We are planning to tramp the Routeburn in 2 days. Start out at the GLenorchy side and tramp to ROuteburn Hut the first day and do the rest - to the Divide on the second day, leaving early so we can catch the bus to Te Anau at 5pm. Can we manage it or is it too much to ask for.

You are talking about doing 40km in 2 days, which is awfully quick walking on some rough terrain. I suppose that it is possible, but I sure wouldn't want to do it. Most trampers take 3 days. Even at the height of summer, you could get a day-long downpur that could set you back a day.

Thanks for your response. Actually its 32km combined and the second day we would be doing 23km. If we start at 7am and end at 5pm, we would be doing 2.5km an hour with one hour rest which is not that strenuous. I took into account that if it rains, the tramp is off and we return to Glenorchy and hire a car to Milford Sound. Any thoughts anybody?

Well I guess I can now reply to my own post myself.
We just came back from NZ and I can honestly say that combining 2 days into 1 was definitely doable and fun. We started from the Routeburn Falls hut at 8am and got into the Divide at 4:30pm with ample breaks at Lake Mckenzie and Howden huts. Incredible track.
One thing though, there was no rain at all so I guess if it did rain it would have put a big damper (no pun intended) on things.

Ayal,
You are tougher than me!

Al