Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The sheerness of the mountain walls and fiords (some sea cliffs rise 1.5km out of the wa-
ter) allow plenty of scope for waterfalls. They can be seen all over the place - cascading,
tumbling, roaring or simply dribbling down a green mossy bluff. All this moisture means
lush vegetation. On the eastern side, forests of red, silver and mountain beech fill the valleys
and cling to the steep faces. In the northern and western coastal sections, impressive podo-
carp forests of matai, rimu, southern rata and totara can be found.
Much of the forest grows on a surface of hard rock covered by only a thin layer of rich
humus and moss, a natural retainer for the large amounts of rain. It is this peaty carpet that
allows thick ground flora to thrive under towering canopies, and sets western Fiordland
bush apart from that of the rest of the country.
Fiordland is well known to bird-watchers as the home of the endangered takahe. The
birds trampers will probably spot are the usual kereru (NZ pigeons), riflemen, tomtits, fan-
tails, bush robins, tui, bellbirds and kaka. In alpine regions you may see kea and rock wrens,
and if you wander around at night you might occasionally hear a kiwi.
Trampers will encounter something else in the air: the sandfly. The insect is common
throughout much of NZ but Fiordland is renowned for them. A much more welcome site is
the glowworm, easily spotted glowing at dusk or at night beneath ferns and in bush sharply
cut by a benched track.
8
Information
located right on the lakeside at Te Anau, is a substantial visitor centre with a small museum
and audiovisual theatre. It offers an array of advice, information, books and maps, as well as
regional track information, daily weather reports and bookings for various huts including
those for the Great Walks. There's also a free car park.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Milford Track
Duration
4 days
Distance
53.5km (33 miles)
Track Standard
Great Walk
Difficulty
Moderate
