Overland difficulty compared to Routeburn-Greenstone?

[flipflop15]

Hi everyone,

I am planning on doing the overland track this year and would be interested in anyone who has done both the overland track and routeburn sharing a comparison of the difficulty of the two walks - I appreciate it is different terrain however would be keen to get a feel for difficulty level for comparison purposes! I have done a search on this site but nothing has popped up - happy to be pointed in the right direction if an answer to this question already exists

Thanks!

[farefam]

I'd say both tracks are pretty easy. The Routeburn track is well maintained and well graded the whole way and it is a much shorter hike than the Overland track. The Routeburn can be easily done in 2-3 days versus the more normal 5 or more days for the full Overland track.

The Overland track is well graded other than for the short steep climb to Marions Lookout. The northern half of the Overland track is mostly less sheltered from bad weather than most of the Routeburn track but you are more likely to encounter persistent rainy weather on the Routeburn track.

In summer/autumn I'd say the Overland track is the harder trek, but only because of the longer distance covered. In winter however the Routeburn is definitely the harder/riskier trip due to more persistent snow cover and the risk of avalanches. Both tracks are very scenic and well worth doing but being prepared to cope with wet, windy, cold weather is essential on either track.

[wayno]

routeburn track degrades a great deal over winter, massive tree wind falls. and land slips can block the track slowning progress, not to mention heavy snow fall and avalanches making the track dangerous.... some of the heaviest rainfall in the world. hurricane strength winds, bad weather can happen year round. cold weather can happen in summer. greenstone doesnt have the avalanche risk but its a wind tunnel.

[JamesMc]

Both are easy provided weather is good in the higher sections. Different story if the weather is very bad. You could have had good weather on Route Burn and then have weather you can't stand up in on Overland Track.

Also Australian walking has an ethos of always carrying tent etc, which means a heavier pade.

JamesMc

[wayno]

Both are easy provided weather is good in the higher sections. Different story if the weather is very bad. You could have had good weather on Route Burn and then have weather you can't stand up in on Overland Track.

Also Australian walking has an ethos of always carrying tent etc, which means a heavier pade.

JamesMc

as per my previous quote, after a bad storm there can be slips and windfall on the routeburn that make it difficult until track maintenance is carried out. in winter track maintenance is minimal and may not get completed for months

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

Assuming that this question is asked on the basis that you've down the Routeburn/Greenstone? If that's the case, and all other things being equal (taking into account the impact that different weather/seasons can have on the experience), if you can do the RB/Greenstone, you can do the OLT. Both are well maintained and easy to follow. Both are subject to all kinds of weather (from sublime to foul/dangerous). Both have options of camping and huts (and both have a huts ranging from basic to "chalets").

Main differences are:
- Most of the best OLT features are on sidetrips, which differs from the RB/Greenstone (with the exceptions of Conical Hill and Key Summit). If anything I'd say the grade of parts of some of the sidetrips on the OLT are more difficult than anything on the RB/Greenstone, but not dramatically so.
- OLT huts don't have in-hut running water, gas cookers, flushing toilets, electric lighting, mattress etc... very much first world problems but it means you'll need to remember to take fuel stove and sleeping mat.
- OLT probably gets muddier after sustained rain, but again it is, in general, well maintained and any differences would be marginal
- In terms of climbing/descending, both have their 'ups and downs', but the OLT has more of them (particularly if doing the side trips, which you really should if weather permits)
- In NZ, if 'hutting', you're generally not expected to carry a tent. On the OLT, carry a tent even if using the huts. The huts can be full, you really should have an emergency shelter, and in any case, there are a range of alternative campsites away from the huts that are worth exploring if you want to avoid crowds.

The upshot is that if you found the NZ walk OK, you should be OK with the OLT.

[naturelover]

Hi. Just read Peter's post (whynotwalk) and I find it spot on, having done both. Good advice Peter.

[whynotwalk]

It's always nice to be thanked Louise ... but I think the thanks have to go to "Walk_fat boy_walk" for that good advice. We just happen to have similar-ish forum names. (And btw, if it's any help, I do agree with Wfbw's good advice!)

cheers

Peter

[naturelover]

That was astonishingly unobservant of me - I guess the error was made because you offer other, very helpful comments, so there was a certain expectation created

[flipflop15]

Hi Everyone - thank you very much for the detailed response and thoughts on this, it is very helpful and much appreciated

I did the Routeburn/GS some years ago now in October and the weather was pretty bad -we nearly had to stop before we got started (v bad snow storm on the first night)...however the rest of it was pretty smooth.

Just one more question (at this point )we are planning on doing the Overland in early September - from reading it sounds pretty wet this time of year, but wondered temperature wise what it would be dropping down to..?

Thanks again everyone - the overland has been on my bucket list for some time, so I am looking forward to it!

[icefest]

At this stage be prepared for and expect all weather from snow to 27 degrees.

You'll be able to make a better decision the week before.

There will be rain at least for part of the walk.

I'd be consulting this for expected weather: http://www.john.chapman.name/tas-crw1.html

[dingelberry]

Hi Flipflops15
I did this walk the first 2 weeks sep last year ( did a lot of just looking around ) expect everything we had snow , rain ,wind ,and sun and got down to below 0 on a few nights but thats just part of the experience that what makes it such a special walk its different in all sorts of weather enjoy.

[RonK]

Just one more question (at this point )we are planning on doing the Overland in early September - from reading it sounds pretty wet this time of year, but wondered temperature wise what it would be dropping down to..?

It could be this cold - late October crossing...

[flipflop15]

Will bring the thermals!!