TREK · New Zealand
Milford Track
Fiordland National Park, Southland · New Zealand Multi-day
Photo: source
Information
- Distance
- 53.5 km
- Duration
- 4 days
- Max elevation
- 1,154 m
- Country
- New Zealand (NZ)
- Difficulty
- Moderate (well-formed trail, but Fiordland weather is unpredictable and the third day's ascent and descent of McKinnon Pass is quite tiring)
- Best Season
- Late October–late April (Great Walks season); May–October the trail is open without mandatory booking
- Permits & Fees
- DOC hut reservations (Clinton Hut, Mintaro Hut, Dumpling Hut) are required and highly competitive—spots sell out within minutes when bookings open; camping is not allowed; a guided walk option is available through Ultimate Hikes
Description
The Milford Track is New Zealand's most celebrated wilderness trail—widely dubbed 'the finest walk in the world'—winding 53.5 km through the heart of Fiordland National Park on the South Island. The regulated 4-day, 3-night trek begins with a ferry to Glade Wharf at the head of Lake Te Anau and ends at Sandfly Point on Milford Sound. Its high point is McKinnon Pass (1,154 m), reached on day three, rewarding hikers with sweeping alpine views before a long descent past Sutherland Falls (580 m), one of New Zealand's tallest waterfalls. The track must be walked in one direction only during the Great Walks season (late October–late April); hut bookings are strictly limited and typically sell out within minutes of release. No camping is permitted; all walkers stay in three DOC-managed huts.
Trail Highlights
McKinnon Pass (1,154 m) with panoramas of the Fiordland mountains, Sutherland Falls (580 m, one of New Zealand's tallest), Clinton Valley, Arthur Valley, and finishing at Milford Sound.
Trekking Experiences
Real stories & vlogs from people who did the trek. Click to explore.
References
The summary above was compiled from the following sources.