Find key summit track stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. However there is a pit toilet. 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. After completing the summit nature loop, head back down the way you came. The track … Key Summit is an outstanding easy excursion from the Milford Road or a quick side-trip from the Routeburn Track. The first part of the walk is on the Routeburn Track. Can recommend this tramping route if you have just one day! 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. 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). 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? Located in Fiordland National Park and Milford Road/Milford Sound area in the Fiordland region, Mountain tarn at Key Summit Image: Shellie Evans ©, Boardwalk, Key Summit Track Image: Shellie Evans ©. 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 climb to Key Summit begins at The Divide trailhead, and starts on the Routeburn Track heading toward the Lake Howden and Lake Mackenzie Huts. Park your car at Divide car park to start part of the Routeburn Track about 1-1.5hr first then to Key Summit Track. Key Summit is an outstanding easy excursion from the Milford Road or a quick side-trip from the Routeburn Track. It is a steady incline, but never too steep.

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. 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. Book your tickets online for Key Summit Track, Milford: See 44 reviews, articles, and 54 photos of Key Summit Track, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 7 attractions in Milford. For the first hour it's the start of the Routeburn Track, but then a sign directs you to the right to. 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. As the trail emerges from the forest, there are outstanding views down the Hollyford Valley as a taste of the more expansive views to come. Detailed maps and GPS navigation for the hike: "Key Summit – Lake Marian Lookout Loop from Routeburn Track" 02:38 h 8.02 km. We did this hike on the way out to Milford Sound and it took about 2.5 hours round-trip from the car-park. 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. Near the top of the climb, the trail splits as part of a worthwhile nature loop. 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. They dropped us off and picked us up again but as it is a linear walk - there and back - you can pa, 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. There also begins Routeburn Track, but after you pass beech forest Routeburn and Key Summit tracks will split. Hotels near (AKL) Auckland Intl Airport; Hotels near (ZQN) Frankton Airport; All things to do in Milford; Things to do near Key Summit Track. 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. 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. 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 are making our way far South on the South Island to Milford Sound. It is not intended to give any assurance that any particular provider meets … We walked up to Key Summit as part of an organised day out to Milford Sound with 'Trips and Tramps'. The Key Summit Track is located on the the drive to Milford Sound from Te Anau or Queenstown. Not that tough. 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. Tour departs from Te Anau, with a drive along the Milford Road to the track. There are signs during your drive to Milford Sound so you shouldn’t be … 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. Located in Fiordland National Park and Milford Road/Milford Sound area in the Fiordland region 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. The Key Summit Track heads uphill from a signed intersection on the Routeburn Track. A sign marks the turn off to Key Summit Track. 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. Please take care and stay on the path -- the native vegetation grows in a unique soil environment and must be protected and preserved. If you're into mountain tops and long valleys, this is a pretty good view, but if not, there are many better walks, so, check the weather and pick your day carefully. Key Summit and View of Lake Marian via Routeburn Track [CLOSED] is a 4.8 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Glenorchy, Otago, New Zealand that features a waterfall and is rated as moderate. 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. This walk offers spectacular views of Fiordland National Park. 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. The Key Summit track via the Routeburn Track was my favorite of the ones we did on the South Island. 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 first part of the walk follows the Routeburn Track, and a sign marks the. The track is well, graded and passes through pleasant forest with limited views. 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. Track is well signed and there is no way to get lost there. 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. 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/.

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