It is not intended to give any assurance that any particular provider meets … Moderate switchbacks lead uphill, first through forest and then through open country with views that extend down the Hollyford Valley. 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. 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. Near the top of the climb, the trail splits as part of a worthwhile nature loop. The path itself is well-maintained and has a definite but manageable and steady uphill rise. During the last ice age, which ended about 14,000 years ago, a huge glacier flowed down the Hollyford Valley and overtopped Key Summit by 500 m, with ice branches splitting off into the Eglinton and Greenstone Valleys. Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai, https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/routeburn-track-key-summit-track/. Moderate switchbacks lead uphill, first through forest and then through open country with views that extend down the Hollyford Valley. These interesting short and overnight walks are great options for getting outdoors with children. As you drive down Highway 94 after entering Fiorland National Park, you will eventually come to a stop called The Divide. Key Summit is part of the Routeburn Track, which is one of the nine “great walks” of New Zealand. They mistook Lake McKerrow for the coast. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round. There are signs during your drive to Milford Sound so you shouldn’t be … 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. 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. 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. However there is a pit toilet. 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. The first part of the walk is on the Routeburn Track. This last section to the summit is a half hour slog of switchbacks which will be not ,much of a test if you're fit, but a hard slog to the casual walker. Key Summit is an outstanding easy excursion from the Milford Road or a quick side-trip from the Routeburn Track. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. After completing the summit nature loop, head back down the way you came. Key Summit Track Description The first part of the walk was in the bush, under a beautiful canopy of trees, ferns, and with the small waterfalls tumbling along the sides of banks you’re walking alongside. The path itself is well-maintained and has a definite but manageable and steady uphill rise. 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. 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. Please take care and stay on the path -- the native vegetation grows in a unique soil environment and must be protected and preserved. 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. The Key Summit Track, part of the 2-4 day Routeburn Track (a New Zealand “Great Walk”), will get you off the main road and right into the heart of this natural paradise. The track up to Key Summit is the most popular substantial day-walk in Fiordland, and justifiably so. 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. The route meanders on the high summit ridge, past beautiful tarns and with many outstanding viewpoints. The track … It is an amazing day walk, combining stunning … The popularity of … 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. 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 … 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. A self guided alpine nature walk passes a range of native vegetation: beech forest, sub-alpine shrublands, alpine tarns and bogs. A sign marks the turn off to Key Summit Track. Hotels near Key Summit Track; Hotels near Milford Foreshore Walk; Hotels near Milford Beach Reserve; Near Airports. Ascend through lush forest and into a unique alpine herb field offering panoramic views, this walk offers an incredible day out in the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. up); the payoff is at the top. It was an excellent stop to break up our car trip and stretch our legs, and would probably be suitable for kids over the age of five or six if you were willing to take it slowly and could bring plenty of snacks. The climb to Key Summit begins at The … Lake Howden Track; Hollyford Track You walk about ~40min in birch forest, then turn right up to expose trek to Key Summit, which is another ~20min. 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. At the top there there is flat ground to sit and eat, but no tables and chairs. Can recommend this tramping route if you have just one day! It’s definitely worth doing the nature trail loop as well. Experience a full-day guided walk on one of New Zealand's premier Great Walks - the Routeburn track, including Key Summit. 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. Key Summit The most popular side trip in terms of numbers as this track to the left (or right if approaching from the carpark) is a day walk accessible from The Divide. It said 3hr for return but we took <2hr for return. Biodiversity inventory and monitoring toolbox, Intermediate: Great Walk/Easier tramping track, Te Rua-o-te-moko / Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre. turn off to Key Summit. The first part of the walk follows the Routeburn Track, and a sign marks the. Key Summit Track: Stunning views from the top - See 44 traveler reviews, 54 candid photos, and great deals for Milford, New Zealand, at Tripadvisor. Wow, this is bang for your buck in terms of the ratio of views to climb. Some more photos from Fiordland in New Zealand Birdlife is prolific and tomtits, robins, New Zealand pigeons and bellbirds are commonly seen. 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. If the mountains are clouded in, you wll be walking through a cloud and see nothing. 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. Thousands of new, … 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. Until this diversion, and for a short time after, the trail is a gently sloping uphill walk under a canopy of trees. Hotels near (AKL) Auckland Intl Airport; Hotels near (ZQN) Frankton Airport; All things to do in Milford; Things to do near Key Summit Track. There also begins Routeburn Track, but after you pass beech forest Routeburn and Key Summit tracks will split. Walkers then head gradually downhill through silver beech forest to the divide on Milford Road. From here, the track climbs steadily to the Key Summit Track turnoff. In the Fiordland National Park, the Key Summit sits at the beginning of one of New Zealand's Great Walks, The Routeburn Track. From The Divide carpark follow the Routeburn Track for about an hour to get to to Key Summit Track. The Key Summit Track is located on the the drive to Milford Sound from Te Anau or Queenstown. Perfect day trek. The turnaround point is the Lake Marian Viewpoint, where you can just see Lake Marian perched in a high hanging valley in the Darran Mountains across the Hollyford Valley. We are making our way far South on the South Island to Milford Sound. At the top, you get sweeping views in almost every direction. 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. The Key Summit track via the Routeburn Track was my favorite of the ones we did on the South Island. The hike itself is not that interesting (though we did see a kaka chewing on a branch on the way. Key Summit is located at the southern end of the Routeburn Track in the heart of the Fiordland mountains. 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 takes about 40-60 minutes one way to get to summit and I would grade it as easy walk comparing with Lake Marian track. In 1863, Government employed prospector Patrick Quirk Caples, travelled up from the Dart Valley along a route roughly following today’s track. The climb to Key Summit begins at The Divide trailhead, and starts on the Routeburn Track heading toward the Lake Howden and Lake Mackenzie Huts. 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. The track then continues on a gradual descent to the Lake Howden Hut, the perfect place to stop for lunch. Near the top of the climb, the trail splits as … Track is well signed and there is no way to get lost there. The track is well, graded and passes through pleasant forest with limited views. The track is well Starts with steady elevation gained walking under lush tree canopy and includes a … A light fog in the valley below us and some residual clouds meant that we couldn't see the full and brilliant view, but what we were able to see was nonetheless gorgeous. 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