Although it’s right beside the world famous Routeburn Track (one of New Zealand’s “Great Walks”) and it can be accessed from the same trailhead, the Rockburn seems to be a well kept secret. I only encountered one person the whole time I was there. From the Routeburn trailhead, it’s a short climb over an easy pass to drop into the Rockburn, which is the next valley over. From there a trail travels up the valley through pretty beech forest until reaching some grassy flats and eventually climbing into a pass that has great views of the Darren Mountains and gives access to a glacier. It’s a beautiful area that offers solitude and silence.
Foggy start to the hike
Rockburn valley
The grassy flats where I camped on the first night
Better weather on the second day
The beautiful pass with a great view of the Darran Mtns and a huge glacier nearby
Darran Mtns, seen from the pass
Darran Mtns, seen from the pass
Darran Mtns, seen from the pass
Big glacier in the pass
Glacier in the pass
View from the pass
View from the pass
View on the way back to the trailhead, looking towards Rees-Dart Track
View on the way back to the trailhead, looking back towards Queenstown area
