The first part of the walk is on the Routeburn Track. Thousands of new, ⦠Key Summit provides panoramic views over the Humboldt and Darran Mountains. 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 Zealandâs Southern Alps. 3-3.5hrs/3.4km return-easy hike of Key Summit Track is well-maintained and itâs constant uphill walk thus itâs suitable for of all ages. The Key Summit Track, part of the 2-4 day Routeburn Track (a New Zealand âGreat Walkâ), will get you off the main road and right into the heart of this natural paradise. Experience a full-day guided walk on one of New Zealand's premier Great Walks - the Routeburn track, including Key Summit. We walked up to Key Summit as part of an organised day out to Milford Sound with 'Trips and Tramps'. This walk offers spectacular views of Fiordland National Park. The path itself is well-maintained and has a definite but manageable and steady uphill rise. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is accessible year-round. These interesting short and overnight walks are great options for getting outdoors with children. up); the payoff is at the top. 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 ©. At the top, you get sweeping views in almost every direction. Detailed maps and GPS navigation for the hike: "Key Summit â Lake Marian Lookout Loop from Routeburn Track" 02:38 h 8.02 km. 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. Can recommend this tramping route if you have just one day! 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. In 1863, Government employed prospector Patrick Quirk Caples, travelled up from the Dart Valley along a route roughly following todayâs track. Key Summit is an outstanding easy excursion from the Milford Road or a quick side-trip from the Routeburn Track. Lake Howden Track; Hollyford Track Near the top of the climb the trail forks as part of a worthwhile nature loop. 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. Park your car at Divide car park to start part of the Routeburn, Milford Road The Divide, State Highway 94 , Fiordland National Park, Milford, Auckland New Zealand, Key Summit is an outstanding easy excursion from the Milford Road or a quick side-trip from the Routeburn Track. Walkers then head gradually downhill through silver beech forest to the divide on Milford Road. Perfect day trek. It is not intended to give any assurance that any particular provider meets ⦠The climb to Key Summit begins at The ⦠Starts with steady elevation gained walking under lush tree canopy and includes a ⦠Its position at the intersection of multiple major valley systems gives Key Summit commanding views of several of Fiordland's spectacular mountain ranges. Park your car at Divide car park to start part of the Routeburn Track about 1-1.5hr first then to Key Summit Track. For the first hour it's the start of the Routeburn Track, but then a sign directs you to the right to. From The Divide carpark follow the Routeburn Track for about an hour to get to to Key Summit Track. 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. Park your car at Divide car park to start part of the Routeburn Track about 1-1.5hr first then to Key Summit Track. What was tough for me was on how to dress for trek in 10-11. The Key Summit Track is located on the the drive to Milford Sound from Te Anau or Queenstown. The rain had mostly stopped and the storm clouds were lifting, and we watched the shadows of the cloud clusters fall on the trees and mountains as they were blown away by the brisk wind. The track ⦠Help us improve the DOC website on mobile in less than 5 min. 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. As you drive down Highway 94 after entering Fiorland National Park, you will eventually come to a stop called The Divide. If the mountains are clouded in, you wll be walking through a cloud and see nothing. Key Summit Track: Great hike, fantastic views - See 44 traveler reviews, 54 candid photos, and great deals for Milford, New Zealand, at Tripadvisor. 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. 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. The first half of the walk is on the famed Routeburn Track, beginning at âThe Divideâ carpark. The popularity of ⦠This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Moderate switchbacks lead uphill, first through forest and then through open country with views that extend down the Hollyford Valley. Key Summit is an outstanding easy excursion from the Milford Road or a quick side-trip from the Routeburn Track. Until this diversion, and for a short time after, the trail is a gently sloping uphill walk under a canopy of trees. After completing the summit nature loop, head back down the way you came. 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. 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 ⦠There also begins Routeburn Track, but after you pass beech forest Routeburn and Key Summit tracks will split. See this Tour and others like it, or plan your own with komoot! Tour departs from Te Anau, with a drive along the Milford Road to the track. From here it is a 20 minute climb to Key Summit, with panoramic views over the Humboldt and Darran Mountains. The track up to Key Summit is the most popular substantial day-walk in Fiordland, and justifiably so. 3-3.5hrs/3.4km return-easy hike of Key Summit Track is well-maintained and itâs constant uphill walk thus itâs suitable for of all ages. If youâre looking for the ultimate hike close to Milford Sound you should head straight for Key Summit. Track is well signed and there is no way to get lost there. 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/. 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. 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. From here, the track climbs steadily to the Key Summit Track turnoff. 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. This half-day walk to easily accessible off of the Milford Road from the Divide Carpark, one of the access points to the popular backpacking trip. Key Summit is part of the Routeburn Track, which is one of the nine âgreat walksâ of New Zealand. We did this hike on the way out to Milford Sound and it took about 2.5 hours round-trip from the car-park. 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. Biodiversity inventory and monitoring toolbox, Intermediate: Great Walk/Easier tramping track, Te Rua-o-te-moko / Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre. This website helps visitors connect with providers of great New Zealand tourism experiences. 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. 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. In the Fiordland National Park, the Key Summit sits at the beginning of one of New Zealand's Great Walks, The Routeburn Track.