Its grand mountains, soaring waterfalls and crystalclear lakes have made it a bucketlist experience for lovers of beautiful hikes for over 150 years. The first day of the milford track involves catching a boat from te anau downs to the start of the track. The track is wellmaintained during the season by the department of conservation doc and there are three comfortable serviced huts with. Hut tickets must be picked up at the doc office in te anau. Track accommodation department of conservation doc great walk hut accommodation. Milford track fiordland national park 2020 all you. You must book the track well in advance through the department of conservation website. Milford track private lodges ultimate hikes ultimate hikes. The milford track is one of the great walks new zealands premier hiking tracks, passing through some of the most aweinspiring and pristine landscapes. Milford track premium package milford, routeburn and. Milford track moss, milford track day 1 of the milford track robin, milford track milford track mushroom, milford track. Its worth noting that this package does not include the bus to te anau downs where the boat departs from or from milford sound at. Book transport between te anau and the startend of the track if you havent already done this at the same time as booking huts. Bookings are essential during the great walks season and must be booked online at the doc website.
A 40ltr backpack that will contain your belongings and you will carry with you. Bunks with mattresses in a communal sleeping layout. During the winter season there are reduced facilities and additional safety hazards to consider see outside the great. Tramping the milford track in new zealand the soaring moa. How to find all of your huts on the milford track tmbtent. Here you will find its description and tips for each day. Oct 23, 2018 the milford track is located in fiordland national park, part of te wahipounamu south west new zealand world heritage area.
The milford track huts are comfortable enough, the mattresses are okay, the fireboxes work, the roof keeps the water out, whats to complain about. In the winter the huts are not serviced and all equipment required for completing the track will need to be carried by your group. The milford track has long been on my list, and im so happy i was finally able to do it. What to know before hiking the milford track milford, routeburn. Expect big, clean and modern huts on the track some of the best among new zealands walking tracks.
Your accommodation is now reserved but is not confirmed until you complete the payment process. You must book the huts and over summer they do book out quickly, so get in quick. If you hold a backcountry hut pass you can get a 10% discount off. There are a couple of options for walking the milford track. Terms and conditions read the booking terms and conditions scroll to the bottom to find the terms and conditions link for general information, age ranges, prices, discounts, penalty rates and the alterations and. It is now harder to book a walk on the milford track than it is to see justin. We are visiting nz the first three weeks in january and there are no huts available. The reservations can be done only via the doc department of conservation website. The track passes through many landscapes of the fiordland national park such as rocky mountain ridges, tall mossy forests, lake shores, deep gorges, rare wetlands and rivers.
During the great walks season the hut facilities include. The milford track often called milford sound track is one of the most popular treks in nz. The huts and shelters of the milford track, fiordland. If youre walking the milford track, youll need to book accommodation in the huts along the route. You can find out the hut availability here on the docs website. Outside the great walks season you dont need to book huts, but you need to take a backcountry hut passtickets. Prices are per person, in nzd and include gst the full amount must be paid at time of booking. My journey on the milford track in 30 photos young adventuress. Book your tickets online for milford track, fiordland national park. The northern end of the milford track is closed due to severe damage from flooding in february 2020, however the southern section can be walked as a 3 day. Apr 15, 2015 glade wharf, the beginning of the milford track.
The milford track is a hiking tramping trail track located in fiordland national park on new zealands south island. Arguably new zealands most famous walk, the 53kilometre journey begins at the. And thats why i decided to give myself a birthday present for hiking with two good friends at milford track by joining the ultimate hike. Milford track new zealand hiking trails tourism new zealand. Heres the three 40 bunk freedom walkers huts you will encounter. Hike the milford track one of new zealands great walks, the milford track is a spectacular walking journey from te anau to milford sound. When it comes to new zealands great walks, its hard to go past the milford track.
World australasia new zealand milford one of the best hikes in the world milford track the finest walk in the world blanche edith baughan 1908 note. Milford track is open in summer from the last week of october to the end of april and from the start of may to the end of october in winter. Milford track get out and walk events and activities. A practical guide to the milford track nz pocket guide. Milford track winter out of season this milford track winter transport package is for experienced hikers who want to explore the milford track at its most wild. The track from the wharf is a wide 4wd trail which was once used by packhorses to carry supplies to the huts. What to know before hiking the milford track milford. To book milford huts youll need to visit the department of conservation website. You can book a milford track package that includes your boat transfers on and off the track at each end, as well as your overnight accommodation in the huts on the track.
The hut facilities on the milford track are as good as doc huts get. In december 2016 we went hiking new zealand on the milford track. Ultimate hikes has exclusive rights to lodges for 5day catered walks on the milford track. Knowing that the 5th highest waterfall in the world, sutherland falls, can only be enjoyed by hikers on the milford track adds to the appeal. So, it seems that booking huts 6 months in advance is still not long enough to get a spot at the huts on the milford track. Independent walkers carry their own packs and food. You can learn about how to book huts on the milford track or other walks in the fiordland national park area on the doc website. There is no camping available on the milford track. Milford track guided walk itinerary without a doubt, the milford track guided walk will be one of your greatest life stories. Milford track walking holiday new zealands most famous. Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos and stories from your experience. The huts along the milford track have to be some of the nicest i have ever seen. Bookings are essential, as only 90 people can start the walk each day and places frequently book out. Hut tickets become available in junefor the next great walk season.
You must start from the lake te anau end and stay in each hut consecutively. Everything you need to know to hike the milford track. Milford track fiordland national park 2020 all you need. On top of its great walk status, the milford is considered by many to be one. Milford track is on the bucket list of many people who enjoy hiking. Believe us when we say you need to book early this is one of the most popular tracks in the country. During this time, the tracks become more heavily trafficked, therefore its required to book huts in advance to ensure you have a place to sleep during your hike as camping is not allowed. Around 100 years ago, in an article that appeared in the london spectator, the poet blanche baughan declared the milford track to be the finest walk in the world. Ross harraway, 74, has been a department of conservation hut warden on.
Oct 28, 2018 in december 2016 we went hiking new zealand on the milford track. Our most famous trail, the milford track is the jewel in fiordlands crown. The milford track can only be walked in one direction, over 4 days and 3 nights, starting at the head of lake te. Some huts have large rooms for 20 or so and some smaller for 810. Were more than happy to answer any questions about the milford track, routeburn track or kepler track. Due to high popularity, milford track bookings are not easy, but once you do book, here is what to expect. We were not allowed to pitch our own tents and it was compulsory for us to book the huts. The milford track can only be walked in one direction, over 4 days and 3 nights, starting at the head of lake te anau and finishing at milford soundpiopiotahi. Milford track fiordland national park tramping new zealand. For seasonal reservations on the milford track, kepler track, and the routeburn track contact the great walks booking office or book online. There are 3 huts on the milford track, which must be booked in advance during the great walks season. The milford track is a hiking route in new zealand, located amidst mountains and temperate rain forest in fiordland national park in the southwest of the south island. Big, comfortable, clean and modern, they definitely set the bar high for trekking accommodation in new zealand. Im planning to check out the doc website in july and book our spots in the huts for the next season.
Apr 15, 2018 the milford track in new zealands fiordland national park is known as the finest walk in the world for good reason. Mar 14, 2018 book the huts for three nights for the 20182019 season from may. We stayed in the milford track huts, had to prepare our milford track packing list, go road tripping to get to there, and get ready for the best hike weve ever done. Milford track huts and shelters there are two types of walkers on the milford, the freedom trampers, 40 max, using the doc supplied huts and the guided walkers, 50. They all have incredible views and have birds like wekas and keas playing around. Visit the department of conservation great walks to book. Milford track peak season bookings gone in seconds. So many little details that made me stop and admire. This will grant you the permission to enter the route. At the milford sound end doc will book your boat back to milford, we went for the latest time 3pm. The milford track is one of the most popular walks in the world and there are limited places in the doc huts. The milford track guided walk is an amazingly luxurious 5 day4 night adventure as far as multiday hiking goes traversing the heart of fiordland national park and a world heritage area on new zealands scenic south island. There are three department of conservation huts along the track through two. Here is a really informative brochure that will give you most of the information on the milford track including how to get there and how to book.
Everyone has a bed as there is no one on the track who has not booked. Therefore you will have to book quite far in advance in order to be successful for the dates you require. The milford track in new zealands fiordland national park is known as the finest walk in the world for good reason. My journey on the milford track in 30 photos young. How do i book my transportationwater taxi before and after milford track. Milford track new zealand guided walks ultimate hikes. If you already have an active shopping cart, you need to ensure you have enough time remaining to complete the booking and payment.
This is a doc great walk and as such receives a very large number of visitors per year. Due to the milford tracks fame, picking your dates and booking a hut has a higher success rate the farther out you do so. Hiking tracks and guides in milford sound fodors travel. Milford track huts and shelters there are two types of walkers on the milford, the freedom trampers, 40 max, using the doc supplied huts and the guided walkers, 50 max, using more upmarket private huts that are fully catered. You have 25 minutes from now to complete the payment process. The great walks season describes peak tramping seasons, generally from midspring to midautumn. Book the huts for three nights for the 20182019 season from may. But if your like my crazy little brother who decided to run the milford track then missed the last.
Ive been looking forward to reading about your milford track experience ever since you first mentioned it on social media. You can recommend improvements by leaving recommendations or. Whether you choose to walk the 4day track independently and stay at the huts or enjoy part of it on a single day tour, the milford track is a mustdo in new zealand. Like on all great walks in the summer season, the toilets at the huts flush, there is running water and gas is available for cooking. Information and advice local kiwi knowledge, fiordland is our backyard and our passion. The kepler track is a 60 km 37 mi circular hiking track which travels through the landscape of the south island of new zealand and is situated near the town of te anau. Other than that, we had to book our transport to the start of the track. You can fly into queenstown and take a bus to glade wharf or te anau. Accommodation on the milford track is in the form of great walk huts. You can either book your transportation together with your huts, or make a separate booking with fiordland outdoors. In order to walk the trek, you should purchase the tickets to the places you will sleep in. Jun 02, 2018 if youve decided to use our guide to the milford track in conjunction with our guide on how to navigate on the milford track we thought it would be useful to provide location data for the three huts along the track. Independent bookings on the milford track are now full till early april, 2016. The milford track season runs from october to april.
Dedicated to providing you with modern comfort in ancient surroundings, each lodge is fully staffed and offers full lounge and dining facilities serving delicious food for breakfast and dinner, with snacks, and tea and coffee on arrival. There are 3 communal huts on the milford track, which must be booked well in advance through the department of conservation doc website. In the great walks season you need to book all three huts on the track. Anna and i took our sweet time to walk the 5 km to clinton hut.
What to expect on the milford track logistics, difficulty. Before your walk, head over to the doc office in te anau and your transportation tickets will be. Head to the doc milford track hub here to book your huts online. In the high season, they are all equipped with amazing bathrooms with toilet paper, bunk beds, sleeping mats, sinks, water you can drink, and gas. We booked separately and selected the selfdrive package. There are three department of conservation huts along the track through two dense rainforest valleys and over an alpine pass. Water supply, flushing toilets, wash basins with cold running water but no showers. Milford track, nz great walks the after work photographer. While the milford track is very well marked, it can be very helpful to see exactly how far you are from your destination. Originally we planned for joining the ultimate hike. Visitors planning to walk the track should book a long way in advance, as numbers on the milford track independent walk package from queenstown are limited and spaces fill quickly. Hiking the milford track in new zealand new zealand trails. The milford track huts are well maintained with gas cookers, clean running water and decent bunkhouses to sleep in.
Jan 21, 2018 it is now harder to book a walk on the milford track than it is to see justin bieber or adele live in concert in auckland. This is the most popular time to walk the track, so be ready to book your walk as soon as hut bookings open to secure your ideal dates. Queenstown and te anau are popular starting points for. I think the difficulty in getting there adds to its charm. After a scenic cruise across the lake the wellgraded track begins. Tried and tested milford track packing list lost in the. Milford track peak season bookings gone in seconds stuff. Huts are usually fullybooked for the milford sound about a. It is now harder to book a walk on the milford track than it is to see justin bieber or adele live in concert in auckland. If youve decided to use our guide to the milford track in conjunction with our guide on how to navigate on the milford track we thought it would be useful to provide location data for the three huts along the track. Booking the milford track, essentially means booking the milford huts.
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