Full-Day Small-Group Routeburn Valley Walk
5
Full-Day Small-Group Routeburn Valley Walk
By Private Discovery Day Tours
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 15-75, max of 10 per group
Duration: 7–8 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
- National Park fees
- Fresh fruit & nut bars
- Bottled water
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
What's not included- A stop is made at a local cafe for you to purchase a picnic lunch
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infant seats available
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 18264P3- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Minimum age is 15 years
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately, bring rain jacket, additional layers of clothing, casual & practical, sturdy walking shoes or boots
- This trail is 4.4 miles one way, or nearly 8 kilometres in length. Total distance 14 kms
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 18264P3
From
$480.00
per adult (price varies by group size)
Select date and travellers
Similar experiences
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- D3383ALrobr0 contributionsA fabulous day with a delightful guide!5 stars just doesn’t seem like enough! This day was one of the highlights of our visit to New Zealand. The scenery around Lake Wakatipu, Glenorchy, and the Routeburn Track was magnificent. Our guide was highly knowledgeable regarding the history of the region as well as the plants, trees, and birds we encountered along the way. Our day involved some hiking and our guide was patient and responsive to our interests and our abilities, and she was truly a delightful person to spend a day with! Highest recommendation!Written 2 February 2025
- 749jannessac0 contributionsA (LotR-themed) Day In Paradise, NZMy husband and I had such a great time on our trip. Charles was our guide, and he was friendly, knowledgeable, and extremely accomodating! When he heard that I'm a big Lord of the Rings fan, he made sure to point out every location we went near – and made sure to stop at each for pictures! He was lovely to chat with and we learned a lot about the area that had nothing to do with the Lord of the Rings – which we loved, because we wanted to learn about the land and history and culture too. The tour itself was amazing! We saw some beautiful views of Glenorchy, the Arrow River, Queenstown, and all the surrounding places in-between. We never felt rushed or like we were being inconvenient. My favorite spot was getting to see the location where they filmed Isengard! Charles took us to a spot on the river where you could see mountain-for-mountain the exact location in the film. So cool and breathtaking! The tour was so relaxing and beautiful and interesting, I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to get away from the hustle of Queenstown and see some beautiful sights.Written 22 October 2024
- VOLUNTEERMOM0 contributionsSpring High Country Discovery TourOne of the highlights of our trip. Lovely sunny morning in the Paradise Valley. Very beautiful and peaceful and we got some great pictures. Enjoyed the farms, LOTR film locations, and nature (added several new birds included black swans, pied stilt and oystercatcher). Appreciated the stop at the general store in Glenorchy at the end. Hotel pickup made it stress free.Written 9 October 2024
- junesat0 contributionsWonderful Private Tour CompanyWe had a wonderful time with Private Discovery Tours! We did a multi-day tour that took us throughout Queenstown and the surrounding regions, including Glenorchy, Milford Sound, Routeburn, Dunedin, and Te Anau. Charles, Lynette and Belinda were beyond amazing with our teenage boys. They somehow figured out how to connect and balance their interests, personalities and other common teenage boy antics. Could not have asked for a better situation! We would use them again in a heartbeat to explore other areas of South Island. Such a beautiful country and what a great group of people at Private Discovery Tours!Written 4 February 2024
- Luckydog1Boston0 contributionsFabulous day outFabulous trip- incredible scenery, perfectly paced scenic walks. We ended up with just the two of us so really lovely time- went to Bobs cove for a 1 hour walk and then off to Routeburn track and a 1 hour Naturevwalk. Charles was incredibly knowledgeable and helped us see and learn more. The lunch stop in Glenorchy was delightful. Totally worth it!Written 31 January 2024
- Dream126203756560 contributionsGood but could have been betterThe host was pleasant, the sights great but for the money we would have appreciated a small afternoon tea/ snack.Written 2 December 2023
- jeffn4800 contributionsBest local tour guidesCharles was great, local knowledge with a laid back pace! Beautiful views at every stop and LOTR references. ThanksWritten 3 November 2023
- raeleew20220 contributionsEXCELLENT!Such an excellent experience. Charles is a wealth of knowledge. From picking us up at our accomodation, allowing us to explore Arrowtown, driving us to Shotover Gorge, Skippers Canyon, Wakatipu Basin, Coronet Peak, detouring to let us see deer and then dropping us back, we enjoyed a wonderful morning of adventure.Written 19 September 2022
- yingyingt290 contributionsFantastic experienceWe loved our ride so much and will come back again. It was my very first horse riding and everything was just perfect. Very friendly and helpful staff.Written 23 July 2022
- kjeames0 contributionsGreat for families!Charles was a great guide, we loved the scenery all the way along the drive and Milford Sound was stunning despite a wet afternoon. Would highly recommend using this company, especially to avoid the stuffy big charter bus tours.Written 5 July 2022
- Cris O0 contributionsGreat Milford Sound TourGreat service, comfortable ride, and they even brought a booster for our 3 year old child. Very friendly conversation and adaptable to what we wanted to do. Also helped to arrange a birthday surprise! Charles is a really nice and knowledgeable guy and we will certainly reach out to him for tours in the future.Written 12 May 2022
- Rollingstone410 contributionsA DAY IN PARADISE!I booked a private day tour with Charles so I could combine various aspects of his tours into one full day. As a Kiwi who's travelled extensively overseas, and also here within NZ, I was overwhelmed with the stunning scenery I saw during this unique tour and actually felt quite proud of our great wee country. From Paradise Valley, to Mount Earnslaw Station (to which Charles has exclusive access!), and a taster of the Routeburn track, the scenery is truly second to none! Charles pinpointed our various spots on a map and pointed out the vistas, which lay before us, in a Lord of the Rings book he'd brought along. It is so obvious why this part of the world was chosen for such movies as The Hobbit, Narnia, Wolverine and even a Lindt Swiss chocolate advert! I was really taken by Charles' knowledge in general and genuine interest, and would not hesitate to thoroughly recommend Charles from Private Discovery Day Tours if you are after a fantastic day out, which is truly small group (or a private tour as I did). SandyWritten 11 March 2022
- I1256GOpeterb0 contributionsSpectacular Earnslaw High Country TourWhat a wonderful experience. Charles was a wonderful host and his knowledge of the area was exceptional. This is one of the most spectacular parts of the world we have travelled to.Written 23 June 2021
- sanpula0 contributionsSkippers Canyon TourCharles is an excellent friendly guide with tons of interesting knowledge. We took the tour to Skippers Canyon and very glad we did! The views were absolutely breathtaking. My partner suffers from quite severe motion sickness but Charles' smooth handling of the treacherous terrain meant that my partner was comfortable the entire time. We learnt so much of the local gold mining history and bit of LotR and other film facts too. Thanks again!Written 2 September 2020
- airamyh0 contributionstraveling with a localI had a really great time. It didn't feel like a tour, but rather someone local showing me all the good spots. I had originally gone on this tour via an air bnb experience, but I liked it so much that I did a different tour with Charles but through his company. Definitely recommend this if you're wanting a less touristy experience.Written 13 August 2020
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
More to explore in Queenstown
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
10 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Bob A
Sydney, Australia77 contributions
An excellent one day walk on the Routeburn, made even better by Charles’ deep knowledge of the area and his charming personality.
Incredible, constantly changing scenery.
This is a great one day option if you don’t have time or fortitude for the whole 3 day hike.
The comfortable van pickup and dropoff made for an easy, relaxing journey, no need to rent a car etc. The drive out to Routeburn is stunning.
Thoroughly recommend this trip and this company which runs small group bespoke tours.
Thank you again Charles for such a memorable day.
Incredible, constantly changing scenery.
This is a great one day option if you don’t have time or fortitude for the whole 3 day hike.
The comfortable van pickup and dropoff made for an easy, relaxing journey, no need to rent a car etc. The drive out to Routeburn is stunning.
Thoroughly recommend this trip and this company which runs small group bespoke tours.
Thank you again Charles for such a memorable day.
Written 23 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Bob for your review. Yes it is such a dynamic and diverse scenic tour with a hike!! Great to be able to show your group such a special place, enjoy the rest of your stay.
Thank you
Charles
Written 24 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stephanie S
7 contributions
Nov 2022
We LOVED our private hike on the Routeborn track with our excellent guide, Belinda. Beginning our "tramp" with a Maori blessing gave us a deeper appreciation for the beautiful landscape we traversed, and Belinda's knowledge of flora, fauna, and history provided a deeper dimension to the day. She was also just a lovely person and we very much enjoyed our time with her - especially the peppermint tea after 8 miles on the track. Highly recommend this for anyone who wants to experience
Written 5 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your review, she is a great guide... very hard to match!
Thank you
Charles
Written 24 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah
2 contributions
Dec 2022 • Solo
I booked a private tour with Charles and it was the best experience! Charles is extremely professional, fun and knowledgeable. He picked me up from my hotel and we drove to the start of the Routeburn trail, making a few stops for photos along the way. Throughout the hike he shared information about the various flora and fauna we saw and made sure that we had the best hike possible. At the end of the hike he even had hot tea and cookies for us. We stopped at a general store on the way home which had the most wonderful food and clothes items for purchase.
I can’t recommend this tour enough! You will not only have fun but also learn so much. It was the best way to hike and I would 100% book another trip on my next visit.
I can’t recommend this tour enough! You will not only have fun but also learn so much. It was the best way to hike and I would 100% book another trip on my next visit.
Written 23 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hope you had a Merry Christmas S I am sure it was a white one !! and a lot colder than NZ.
Hope to see you again in NZ for more hiking exploration.
Thank you Charles
Written 25 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Snarth
Philadelphia526 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Wonderful day guided by Belinda, who picked us up at our hotel and drove us through stunning scenery to a lovely hike on Routeburn Track. Walked through delightful forest where we had lunch by the emerald green river with mountains in the background. Belinda was very knowledgeable and a fine conversationalist as well. Terrific day, highly recommended!
Written 2 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MeredithH710
Brooklyn, NY2 contributions
Dec 2017 • Family
Our family absolutely LOVED our Routeburn Valley trek. Not only was the scenery stunning, but the day was well organized from start to finish and our guide, Jenny was fantastic. We learned so much as we hiked along the trail, moved at a great pace and given that we were traveling with a 1 year old, felt especially grateful to be in such wonderful hands. I'd highly recommend this company for exploring NZ!
Written 20 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review, and thank you for your wonderful photos...whow!! travelling on a day hike with a 1 year old you are amazing and Jenny loved sharing one of her favourite hikes with you...Thank you Charles
Written 21 March 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Marianna D
3 contributions
We had a terrific day hiking to the first hut. Our guide asked repeatedly about our pace, and from the beginning stressed that this was our hike and we could go as fast or slow as we wanted. She knew so much about the birds and plants, and she seemed to love what she does, which set the tone for a great day. Definitely recommend!
Written 7 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your comments, it is an amazing trail which immerses you in the diversity of contour and vegetation in our temperate rainforests.
Safe travels
Written 8 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Catherine K
1 contribution
Lucy picked us up at our hotel. She was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and fun! The Routeburn track was beautiful and we had a delightful and scenic lunch. Can’t say enough about what a great day we had with Lucy!
Written 29 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sunshine14410397701
1 contribution
Jan 2025 • Friends
We spent a day with Charles and would do it again in a heartbeat. He's so knowledgeable about the area, wildlife and history, and kindly answered our incessant questions. Highly recommend!
Written 22 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had fun all part of the journey travelling getting the inside knowledge & stories!!
Great to meet you all safe travels…
Thank you Charles
Written 25 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
TexasTraveler
College Station, TX224 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Good guide, good day. Charles was helpful, offered a good experience. Tried to help us with bird identification. Good scenery
Written 18 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review, come back again hopefully we will see more birdlife then.
Written 20 February 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Marilyn H
Bonita Springs, FL27 contributions
We had originally wanted to hike the Routeburn Trek but I knew that I could not go that many miles. So I found Charles at Private Discovery Tours through viator and he catered the day to exactly what we were looking for. I cant recommend him enough.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks Marilyn great to meet you, and be able to accommodate your interests and requirements....Charles
Written 23 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We are considering this walk. There are two things we need to clarify prior to booking:
1) Can we meet this tour at Te Anau? Not Queenstown.
2) We have a very fit 78 yo who we hope can do the walk. Our problem is that his fitness centres on swimming and cycling. Although he used to run as well he has subsequently had two hip operations which have left him with one foot shorter than the other. Consequently he is a slower than average walker. He manages 5km easily in 2 and a half hours so he should be able to do this walk. What is your advice?
Written 23 July 2018
We expect to be staying in Te Anau at the time of this walk. Will this make a difference to the pricing?
Written 18 July 2018
Bonjour ,Je souhaiterais connaitre combien de km faisons nous ,sur la totalité du trick qui est de 33 km ,et quelle portion faisons nous ,qu'est ce qu'on voit
Merci
Written 3 April 2018
Showing results 1-3 of 3
Buy it with
Top rated
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.