Finish your Great Walk on a high. Day 3 of the Routeburn Track drops from the alpine cliffs of Routeburn Falls back to the valley floor. This short but rewarding stretch balances cascading waterfalls, crystal-clear river gorges, and ancient beech forests. It is the ultimate gentle, gravity-assisted finale to New Zealand’s finest alpine trek.
The Routeburn Track - Day 3 - Routeburn Falls to Routeburn Shelter
📍 MOUNT ASPIRING NATIONAL PARK
Distance11.1 km
Duration03:40 hrs
Elev Gain+142 m
Elev Lost-663 m
Date
07 February 2026
Starting Point
Routeburn Falls Lodge
Difficulty
Moderate
Pace / Gear
4.4 km/h — 50L multi-day pack
Highlights
Routeburn Flats, Forge Flats
🗺️ Interactive Route MapPinch or use wheel to zoom
Day 3 on the Routeburn Track (if hiked from west to east) is a fairly gentle affair, clocking in at just 11 km – nearly all of it downhill as you trade the high mountains for the valleys below. While it doesn't quite match the splendour of crossing Harris Saddle, it is impressive in its own right, as you'll see.
As has become customary on the guided hikes, we were up, fed and ready to go by 0730 – aiming for a rendezvous with our transport at Routeburn Shelter around lunchtime. The day begins with a long, gradual descent from the lodge, through the forest, to Routeburn Flats Hut.
Leaving the lodge
While the initial section is predominantly in the beech forest, a huge landslide in 1994 swept part of the path and trees away. The track still crosses this old slip site today, but it is now valued as a prime vantage point with a sweeping, unobstructed view of the Humboldt Mountains, Routeburn Flats below, and the North Branch of the river. In fact, the 1994 flood was so bad the NZ military was called in to rapidly rebuild destroyed suspension bridges and to rescue trapped hikers.
The dramatic Humbolt Mountains
Routeburn River
Reaching Routeburn Flats marked our first break stop for the day, despite having only hiked a couple of kilometres. The picturesque shelter is one of the primary camping areas on the Routeburn Track thanks to the flat, grassy riverbanks where the North and Left Branches of Routeburn River meet. From there, the track follows the course of the river all the way to its conclusion at the road-end shelter.
Emily Creek hasa dramatic view towards the mountains
The Routeburn Track
Routeburn Flats shelter
Routeburn Flats
Routeburn River
Routeburn River
The snow-tinged slopes of Upper Peak
The track crosses the river via a suspension bridge and descends to Forge Flat, which served as the site of an early blacksmith camp during the trail's construction. In the late 19th century, labourers used the flat riverside terrain to forge and repair the steel tools needed to cut a path through the dense beech forest and steep alpine rock
Routeburn Track
Routeburn River swing bridge
Routeburn River
Located roughly four kilometres from the Routeburn Shelter road end, this minor detour is arguably one of the true highlights of the final day. It is one of the only locations on the lower stretch of the trail where you can easily access the water's edge. Understandably, it has become a highly popular summer swimming spot, with massive stone slabs perfect for lounging after a long trek. However, the pristine turquoise pools are heavily glacier-fed and famously ice-cold year-round.
The Routeburn River at Forge Flat
Forge Flat
Forge Flat
Forge Flat
Forge Flat
Forge Flat
It's only 4 km from Forge Flat to the Routeburn Shelter, with the path gently descending through the beech forest. Because of the high rainfall in this part of Mount Aspiring National Park, the entire forest floor is draped in thick, bright-green mosses and ancient ferns. Ever so often, you'll get a glimpse on the vibrant waters of the river through gaps in the trees.
Routeburn River
Routeburn Track
There are many glimpses of the river as you descend to wards the shelter
Routeburn River
Routeburn valley
A major highlight of this final section are the dramatic Bridal Veil and Sugar Loaf swing bridges. These sturdy bridges hang high over the rivers, offering a fantastic aerial view of the deep rock pools below.
Bridal Veil Stream
Bridal Veil Stream
Bridal Veil Stream
Crossing Bridal Veil Stream
The view from Sugar Loaf swing bridge
Sugar Loaf Stream
After crossing the final bridge, the track follows the riverbank closely, passing beneath massive, towering podocarp trees like Rimu and Kahikatea that have stood for hundreds of years. Just 10 to 15 minutes from the trailhead, the optional Routeburn Nature Walk detour winds down onto the valley floor, showcasing a fascinating ecosystem built entirely on fallen "nursery trees" (also known as nurse logs).
The detour onto the Nature Walk
In the damp, moss-choked environment of Mount Aspiring National Park, the forest floor is often too dark and densely covered in leaf litter for new seeds to take root. When an ancient red or silver beech tree falls, its decaying trunk becomes a critical lifeline. These massive fallen logs act as raised, nutrient-rich nurseries raised above the choked forest floor, soaking up moisture like a sponge
Nature Walk
Nursery log
The dense native bush eventually thins out, giving you one last look up at the jagged, snow-dusted peaks of the Humboldt Mountains. The trail opens up directly at the Routeburn Shelter, marking the official end of the 33-kilometre Routeburn Track.
The camping area at Routeburn Shelter
The final swing bridge of the hike
Routeburn River
Routeburn River
Routeburn River swing bridge
Routeburn shelter
Two down, nine to go
There is a reason the Routeburn Track is plastered across every tourism brochure for New Zealand, and honestly? The hype is completely justified. It packs an absurd amount of diversity into just 32 kilometres—from moss-draped, primaeval beech forests to jaw-dropping, exposed alpine ridges that make you feel entirely insignificant. It’s not a gruelling test of survival; it’s a beautifully crafted, high-reward showcase of Fiordland and Mount Aspiring National Parks. If you only have the time or budget to book one Great Walk in your life, make it this one.
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