Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust

Bringing the birdsong back to the Routeburn Track. We are proud to be part of the Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust

The Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust is a charitable trust set up to protect birdlife on the Braided rivers and the valleys of the Rees and Dart rivers.  

In 2018 they built and laid 600 traps and regularly check and maintain them to create a barrier to predators entering the Routeburn Valley and to protect the birds breeding in the region.

Ultimate Hikes is proud to be a part of the Trust and to assist with checking traplines along Lake Sylvan near the Routeburn Shelter.

In this video, our GM Noel Saxon talks to Russell who builds and sets the traps.

Lake Slyvan Trapline

The team at Ultimate Hikes check the 30 odd traps along the Lake Slyvan trapline over the summer season.

This is done as a training day for guides to understand the importance of protecting birdlife in Mt Aspiring National Park and for them to pass on the knowledge to our walkers.

Walkers on the Routeburn are also lending their support to the traplines.

The traplines cover a vast area of land and each trap is checked and recorded on a database.  Over the last two seasons, Routeburn Track walkers have been able sponsor traps.  They are provided with periodic information about how their specific trap is contributing to the birdsong in the Routeburn and Rees Valleys.

To find out more about the work of the RDWT and contribute to their work, please visit their website.