The Milford Track

The Milford Track traverses the heart of Fiordland National Park on "the finest walk in the world" from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound. The Fiordland National Park is the cornerstone of the Te Wai Pounamu Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Park. Walkers on the track to Milford Sound encounter Fiordland at its most spectacular. Deep lakes, silent fiords, luxuriant forest and sheer canyons carved out of imposing granite define this landscape. On a sunny day there is a postcard shot around every corner, but only when it rains, and torrents of water cascade down the mountainsides, have you truly experienced the magic of the Milford Track.

Day 1. Queenstown or Te Anau to Glade House 20 min hiking
Your adventure begins at our Queenstown office (at the rear of 'The Station') at 9.30am where you catch a coach to Te Anau arriving in time for a light lunch and a group photo. If you join the group in Te Anau your briefing will be at 9.30am in the Holiday Inn. After lunch you drive to Te Anau Downs boat harbour, where a launch waits to take you up to the spectacular northern end of Lake Te Anau. From the wharf it is a short walk to historic Glade House, our first lodge, for a hot shower, a filling meal and a comfortable bunk.

Day 2. Glade House to Pompalona 5-7 hours hiking
After crossing the emerald green Clinton River you follow it up the valley to the Hirere Falls lunch shelter. The beech forest gets more luxuriant the further you go, until it releases you on to the Prairie. From this meadow you can capture the true nature of the ice carved Clinton Canyon. It is a short climb to Pompolona Lodge from here.

Day 3. Pompalona to Quintin via Mackinnon Pass 6-8 hours hiking
This is the most demanding day, especially in inclement weather. The track leads to Lake Mintaro at the head of the Clinton Valley, before climbing the Mackinnon Pass in a series of zig-zags. Take your time. At the top you will be rewarded with endless views and lunch in Pass Hut. After the rocky descent into the Arthur Valley you will welcome a hot cup of tea at Quintin Lodge. It should be enough to refresh you for the 90 minute round trip to the Sutherland Falls, the world's fifth highest cascade.

Day 4. Quintin to Mitre Peak Lodge via Sandfly Point 6-8 hours hiking
Your final day on the track. You walk down the Arthur Valley to Boatshed for a cup of tea; on past MacKay Falls and Bell Rock, which was turned out of the river during a particularly violent flood, to the lunch spot at Giants' Gate waterfall. The final stretch of the track follows tranquil Lake Ada to Sandfly Point, where according to Maori legend the goddess Te Hine-nui-te-po released the sandfly to stop men lingering too long in the beauty of Fiordland. From here it is a short launch trip to Mitre Peak Lodge where you will enjoy a celebratory dinner.

Day 5. Mitre Peak Lodge to Te Anau and Queenstown
After breakfast you will board one of the famous Red Boats for a cruise on Milford Sound. Watch for dolphins and fur seals and pray for rain. (No-one believes us, but the waterfalls are absolutely incredible!).
Following the cruise you start your spectacular journey through the heart of the Fiordland National Park to the Homer Tunnel and on to Te Anau. After a light lunch we continue to Queenstown, arriving at approximately 4.00pm.

The Briefing
Please attend the pre-track briefing, at the Ultimate Hikes office, Top Floor, The Station Building, corner of Shotover and Camp Streets in Queenstown at 4.00pm (check-in 3.45pm) on the evening prior to departure. Here we can answer any of your questions, issue you with a sleeping sheet, lend you a backpack and raincoat if you need them, and arrange your departure details for the following morning. If you are unable to attend the briefing due to late arrival in Queenstown, please let us know where you are staying so we can deliver equipment and information to your hotel. For those starting in Te Anau a pre-track briefing will be held at the Track Office, located at the Holiday Inn in Te Anau, at 9.30am on the day of departure (Japanese briefing at 8.30 am).

The Milford Track is a challenge which people of all ages and abilities will relish. To enjoy your walk you need to be able to carry a medium sized backpack containing your personal belongings for 6-8 hours over 15-21kms (9-13 miles) of mountain tracks each day. We encourage you to walk at your own pace. There is no pressure to walk with others or keep up with the fastest walkers. There is always a guide at the rear of the party. The track surfaces vary from smooth well-formed paths to rough terrain broken by rocks and tree roots. There are steep rocky downhill sections and you may have to ford small streams and wade in deep water after heavy rain. We recommend you wear hiking boots, which provide firm ankle support. If you are not a regular walker we suggest you begin a daily walking regime 6-8 weeks before departure. Gradually increasing the distance you walk, carrying a backpack and staircase or hill climbing will leave you even better prepared for your challenge. If you are over 70 years of age, a doctor’s certificate is required. The walks are not recommended for those with poor vision.

Your guides are trained outdoor enthusiasts who will explain the natural and human history of the area you are walking through. They pride themselves on their safe, efficient and friendly service, and provide everything from a warming cup of tea at lunch to an evening briefing on the following day's walk. All guides are trained in first aid and are in portable radio contact with each other, the lodges and our Queenstown base at all times. Your safety is of paramount importance to us, and your guides' decisions must be adhered to.

Equipment Provided and Required
You may borrow a 40 litre backpack and rain coat free of charge or if you prefer you can use your own. Weather conditions are highly variable throughout the season and it is essential that you have clothing which keeps you warm when wet through rain or perspiration e.g. wool or polypropylene.


Essential Items
For Walking
· - waterproof raincoat with hood (we can lend you one)
· - boots or strong walking shoes preferably with ankle support
· - woollen or polypropylene thermal underwear (top & bottom)
· - warm hat
· - sun hat
· - woollen sweater or fleece jacket
· - T shirt for fine days
· - gloves
· - shorts for walking
· - woollen socks - two pairs
· - sunscreen
· - insect repellent
· - water bottle
· - camera

For Evenings
· - shirt or sweater
· - trousers or skirt
· - underwear - two sets
· - sandals or lightweight shoes
· - pyjamas or night wear
· - handkerchiefs (not tissues)
· - toilet requisites (towels, soap, shampoo & conditioner are provided)

Optional items: swimsuit, spare laces, journal and second skin for blisters. We also sell film, maps, guidebooks, postcards, walking poles, foot fleece (to reduce your feet and boots) and blister kits.

We do not recommend you walk in cotton garments, jeans or silk thermals. Perspiration means you are likely to feel damp and cold inside the best raincoat.
We supply a sleeping sheet with pillowslip, a towel and a plastic pack liner at the pre-departure briefing, as well as a raincoat and back pack if required. We have a shop at the Ultimate Hikes office in Queenstown selling quality clothing at reasonable prices, including thermal underwear, fleece vests and jackets and walking sticks. The shop is open prior to and after each briefing.

We recommend you put all your clothing in plastic bags inside your pack liner for added rain protection. Keep your pack as light as possible while still taking the essentials. Remember hand laundry facilities are available in the lodges and a lighter pack will enhance your experience.

All transport from Queenstown to the start of the track and return is in an air- conditioned coach and included in the price. There are no hotel/motel pickups so you will need to arrange a taxi to get to the meeting place. You will be dropped off at 'The Station' building on return. Please arrange storage of spare luggage and vehicles with your pre and post track accommodation.

After an invigorating day on the Milford Track you will have worked up an appetite. All our lodges have a full kitchen and our staff have been working to make sure your time inside on the Milford Track is as memorable as your time outside.

Enjoy a snack and cold drink when you arrive at the lodge. A three course dinner follows: hearty home made soup; a traditional New Zealand main; fresh garden salad and no Kiwi meal would be complete without 'pudding' (dessert), and tea or coffee. A selection of New Zealand wine, beer and soft drinks are available for purchase from the bar throughout the evening.

A hot cuppa will be ready and waiting for early risers and breakfast offers a selection of fruit and cereal to a full cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs. Just what you need to send you on your way for another day in the great wide open. Your Guides will lay everything out for you to make your own picnic lunch on the way out: a delicious sandwich and your choice of fruit and energy snacks to keep you going through the day. Lunch is on route but we do have hot drinks ready for you at all our lunch stops.

For those of you with any special dietary requests or requirements, let us know at the time of booking and we will be more than happy to cater to your needs.

The Milford Track is in the heart of Fiordland, some of New Zealand's most isolated and rugged back country. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy all the comforts of home at the same time. Our lodges have been purpose designed and built, with everything right down to the last nail flown in by helicopter! The result is sheer indulgence in the last place you would expect it.

All lodges have drying rooms, flush toilets and hot showers complete with soap, shampoo, conditioner and even hairdryers. A full kitchen treats you with a three course dinner and cooked breakfast, enjoy a drink from the bar before dinner or pick up extra film or sunscreen from the shop. We even have generated electricity (turned off at 10.00pm each evening) Take your pick from multi share accommodation: bedrooms with bunk beds sleeping 4 to 6 people per room; or our new private bedrooms with one queen or 2 single beds and private bathrooms.

Pre and post track accommodation is required in Queenstown. Please let us know where you are staying. We can book this for you or you can book yourself. For information see the accommodation section of this website.

Will I be fit enough?
To enjoy your trek you need to be able to carry a medium sized backpack for 4-8 hours over 10-21km of mountain track each day. To maximise your enjoyment we encourage you to set your own pace while walking the track, there is no need to keep up with the fastest walkers. There is always a guide at the back of the party. The track surface varies from smooth well-formed paths to rough terrain broken up by rocks and tree roots and we recommend you wear hiking boots, which provide firm ankle support. If you are not a regular walker, we suggest you begin a daily walk regime 6-8 weeks before your departure. Some practice carrying a pack and hill/staircase walking during this time will make you even better prepared for your walk.

What weather should I expect on the month I am walking? The unpredictable nature of the weather in this region means that snow, high winds and rain can occur at any time of the year. It is therefore very important to be prepared for the worst weather conditions, and carry the appropriate clothing at all times.

Can I wash my clothes?
Lodges have hand washing facilities with soap powder and drying rooms. Being able to wash and dry clothing helps keep the pack weight down.

Do I have to bring all my clothing with me?
We will lend you a raincoat. If you do not wish to bring all your clothing or do not have a particular item, we have a very reasonably priced shop where items can be purchased prior to your departure from Queenstown.

Where should I leave my excess baggage while I'm walking?
Your hotel will store your luggage for you. If you will be staying in a different hotel on your return to Queenstown we can move your luggage for you.

How bad are the sandflies?
We recommend you to wear insect repellent each day.

Is there alcohol on the track?
New Zealand Beer and wine is available for purchase at the lodges. This is paid for at the end of your walk.

I am vegetarian. Is this a problem?
We cater for any diet requirements. Please request this on booking.

How many people share the bunkrooms?
Bunkrooms sleep 4 - 6 people with shared bathroom facilities.

I will be travelling by myself, is that a problem?
No problem. It is a great opportunity to walk with like-minded individuals from around the world.

Are there toilets on the tracks?
All our lodges have flush toilets. There are toilets (some flush, some Kiwi long drop style!) toilets at all our lunch shelters and huts.

New Zealand Beer and wine is available for purchase at the lodges. This is paid for at the end of your walk. Before and after the hike there may be opportunities to buy ice creams and souvenirs so it is a good idea to take some money or a credit card. Otherwise all other food and drink is included in the price.

Price includes: guides, accommodation (4 nights) in our private lodges, meals, coach transport to and from Queenstown, backpack, raincoat, sleeping sheet, pillowslip, towel, packliner, hot showers with soap, shampoo and conditioner provided, group photo and certificate of achievement.

Payment: For bookings 4 or more months in advance of the departure a 20% deposit can be paid with the remainder due 95 days prior to your trip. For bookings within 4 months of the departure, full payment is required.

Cancellations: are charged on the following basis:
Outside 90 days: $100 per person
89-60 days: $200 per person
59-21 days: 50% of full fare
Within 21 days: 100% of full fare

Travel Insurance: We strongly recommend that you have travel insurance.

Medical Conditions: When you book you must notify us of any medical condition, medical history, or medications that you are on. In particular, asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, allergies to wasp/ bee stings and food allergies.

Notes: This trip is run in conjunction with another operator.

Maximum of 50 clients per departure but you are well spread out along the track while hiking. No minimum.

Please advise us of any special requirements e.g. special diets, birthdays, wedding anniversaries etc.