Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
nights and four days. This is perfectly acceptable if the weather is kind, but when the
weather turns sour you'll still have to push on across the alpine Mackinnon Pass and may
miss some rather spectacular views. It's all down to the luck of the draw.
During the Great Walk season, the track is also frequented by guided tramping parties,
which stay at cosy, carpeted lodges with hot showers and proper food. If that sounds ap-
5-day tramp $1930-2095)
, the only operator permitted to run guided tramps of the Milford.
The track is covered by NewTopo map
Milford Track
1:55,000, and 1:70,000
Parkmap 335-01 (Milford Track)
.
Estimated walking times:
DAY
ROUTE
TIME
1
Glade Wharf to Glade House
20min
1
Glade House to Clinton Hut
1hr
2
Clinton Hut to Mintaro Hut
5-6hr
3
Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut
6-7hr
3
Side trip to Sutherland Falls
1½hr return
4
Dumpling Hut to Sandfly Point
5½-6hr
Bookings & Transport
The Milford Track is a Great Walk. Between late October and mid-April, you need a
Great Walk pass ($162) to cover your three nights in the huts. Passes must be obtained in
advance (book early to avoid disappointment), either online via DOC's
Great Walks
the off-season the huts revert to Serviced ($15), and the track can be walked in any time
frame you like. This makes the month or so either side of the Great Walks season a great
time to tramp, weather dependent.
The track starts at Glade Wharf, at the head of Lake Te Anau, accessible by a 1½-hour
boat trip from Te Anau Downs, 29km from Te Anau on the road to Milford Sound. The
track finishes at Sandfly Point, a 15-minute boat trip from Milford Sound village from
where you can return by road to Te Anau, around two hours away. You will be given op-
tions to book the above connecting transport online, at the same time as you book your
hut tickets.
To book your own transport, your best bet is to contact
Tracknet
( 0800 483 262;
www.tracknet.net
)
, which offers round-trip packages and secure parking at its Te Anau
