Routeburn Track: Key Summit Track
Located in Fiordland National Park and Milford Road/Milford Sound area in the Fiordland region
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Introduction
Enjoy panoramic views over mountains and alpine lakes on this half-day walk off Milford Road on the Routeburn Track - it's suitable families with children.3.4 km one way, return via same track
Dog access
Image gallery
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Mountain tarn at Key Summit Image: Shellie Evans ©
![Mountain tarn at Key Summit. Image: Shellie Evans ©]( "Mountain tarn at Key Summit. Image: Shellie Evans ©")
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Boardwalk, Key Summit Track Image: Shellie Evans ©
![Tramper on boardwalk at Key Summit. Image: Shellie Evans ©]( "Tramper on boardwalk at Key Summit. Image: Shellie Evans ©")
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Key Summit Track Image: Shellie Evans ©
![Key Summit Track. Image: Shellie Evans ©]( "Key Summit Track. Image: Shellie Evans ©")
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Key Summit Track Image: Shellie Evans ©
![Key Summit Track. Image: Shellie Evans ©]( "Key Summit Track. Image: Shellie Evans ©")
This walk offers spectacular views of Fiordland National Park. 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.
From The Divide carpark follow the Routeburn Track for about an hour to get to to Key Summit Track. From here it is a 20 minute climb to Key Summit, with panoramic views over the Humboldt and Darran Mountains.
This alpine nature walk passes a range of native vegetation: beech forest, sub-alpine shrublands, alpine tarns and bogs. Birdlife is prolific and tomtits, robins, New Zealand pigeons and bellbirds are commonly seen.
During the last ice age, which ended about 14,000 years ago, a huge glacier flowed down the Hollyford Valley and overtopped Key Summit by 500 m, with ice branches splitting off into the Eglinton and Greenstone Valleys.
This walk begins at The Divide, about 85 km along the Milford Road from Te Anau.
The first part of the walk is on the Routeburn Track. A sign marks the turn off to Key Summit Track.
Contacts
| Te Rua-o-te-moko/Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre | |
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| Phone | +64 3 249 7924 |
| fiordlandvc@doc.govt.nz | |
| Address | Lakefront Drive Te Anau 9600 |
| Hours | Visitor centre hours and services |