Whisky Trail Backcountry Trek

The Whisky Trail brings together the contrasting landscapes that make Fiordland National Park so remarkable. Beginning at The Divide, your journey follows the Routeburn Track towards Key Summit before continuing into the open alpine terrain of the Livingstone Range. Familiar walking tracks give way to a more remote mountain setting, where tussock slopes and rugged ridgelines reveal sweeping views across the surrounding peaks and valleys.

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Along the range, the pleasure lies as much in the journey as the outlook. Moving through exposed alpine country requires concentration and steady pacing, while each change in perspective reveals another detail of the landscape. Your private guide manages navigation and helps you negotiate the terrain, with opportunities to pause and appreciate the scale of the mountains around you.

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The route then descends towards Duck Creek and the valley below, exchanging open ridgelines for sheltered waterways and native forest. Passing McKellar Hut, you join the Greenstone Track and continue towards Lake Howden, where magnificent beech forest and a quieter rhythm provide a memorable contrast to the alpine crossing.

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The final stretch returns you to The Divide, completing a varied circuit through high country, valley and forest. With private guiding and a fresh trail lunch included, you can focus on the experience of travelling through this less-visited corner of Fiordland.

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This is a committing backcountry trek with exposed terrain and limited exit options. Your guide assesses weather, visibility, ground conditions and the group’s progress throughout, adapting route decisions and timing to the day’s conditions.