Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ascends more steeply as it passes a side track to
St Quintin Falls
, eventually working its
way to
Lake Mintaro
and Mintaro Hut (40 bunks), 3.5km from Pompolona Hut.
If the weather is clear you might want to stash your backpack at the hut and make a foray
to
Mackinnon Pass
(1069m) to be assured of seeing the impressive views without obstruc-
tion from clouds or rain. The pass is a 1½- to two-hour climb from the hut, and offers a
spectacular view at sunset on clear evenings. If you are planning to catch a sunset, make
sure you have a powerful headlamp (with fresh batteries) for a safe return to the hut.
Day 3: Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut
6-7 HOURS, 14KM, 489M ASCENT, 969M DESCENT
The track leaves the hut, swings west with the valley and resumes its climb to Mackinnon
Pass. Crossing the Clinton River for a second time it follows a series of almost a dozen
switchbacks out of the bush and into alpine territory. This is a stiff climb at a knee-bending
angle, but after 4km the track reaches the large memorial cairn that honours the discovery of
this scenic spot by Quintin Mackinnon and Ernest Mitchell in 1888.
The track then levels out and crosses Mackinnon Pass, with impressive views all around
the Clinton and Arthur Valleys and several nearby peaks. The two most prominent peaks
from the pass are
Mt Hart
(1769m) and
Mt Balloon
(1847m). If the weather is fair, you'll
want to spend some extra time at the pass; if it isn't, you won't be able to get off it fast
enough. The track passes several tarns, ascends to the highest point of the tramp at 1154m,
and reaches Mackinnon Pass Shelter - a good place for a restorative break on cold days -
before swinging north for the descent.
From the pass to Dumpling Hut the track drops 870m in 7km. Soon, it arrives at
Roaring
Burn
, crosses it and re-enters the bush. The stream, with its many beautiful waterfalls and
rapids, is an impressive sight, but the long series of wooden and pierced-metal stairways and
lookout platforms that trips down the valley beside it is almost as eye-catching. Their con-
struction in 1996-97 is testimony to the Milford's popularity among soft-core trampers.
There are fine views of
Dudleigh Falls
on Roaring Burn shortly before Quintin Hut.
Quintin is actually a series of lodge buildings for guided trampers, but there's also a day-use
shelter for independent trampers. Nearby is historic
Beech Hut
, a reconstruction of a primit-
ive hut from the early days of the Milford Track.
The awesome
Sutherland Falls
can be reached from Quintin Hut shelter, where you can
leave your pack before following the spur track. It's well worth making the 1½-hour return
