Surrounded by many bucket-list hikes, the Glacier Burn Track is an underdog that is worth your time. By Jub Bryant

The track starts at 330m altitude from the Glacier Burn Track car park next to the Kinloch Road, which leads to the Greenstone–Caples Track. 

Parking should be reasonably safe here as many people drive past on the way to the area’s many tracks. 

Following a few minutes’ walk through a grassy field, the track crosses the Glacier Burn – normally easily – and enters beech forest after 300m.

The first kilometre is on a neat but well-worn track with small ferns lining the way. There may be treefall in early summer. 

You’ll rarely be on flat ground through the beech forest, and the second kilometre has over 200m of elevation gain.

At just over 800m you leave the forest and enter alpine terrain.

Although DOC shows this track finishing at the 800m line (3.3km into the trail), there is no actual endpoint here. In winter and spring, however, it is better to go no further than the bushline, as the area is avalanche-prone.

In summer and early autumn it’s different, and continuing past the treeline is worthwhile. The Glacier Basin offers views of the Humboldt Mountains, with Mt Bonp-land (2343m) the highest notable peak.

The terrain beyond the treeline is a mix of rock and tussock, with rock eventually taking over. There are some vague tracks through the rocks but this is route-finding terrain. Keep to the true left of the Glacier Burn, which becomes visible again for the first time since crossing it at the start.

Further up are views of the Richardson Mountains, Glenorchy and the Dart River flowing into Lake Wakatipu.

The descent through the forest is straightforward, with only the occasional foot placement important in slightly rutted sections of the track where ferns can partially obscure the track. From time to time you may find people camping along the way.