In December I’ll be walking the Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks, combining the two tracks to make what is going to be an epic four night, five day solo walk. This video covers off my preparations for the walk including where I’m going, the facilities and costs of the Routeburn compared to the Greenstone track, what I’ll be taking in my pack and where to get more information.

1. Where I’m going

The Routeburn Track is classed as one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. It’s located in the Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks.

The Greenstone Track is located next door, in the Greenstone and Caples Conservation Area.

2. Great Walks compared to back country

The Great Walks are through some of New Zealand’s most awe-inspiring landscapes with well formed, easy to follow tracks. Fees vary depending on the season, the walk and whether or not you’re a New Zealand citizen.

I recommend you book well in advance of the November to April walking season, I didn’t make my Routeburn booking until August and by then all the huts were fully booked. I was able to secure camp sites at McKenzie Flat and Lake McKellar and will just keep my fingers crossed as to what the weather is like, it’s November now and the track is closed because of snow.

The Routeburn has three huts and two campsites with the hut fee being sixty eight dollars per night and the campsites being twenty one dollars. Great Walk huts have a DOC ranger in residence and there’s bunks, mattresses, wood burner, toilets and basic cooking facilities with cold water. The campsites provide a toilet, sinks and cold water supply, campers are not able to use the hut facilities

The Greenstone Track has two serviced huts and camping is possible near the huts or along the track. Bookings are not required and securing a bunk for the night is on a first come first served basis plus unlike the Routeburn you’ll need your own cooker. The Greenstone huts are twenty dollars and campsites are five dollars.

When I get to Queenstown I’ll visit the DOC Centre to pick up my Routeburn tickets and to purchase tickets for the Greenstone track. For whatever reason DOC will not email the tickets so you do have to go to either the Queenstown or Te Anau Centres to get a hard copy.

3. What’s in my pack

- Clothes

- Day:

- Merino singlet

- Katmandu hiking shorts

- Kathmandu long sleeve SPF50 shirt,

- POC t-shirt

- Two pairs Katmandu merino hiking socks,

- Lowa hiking boots

- Mons merino jumper

- Venturo Cap

- Kathmandu Gortex coat

- Kathmandu Gortex rain pants

- Night:

- Icebreaker merino tights,

- Icebreaker long sleeve thermal,

- Icebreaker merino hoody

- Icebreaker merino bulky hoody

- Nike slides

- Lightweight Merino Beanie

- Lightweight Merino gloves (liners)

- Personal

- Toiletries, toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, toilet paper etcetera

- Medical, Bandaids, Insect repellent etcetera

- Camping

- Marmot Tungsten UL IP Tent with fly, poles, pegs

- Klymit insulated static V Lite sleeping mat

- Mountain Designs 30 year old Down Sleeping bag - needs upgrading

- Silksak sleeping bag liner

- Klymit Inflatable Camping Pillow

- Insulation plastic - for under mat

- Sea to Summit DryLite microfibre towel

- Kitchen

- Five kilos of food and snacks

- 1 litre Water bottle

- Sawyer squeeze filter and bladder

- Insulated Cup

- Jetboil stove

- Fuel canister

- Stove Lighter

- Jetboil Saucepan

- Titanium spork

- Electronics

- GoPro 9 camera

- iGoPro Tripod

- 2x batteries and charging block plus cable

- Sun saver Power bank and multi connection cable

- Sun saver Solar power wallet (useless)

- Small power bank

- Apple AirPods

- Apple iPhone for navigation, photos and clock.

- Personal locator beacon, these can be rented for a nominal fee.

- Ledlenser Head torch with batteries

- Other Equipment

- Emergency Kit including blanket

- Leki Cressida Walking poles x2

- Osprey 65 AG Women’s Pack

- Pack rain cover from an old pack

- Sea to Summit Dry bags; 1x 35 litre and 1x 5 litre

- ID bracelet

- Wallet

- Sunglasses and case

- Food bags / rubbish bags

- Ziplock bags

- Face mask

- DOC Hut/Camp tickets

4. Where to for more info

Department of Conservation (DOC) website and visitor centres

New Zealand Mountain Safety council provide the Plan My Walk App

MetService App

NZ Topo Maps App

#Routeburn

#Greenstone

I’ll film my walk and create Vlogs of my experience once I return. If you’ve done this walk or any similar, I’d be interested to read your comments about the track and especially if I’ve forgotten some vital piece of equipment that you think other people need to know about before heading out.