The Routeburn track is rated one of the world's 'Top 10 Classic Hikes', combining the thrill of personal achievement with awe-inspiring natural landscapes and unique wildlife. Your day begins as you are picked up from your accommodation and set off on the picturesque Queenstown-Glenorchy road alongside Lake Wakatipu. Passing Glenorchy you will drive through the aptly named Paradise before entering the Mt Aspiring National Park, which hosts the beginning of the Routeburn track. The smooth, flat path will take you through spectacular beech forest where you may spot the Mohua (yellowhead) and Rifleman birds flitting through the trees. The track follows the Routeburn River to the west as it roars through a breathtaking gorge. You will climb a gradual ascent on your walk through the 130-million-year-old forest towards snow-capped peaks, as your guides share their knowledge of the historical significance of the track and its local flora and fauna.