Routeburn track huts

[IanM]

Hi
Looking for some advice on where to stay on the Routeburn Track. I will be doing this in early December (following straight after the Milford) and cannot decide if it is worth camping for a couple of nights.
I believe that the hut at Routeburn Falls has views second to none, so will most likely have a night there, but am tempted to camp at Lake McKenzie and in Greenstone valley. Will I be missing much by not staying at the Lake McKenzie/Howden huts?
I guess I am lured by the romance of camping out for a couple of nights - is it worth lugging around a tent (approx 1kg) for the Milford for the sake of a couple of nights or would I be better off just hutting it the whole time?
Thanks in advance for your help.

[wayno]

theres a campsite at lake macKenzie is fantastic, next to the lake, nice and sheltered in the trees great forest. has tables for eating at..
the falls and mackenzie huts sleep over 50 people. so if its not your cup of tea stick to camping..... there will be other campers around in dec if company is your thing. but the camping no's are limited so its not a massive no of people like in the huts...
howden hut is so close to mackenzie you'll be just killing time for most of a day and putting up with endless walkers passing through and swatting sandflies.... you could also wander down the greenstone and camp by the next lake down there instead, the greenstone is a real wind tunnel in bad weather... bear that in mind and pick your campsite accordingly...

[forest]

My choice would just be to hut it. If the weather is bad no 1kg tent will be great in NZ. Maybe at Lake McKenzie because the campsite is pretty sheltered by the lake and in amongst the beach trees and like Wayno said it is a nice campsite. Skip Howden as there are quite a few sandflies there. But its still a great spot for a break and might be quiter than McKenzie Hut.
Route burn falls is an awesom hut, your gunna love that.
You will be in full huts most likely on the Milford so should be used to the company anyway. Worst case if the weather is bad and you have lugged the tent for one chance, but its too feral to use it you might not get a booking at the last minute in Dec in the hut you planed to camp near. The tracks will be pretty busy that time of year.

Either choice you will love it.
Definitely pack some ear plugs for the huts as there are some awesome snores in those high huts.....

[wayno]

falls and mackenzie huts get booked out for the peak summer period by sept

[roysta]

I've just come back from two days on the Routeburn, so nice to be back on that track.
In early December there's no guarantee the top section will be open, I remember two years ago they were heli-lifting trampers over the Harris section for $80 a pop.
Routeburn Falls and Mackenzie huts are both fantastic, forget the Howden.
You could stay in the RF hut and then tent it next to Lake Mackenzie. As previously mentioned that's a nicely sheltered position.
From there it's a 4.5 - 5 hour walk out to The Divide.
As also mentioned by Wayne, book nice and early.

[wayno]

drop your pack at howden hut and do the walk up to key summit for an impressive 360 degree view if theres good visibility.
conical hill is another one to consider, if you feel like the extra half hour climb.
key summit you will see what you won't see from the track,
conical hill is more of an elevated view of what you see from the track

[wayno]

i'd duck down the caples valley. well worth a trip. more interesting than the greenstone.

[roysta]

Between RF Hut and Harris Lake looking back

Routeburn Falls Hut

[wayno]

that photo of routeburn falls hut is the guided walkers luxury accom , so no one get your hopes up about the observatory....

[forest]

I have never seen the view first hand from the guided hut but it would be hard to beat the DOC hut view from the balcony with that steep drop under it.
It's on my to do list in the snow.