The Routeburn Track from Queenstown: getting there and what it costs
Three days, 33 km, two road ends 325 km apart. The DOC fees for 2026/27, the bus that makes the one-way walk work, and where your bags go.
Published 4 September 2026 · Last checked 18 September 2026 · Corrected 18 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
In short: The Routeburn is 33 km over three days between the Routeburn Shelter near Glenorchy and The Divide on the Milford Road. In the Great Walks season (1 November to 30 April) huts cost $88 a night for NZ residents and $132 for international visitors, booked through DOC. Info & Track’s bus from Shotover Street to the Routeburn Shelter is listed at $70; the bus back from The Divide to Queenstown is $109.
DOC hut and campsite fees, 2026/27
| Period | Adult NZ | Adult international | Child NZ | Child international |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hut, 1 Nov to 30 Apr (Great Walks season) | $88 | $132 | $44 | $66 |
| Hut, 1 May to 30 Jun | $35 | $35 | $17.50 | $17.50 |
| Hut, 1 Jul to 31 Oct | $30 | $30 | $15 | $15 |
| Campsite, 1 Nov to 30 Apr | $28 | $42 | $14 | $21 |
| Campsite, 1 May to 31 Oct | $10 | $10 | $5 | $5 |
Bookings are required from 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 and are open now; outside the season it is first come, first served, hut wardens are gone and the bridges on the alpine section may be removed. The New Zealand child rate covers ages 5 to 17 and New Zealand infants under 5 are free; DOC applies the international child rate from 0 to 17 years. Fees are per person per night, so a three-day walk is two nights.
Getting to the track ends by bus
The track is walked one way, and the road distance between the ends is 325 km. Info & Track at 37 Shotover Street runs the scheduled buses in the Great Walks season; the Te Anau and Divide legs are operated by Tracknet and leave from outside The Station on Camp Street. Prices are adult / child one way as listed, and Info & Track adds a 10 percent adjustment at checkout.
| Leg | Departures | Adult / child |
|---|---|---|
| Queenstown (37 Shotover St) to Routeburn Shelter | 8:00am, 11:15am | $70 / $50 |
| Routeburn Shelter to Queenstown | 9:45am, 2:15pm | $70 / $50 |
| Queenstown to The Divide | 7:10am, 10:15am | $109 / $65 |
| The Divide to Queenstown | 10:45am, 3:15pm | $109 / $65 |
| The Divide to Te Anau | 10:45am, 3:15pm, 5:25pm | $61 / $36 |
| Glenorchy to Routeburn Shelter | 9:00am, 12:15pm | $44 / $31 |
- Classic direction. Queenstown to Routeburn Shelter on the 8:00am, walk to The Divide, bus back to Queenstown at 3:15pm on the last day (or on to Te Anau and Milford).
- Two-passenger rule. A $60 surcharge is added to legs with low bookings and refunded if two or more passengers book; book early rather than late.
- Outside November to April it is private charter only, from $255 one way to Glenorchy.
Bags, gear and the car
Leave what you do not carry at Info & Track ($10 per item overnight) or with your accommodation; bag freight to Te Anau is $25 and to Milford Lodge $35 if you are carrying on. Gear hire is at the same shop. A car can be relocated between the ends through the same operator, or left on a residential street within walking distance of the centre. The luggage storage guide covers the options and prices.
Questions people ask
How much does the Routeburn Track cost per night?
In the Great Walks season (1 November to 30 April) DOC charges $88 per adult per night for New Zealand residents and $132 for international visitors; children are $44 and $66. Campsites are $28 (NZ) and $42 (international). Outside the season huts drop to $30 to $35 and campsites to $10, first come, first served.
How do I get to the Routeburn Track from Queenstown without a car?
Info & Track runs a scheduled bus from 37 Shotover Street to the Routeburn Shelter at 8:00am and 11:15am, listed at $70 adult and $50 child one way, with a 10 percent adjustment added at checkout. From The Divide at the far end, the bus back to Queenstown (10:45am and 3:15pm) is $109 adult. Bookings are essential.
How long is the Routeburn Track?
33 km, walked in three days and two nights by most people, between the Routeburn Shelter (25 km beyond Glenorchy) and The Divide (85 km from Te Anau on the Milford Road). The road distance between the two ends is 325 km, which is why the track bus matters.
Do I need to book Routeburn huts?
Yes in the Great Walks season, 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027; bookings for 2026/27 are open on the DOC site and popular dates sell out. Outside the season huts are first come, first served with reduced facilities.
Where do I leave my bags while I walk the Routeburn?
Info & Track stores bags at its Shotover Street shop for $10 per item overnight, and most accommodation will hold bags if you are returning to them. The luggage storage guide has the detail.
Get the Thursday email
One expensive Queenstown decision a week, settled with dated prices and the free alternative, plus three things the week favours. Free. It also carries the one launch email, so you are on the app waitlist too.
One email every Thursday at 6am: one Queenstown decision settled with numbers, and three things the week favours. Plus one email when the app launches. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Related guides
- Queenstown to Glenorchy: road, stops and what works offline
46 km, one road, no Orbus. The stops, the costs, and the offline map you will want.
- Queenstown to Milford Sound: coach, fly, or drive
Coach, fly or drive: what each costs, how long it takes, and the Milford Road rules.
- Where to leave your bags in Queenstown
Airport lockers $7 to $20 per 12 hours, Info & Track $5 a day in town, freight to Te Anau, what to do with a car.
- Queenstown to Te Anau by bus or car
InterCity from Athol Street, the Tracknet track bus at $68, the drive via Kingston and Mossburn, and where each one stops.
Sources: DOC, Routeburn Track (fees, season, distances) (opens in a new tab) and Info & Track, timetable and FAQs (opens in a new tab), retrieved 18 September 2026. Transport prices are the operator's listed one-way fares before its 10 percent checkout adjustment; DOC fees are as published for 2026/27. This independent guide is published by Tally Sphere Limited, a New Zealand company. Spotted a change? Report a problem with this page and the page address comes with your email.