Five Passes Hike

[Busy Nick]

We arrive in Queenstown (from Melbourne) at 12noon on 23 January and fly out of Queenstown at 3pm on 28th January.

Is it possible to do the Five Passes Hike in 5 days (4 full days and 2 half days) including transport from and to Queenstown?

Thanks in advance. Nick

[roysta]

I would suggest you'd be cutting it fine, but there's no reason why you couldn't do part of it.
A 1200 arrival is probably a problem for track transport unless you want to pay for a taxi out to Lake Sylvan car park or Routeburn Shelter.
Otherwise you'll be relying on track transport leaving at 0800 on the 24th, at Routeburn Shelter 0945.
That gives you 24, 25, 26 and 27 and getting track transport back at 1000 on the 28th.
But, to be frank, I'm always reluctant to return off a tramp on the day you fly in case there's an unforseen drama.
That would mean getting transport at 1430 on the 27th.
If you move well you could probably get to Lake Nerine, then turn around.
My thoughts, others may disagree.

[wayno]

as a NZ tramper who started tramping decades ago, standard practice is to allow extra time for weather holdups which can be very common and year round. not go in with the tightest schedule possible and an important flight to catch at the end of it...

[Busy Nick]

Thank you for the advice. I feel if I can get to Beans Burn / Chinaman's bluff by 2pm, we should be ok (subject to weather). Nick