Milford Track
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MILFORD TRACK Duration: 4 days Distance: 53.5 km (one way) Great Walks season: 24 October 2017 – 30 April 2018 MILFORD ELEVATION PROFILE & TRACK GUIDE TRACK 1000 m Experience the ‘finest walk in 750 m the world’ as you retrace the steps Prairie Bus Shelter Stop of early explorers on the world- 500 m Clinton Hut renowned Milford Track. 40 bunks Glade Take a journey along valleys carved 250 m Wharf by glaciers, wander through ancient rainforests and admire cascading 0 m waterfalls. You’ll follow a historic 5 km / 1 –1.5 hrs 16.5 km / 6 hrs route through Fiordland National Park, part of Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, before reaching your final destination, the spectacular Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. The Milford Track can only be walked in one direction. The track is well marked and signposted, but some Day 1: Glade sections are steep and rough and the Wharf to track may be muddy and slippery. Clinton Hut Day 2: Clinton Hut to Mintaro Hut Poor weather conditions can make this walk challenging, even in the Great 1 hour – 1 hour 6 hours, 16.5 km 30 minutes, 5 km Walks season. A gradual climb follows the Clinton After a boat cruise from River to its source, Lake Mintaro, at This guide describes a 4-day hike for Te Anau Downs (1 hour the base of the renowned Mackinnon independent, non-guided walkers from 15 minutes), take a leisurely Pass. Past Hirere Falls you will get the head of Lake Te Anau to Sandfly Point walk through beautiful your first view of Mackinnon Pass in Milford Sound/Piopiotahi during the beech forest along the and the impressive Pompolona ice Great Walks season (24 October 2017 banks of the Clinton River field. You’ll be dwarfed by the sheer to Clinton Hut, where all – 30 April 2018). scale of the rock walls towering above walkers spend the first night. on either side as you walk up the Clinton valley, and will pass through Outside the Great Walks season changing vegetation as you climb (May to October) walking higher towards Mintaro Hut. conditions are more hazardous – see the safety information. Duration: 4 days Distance: 53.5 km Great Walks season: 24 October 2017 – 30 April 2018 greatwalks.co.nz 0800 694 732 Mackinnon hut campsite shelter Pass Andersons Cascade Shelter Mintaro Hut 40 bunks Quintin Shelter Dumpling Hut Giant Gate 40 bunks Boatshed Falls Sandfly Point 14 km / 6 – 7 hrs 18 km / 5.5 – 6 hrs Day 3: Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut Day 4: Dumpling Hut to Sandfly Point 6–7 hours, 14 km 5 hours 30 minutes – 6 hours, 18 km Climb to Mackinnon Pass and the memorial to explorer From Dumpling Hut, you’ll follow Arthur River Quintin McKinnon, with exceptional views of Lake Mintaro to the historic Boatshed. Further along the track, and the Clinton Canyon along the way. The memorial is a you will reach the dramatic Mackay Falls and great place to take in the awe-inspiring panoramas, before intriguing Bell Rock. Admire the man-made rock reaching the highest point of the track and Mackinnon Pass cuttings alongside the Arthur River and Lake Ada, Shelter (1154 metres). before spending the last 3 km on a smooth, wide From here, you’ll drop steadily through an attractive alpine track constructed by a prison labour gang between garden to the valley floor, passing several waterfalls along 1890 and 1892. A short boat ride from Sandfly the Roaring Burn River before arriving at Quintin Shelter. Point will take you to your journey’s end, with On the way to Dumpling Hut, if the weather is clear, take a world-famous views of Milford Sound/Piopiotahi moment to admire Sutherland Falls in the distance. along the way. COVER: Giant Gate Falls, Graham Dainty ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT: Beech forest, Graham Dainty Clinton Valley, Daniel Deans Makinnon Pass, stokedforsaturday.com Mackay Falls, Rob Suisted MAIN PHOTO: Mackinnon Pass, John Strother (panafoot.com) HIGHLIGHTS Air New Zealand partners with the Department of Conservation to help bring native birds back to the beautiful Great Walks. Photo: Sabine Bernert Conservation story 1 Keep an eye out for the rare whio/blue duck. Once widespread around New Zealand, they’re now only found in a few locations, Photo: John Strother (panafoot.com) including along the Milford Track, thanks to a predator control programme supported by Air New Zealand and Genesis Energy. This has doubled the number of stoat traps and increased possum and rat control over an extra 800 hectares. It’s hoped that other wildlife native to the area, such as the mohua/ yellowhead, can also eventually return. 2 Take your camera to capture the stunning panoramas from Mackinnon Pass across ancient valleys carved by glaciers. 3 Fiordland’s many streams, rivers and waterfalls are especially spectacular after rainfall. Make sure you take a side trip from Quintin Shelter to Sutherland Falls, which drop 580 metres (904 feet) from Lake Quill. Photo: John Strother (panafoot.com) Photo: Shellie Evans 4 In the alpine section of the Milford Track you will be in for a special treat between November and February when flowering plants such as the Mount Cook buttercup, mountain daisy and the dainty gentian almost steal the show from the expansive vistas. 5 Enjoy the emerald waters of the Clinton River. Even when the water is metres deep, the crystal-clear water ensures you can see every stone along the bottom and admire trout or Photo: Keri Moyle (signsoflife.co.nz) native longfin eel/tuna cruising the deep pools. ABEL TASMAN COAST TRACK HEAPHY TRACK Takaka Motueka Karamea NELSON Nelson Picton Visitor Centre Wakefield BLENHEIM Westport Murchison St Arnaud Rotoiti/Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre Punakaiki Reefton Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre Kaikoura Greymouth Hanmer Springs Kumara Hokitika Arthur’s Pass National Park Visitor Centre Oxford Rangiora Kaiapoi Franz Josef/Waiau Westland Tai Poutini National Park Visitor Centre CHRISTCHURCH Ōtautahi/Christchurch Visitor Centre Methven Aoraki/Mount Cook Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park Akaroa Visitor Centre Haast ASHBURTON Awarua/Haast Visitorgreatwalks.co.nz Centre 0800 694 732 Geraldine GETTING THERE Fairlie Temuka The Milford Track is accessed by boat from Te Anau Downs, Sign me up! What do I doTwizel next? 27 km from Te Anau on SH94. Makaroa TIMARU The track starts at Glade Wharf at the head of Lake 0 25 50 km Te Anau. Take a bus or private transport to Te Anau Downs (30 minutes), then a boat trip to the head of Lake Te Anau (1 hour 30 minutes). Start off at greatwalks.co.nz/ The track finishes at Sandfly Point. Take a boat 1 Wanakamilford for more information. Kurow Waimate trip (20 minutes) to Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, Milford Sound Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre where there are bus services back to ROUTEBURN MILFORD TRACK TRACK Te Anau and on to Queenstown. Glenorchy During the Great Walks season Arrowtown (24 October 2017 – 30 April 2018), Cromwell QUEENSTOWN Book your huts online or at a OAMARU there are regular transport services Whakatipu-wai-Māori/ Ranfurly Queenstown Visitor Centre 2 DOC Visitor Centre. to and from the track, which Clyde must be booked in advance Alexandra – you can book connecting transport online when booking your hut tickets. Palmerston KEPLER Te Anau TRACK Te Rua-o-te-moko/Fiordland Refer over page for National Park Visitor Centre Book your transport to and Waikouaiti transport options 3 from the track – operators are and services. Mossburn listed online and in this brochure. Lumsden DUNEDIN Fairfield Ōtepoti/Dunedin Visitor Centre Dipton PLACES TO STAY Buy your food and pack your GORE 4 Milton Winton bags – download the Great Walks Mataura packing list and makeBalclutha sure you have everything you need for a 4-day independentKaka unguided Point walk. Riverton/ Aparima INVERCARGILL Read up on safety and make RAKIURA TRACK 5 sure you’re well prepared for your journey and changeable weather Oban Stewart Island/ Rakiura National Park at greatwalks.co.nz/milford. Rakiura Visitor Centre Make sure you have left your intentions with a trusted contact Photo: Keri Moyle (signsoflife.co.nz) at adventuresmart.org.nz. DOC operates 3 huts on the Milford Track. These must be booked well in advance during the Great Walks season (24 October 2017 – 30 April 2018) to avoid disappointment. Visit the closest DOC Visitor Camping is not permitted on the Milford Track. 6 Centre (Te Anau) to pick up your tickets and official track guide, Great Walks huts and chat with the friendly staff for $70 per adult per night; 17 years and under free (booking required). the latest weather forecast and track conditions. During the Great Walks season the huts have bunks, mattresses, heating, toilets, basic cooking facilities, solar-powered lighting and cold running water. A DOC ranger is in residence. The huts do not provide cooking utensils or showers. Outside the Great Walks season facilities are greatly reduced and All set! Lace up your boots there are no DOC rangers. Bookings are not required, huts are first 7 and get hiking. Don’t forget to come, first served and fees are reduced. See the website for details. share your experience on facebook.com/GreatWalks. MILFORD MILFORD TRACK WATER TAXI TRANSPORT TRACK. SPEND MORE TIME EXPLORING TE ANAU & START HASSLE YOUR MILFORD TRACK ADVENTURE AT 2PM FREE HIKING. • 2pm departure means you’ll be on the track at 3pm and reach the first hut around 4.30pm $ 88pp • New, modern, comfortable boat & friendly, local guide with 2PM WATER TAXI commentary TE ANAU DOWNS • Small numbers on board – get to LET US LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD AND ENHANCE YOUR WALK TO GLADE WHARF know your fellow hikers! • The 10.45am bus from Queenstown CAR RELOCATION ESSENTIALS PACKAGE PREMIUM PACKAGE and 1.30pm bus from Te Anau both $ connect with the 2pm departure Simply drive your Skip the hassle of Let us take care of pp car to the start of the organizing transport, all the logistics of 116 • Ask about our Milford Track Flexi track and we move food and gear – your dream hike – 1.30PM BUS & 2PM Pack including vehicle relocation it to the finish while let us pack your bag no hassle adventuring BOAT TE ANAU TO and both water taxis you walk.