountains, but on a day of low cloud, as ours started out, you get nothing. One thing we noticed was even quite late in the day people were just starting up (after 4PM) for what is a good 3-4 hour return walk, so, perhaps a later visit gives better chances of a view? After a gradual climb a signed intersection points the way to the Key Summit Track, which veers above the Routeburn. What was tough for me was on how to dress for trek in 10-11. From The Divide carpark follow the Routeburn Track for about an hour to get to to Key Summit Track. Key Summit is an outstanding easy excursion from the Milford Road or a quick side-trip from the Routeburn Track. Located in Fiordland National Park and Milford Road/Milford Sound area in the Fiordland region The Key Summit track via the Routeburn Track was my favorite of the ones we did on the South Island. Birdlife is prolific and tomtits, robins, New Zealand pigeons and bellbirds are commonly seen. While most of the great walks of New Zealand are multi-day affairs, the Key Summit hike can be easily accomplished during part or all of a day, and is located on the first section of 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. From here there's another 15 minutes to the lookout, for the classic instagram views though at least this section is mostly a circuit with some interesting pools. turn off to Key Summit. There are signs during your drive to Milford Sound so you shouldn’t be … The route meanders on the high summit ridge, past beautiful tarns and with many outstanding viewpoints. Track is well signed and there is no way to get lost there. Key Summit Track: 5/5 really - See 44 traveller reviews, 54 candid photos, and great deals for Milford, New Zealand, at Tripadvisor.