Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Routing question: Queenstown, Routeburn, Milford Sound

Hello everyone!

Arriving in Queenstown from San Francisco and stay for two nights. Queenstown will be the “base” initially, and want to do the Routeburn track and see Milford Sound.

This will be the first week of this November.

Is it better to take the bus from Queenstown and start the hike in Glenorchy, finish at the Divide, and take a bus to Milford Sound, or would it be better to take the bus from Queenstown to Milford first, see Milford while still fresh, then a bus to the Divide to start the Routeburn back, ending on the Glenorchy side?

While there is a desire to see Milford while fresh, clean and rested before the hike, there is also a concern that getting food supplies and whatnot in Milford before the hike is going to be more difficult.

I originally planned to have a car during this entire time, but after some research it seems difficult to leave the car somewhere and be able to get back to it easily without a lot of back tracking, so scrapping the car idea and just pick one up after our return to Queenstown. Anyone see any advantage to trying to make the car work, knowing that the scenery is supposed to be beautiful and we would have the flexibility of not being on a bus? The downside also would be that the rented car would be sitting parked for 3-4 days during the hike, which is an unnecessary expense.

Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions!

Only 2 nights? As in arrive afternoon day 1 and leave on day 3? That is not enough time to do both Milford Sound and Routeburn. Milford Sound takes a full day and Routeburn takes days.

It's a shame you aren't around a few days later for the Mainland Do (link in my sig), held in Queenstown.

Have you got a reservation for the Routeburn track? (http://tramper.co.nz/?61) Many of the tramps require pre booking

Strictly speaking, there is no charge nor any permit required for access to the Great Walks. Charges and restrictions apply, rather, to overnight accommodation, whether in huts or tents. Requirements vary with season. The most popular tracks require booking during the peak season, or year-round for lowland tracks. This booking guarantees you hut or campsite space. Other tracks merely require the purchase of a Great Walks Pass. This pass permits you a certain number of nights in huts or campsites on a specific track. The pass does not guarantee you space although hut and campsite users are expected to share. During off seasons, some tracks revert to regular backcountry hut tickets or annual hut passes. All passes should be purchased from a DOC information centre before setting out

With 1 clear day best you will get a is a return bus trip to Milford

If you haven't already, check out the DOC Site (Routeburn Track) (http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/trackandwalk.aspx?id=36713) and download the track brochure (PDF) (http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/southland/routeburn-track-brochure.pdf). The brochure may be able to answer some of your questions and lists details of some vendors that provide transport services.

I did a day hike from The Divide to the Howden hut / key summit ... really nice hiking.

Thanks for the replies, everyone - the DOC NZ web sites for the park are amazing, I wish the one for US parks were nearly as good. Very well done and informative.

I have been watching the hut reservations and they are still wide open, I think because it is the beginning of the season there is still lots of availability, I'm guessing that will dry up as the dates approach.

Thanks again for all the advice, I'm sure I'll be back asking for more!