The Milford Track, known as “the finest walk in the world”, is in the heart of northern Fiordland National Park. People come from all over the globe to experience the grandeur of it’s mountains, the waterfalls that plunge to the valley floor and the immensity of the lush green rainforest. Milford Sound and the Milford Track are icons!
Milford Sound – note tour boat wakes…
The Milford Track starts at the head of Lake Te Anau and finishes at Milford Sound/Piopiotahi to the north. Boat transport is required at both ends of the track.
Looking south down Lake Te Anau en-route to the track’s start at Glade House…
Lake Te Anau…
The track start near Glade House [guided walker's first night stop]…
Time: 4 days
Distance: 53.5 km, and all walkers always walk one way – north to Milford Sound.But in New Zealand mountains you’d be wise to not fixate on distance. Think time, e.g. each day on the Milford is several hours
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On the first day. The clarity of a Fiordland river when it’s not raining is something to be wondered at…
There are three Dept. of Conservation [DOC] huts on the track for independent non guided walkers – Clinton and Mintaro before crossing Mackinnon Pass, and Dumpling on the other Milford Sound side of the pass.
And four huts for guided walkers: Glade House and Pompolona Lodge before the pass, and Quintin Lodge and Mitre Peak Lodge [at Milford Sound] for the last two nights.
For myself prior to walking the track as an “independent”, I found it confusing prior to going as to the relationship between the two ways of doing the track.
Booking well ahead is an absolute “must” [see below for links]
It was obvious that facilities for guided walkers would not be available to independent walkers.
So to clarify: as the independent and guided operation huts used on each night are not in the same locations and even an hour apart the two groups seldom interact as their respective timings are different [note while guided walkers literally are guided and so all participants leave more or less together, independent walkers only have recommended departure times from the hut wardens, which is advice best taken especially during bad weather].
Independent walkers in Clinton Hut…
Typical travel on the eastern side of the pass…
Hidden Lakes…
Upwards on a well graded track to Mackinnon Pass and heavy rain sets in…
Mackinnon Pass on a rainy day…
Torrential rain set in on the descent…
Dumpling Hut by 4 o’clock on this day just before the track was closed due to flooding…
The next day dawned fine for walking mostly beside a dropping Arthur River…
MacKay Falls…
The Arthur River heads towards the Tasman Sea, often quietly, or sometimes very dynamically…
At the end of the trip everyone has made a few friends…
This older style vessel took us the ten minutes back to the tourist side of Milford Sound…
Milford Sound with Mitre Peak on the right. The track exits well to the left…
Book online and read advice [inc. Milford Track update and avalanche advisory] from the Dept. of Conservation [DOC] to walk this track independently… more >>
The DOC headquarters at Te Anau give excellent advice re. transport [inc. bus] either end of the walk, and where to park cars etc.
Alternately, www.ultimatehikes.co.nz offer guided walks during the peak walking season, along with many pictures of sunny days [in case you're worried about the 300 inches per year annual rainfall, and wish subsequently to miss out on the amazing spectacle of dynamic waterfalls!]
Note: Winter conditions can exist in Fiordland National Park at any time of year.
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