For the 32 km Routeburn Track you need full waterproofs, warm layers for the exposed 1,255 m Harris Saddle, a sleeping bag for the bunk huts, a cooking system and food for two to three days, and a 50–65 L pack. Huts provide mattresses, gas cookers and water but no bedding or food, so you carry your own. Total pack weight typically lands at 10–14 kg in the 2026 Great Walk season.
The Routeburn is a serviced Great Walk, which simplifies packing — you do not need a tent or stove if you book hut bunks — but Fiordland's weather still demands serious waterproofing and warm layers. This 2026 checklist is organised by system, with pack recommendations from our gear database, so you arrive at the Harris Saddle warm, dry and carrying no more than you need.
What do the Routeburn huts provide?
During the Great Walk season the huts at Routeburn Flats, Routeburn Falls, Lake Mackenzie and Lake Howden supply mattresses, gas cookers, treated water and flush or composting toilets, but no bedding, no food and no cooking pots. That means you carry a sleeping bag, your own pot and utensils, and all your food. The hut and stage layout is detailed on our Routeburn Track route guide. Booking is mandatory and bunks sell out fast, so reserve through the Department of Conservation as soon as the season opens.
What clothing do you need for the Routeburn?
Layer for a 20 °C swing between a warm valley afternoon and a cold, windy saddle. The core system is a merino base layer, a fleece or light puffy mid-layer, and full waterproof jacket and trousers — even in midsummer. Specifics for 2026:
- 2 merino base-layer tops and 1 pair leggings
- 1 fleece and 1 lightweight insulated jacket for the saddle and huts
- Waterproof hardshell jacket and trousers (Fiordland is very wet)
- Warm hat, gloves and a buff
- Quick-dry shorts or trousers, plus dry hut clothes kept in a dry bag
Which backpack is best for the Routeburn Track?
A 50–65 L pack carries the food, sleeping bag and layers a hut trip needs without being oversized. For most trampers a 55–65 L pack is ideal. The ventilated Osprey Atmos AG 65 and the women's-fit Osprey Aura AG 65 handle the load comfortably, the Deuter Aircontact Core 50+10 excels with heavier food loads, and ultralight trampers favour the Zpacks Arc Blast 55L. Fit a pack liner or dry bags — Fiordland rain finds its way into everything.
Routeburn pack-weight breakdown
| Item group | Typical weight |
|---|---|
| Sleeping bag + liner | 0.9–1.4 kg |
| Clothing & waterproofs | 2.5–3.5 kg |
| Food (3 days) + cookset | 2.5–3.5 kg |
| Total pack weight | 10–14 kg |
Food, water and cooking
Huts have gas burners but no pots, so carry a lightweight pot, a mug, a spork and 2–3 days of food — dehydrated dinners, trail snacks and a hot breakfast keep weight down while fuelling the climbs. Plan around 3,000–3,500 kcal per day for the alpine effort. Hut water is treated, but a 1 L bottle and a backup filter cover the day's walking. A small stove and fuel are only needed if you camp at the designated sites rather than booking huts. For calorie planning, our gear and nutrition resources help dial in the load.
Safety, navigation and the essentials
Carry a head torch, a small first-aid kit with blister care, a power bank, and sun protection — alpine UV at the saddle is strong. Check the forecast on MetService and current track alerts on the Department of Conservation site before each day. The track is well-marked in season, but cloud on the saddle can reduce visibility, so carry a downloaded map. Walk in the late-October-to-April window from our best time to hike the Routeburn guide. If you want a longer trip, the same kit suits the Heaphy Track, compared in our Routeburn vs Heaphy guide.
What if you camp instead of staying in huts?
The Routeburn has two designated campsites, at Routeburn Flats and Lake Mackenzie, for trampers who prefer tents or cannot secure hut bunks. Camping requires its own advance booking through the Department of Conservation and means carrying a tent, stove, fuel and cooking pots, since campers cannot use the hut kitchens or gas cookers. That adds roughly 1.5-2.5 kg to your pack compared with the hut option.
Camping changes your kit list in several ways. You need a freestanding or pole-supported tent rated for wind and heavy rain, a sleeping mat for insulation from cold ground, and a reliable stove with enough fuel for two to three days of cooking. Fiordland's rain makes a tent with a generous, well-pitched fly essential, and a groundsheet or footprint protects the floor on rough sites. Campers must still carry all food and treat their water, and should plan meals around what cooks quickly to save fuel. The trade-off is flexibility and lower booking pressure, since campsites sometimes have availability when huts are full, plus the experience of waking beside Lake Mackenzie. The downside is the heavier load on the climb to the Harris Saddle and exposure to the weather and sandflies that the huts shelter you from. For most trampers the huts are worth booking early, but if they sell out, the campsites keep the Routeburn within reach during the 2026 Great Walk season, provided you accept the extra weight and self-sufficiency.
Pack so the heaviest items sit close to your back and centred between your shoulder blades, which keeps the load stable on the climb to the Harris Saddle and on the descents either side. Keep your rain jacket, hat, gloves and a snack in the lid for instant access when Fiordland's weather turns, and store your sleeping bag and dry hut clothes in waterproof stuff sacks at the bottom. A small dry bag for your phone, power bank and first-aid kit keeps the essentials safe even if your pack gets soaked in a downpour. Strap trekking poles to the outside when you need both hands, and leave a little spare capacity for shed layers and rubbish, since all waste must be carried out. A tidy, well-balanced pack makes the three-day traverse noticeably easier in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a tent for the Routeburn Track?
No, if you book hut bunks during the Great Walk season, which provide mattresses, gas cookers and treated water. A tent is only needed if you reserve the designated campsites instead. Either way you carry your own sleeping bag, food and cooking pot, since huts supply none of these.
Do the Routeburn huts have cooking facilities?
The huts have gas cookers but no pots, pans or utensils, so you must carry your own cookware. They also provide treated water and mattresses but no bedding, meaning a sleeping bag is essential. Bring 2–3 days of food, as there are no shops on the track.
How heavy should your Routeburn pack be?
A typical Routeburn pack weighs 10–14 kg, including a sleeping bag, waterproofs, cookware and 2–3 days of food. Ultralight trampers can get closer to 9 kg, but Fiordland's weather means you should never cut waterproof and warm layers to save weight.
What sleeping bag do you need for the Routeburn?
A three-season sleeping bag rated to around 0 to -5 °C comfort is suitable for the serviced huts in the Great Walk season, paired with a liner for extra warmth. The huts are unheated and the Harris Saddle is cold, so do not bring only a lightweight summer bag.
Is the Routeburn Track well marked?
Yes, the Routeburn is well-marked and well-maintained during the Great Walk season, with clear poles and signage. However, cloud on the exposed Harris Saddle can reduce visibility, so carry a downloaded offline map and check the MetService forecast and DOC alerts before each day.