MILFORD TRACK PLAN AND PREPARE - DOC
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Plan and prepare MILFORD TRACK Duration: 4 days Great Walks season: Distance: 53.5 km (one way) 23 October 2018 – 30 April 2019
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 250 m Wharf
carved by glaciers, wander
through ancient rainforests and 0m
admire cascading waterfalls. You’ll 5 km / 1 –1.5 hrs 16.5 km / 6 hrs
follow a historic 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
Day 1: Glade
well marked and signposted, but some
Wharf to
sections are steep and rough and the Clinton Hut Day 2: C
linton Hut to Mintaro Hut
track may be muddy and slippery.
Poor weather conditions can make this 1 hour – 1 hour 6 hours, 16.5 km
walk challenging, even in the Great 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 brochure 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 walk through beautiful your first view of Mackinnon Pass
Point in Milford Sound/Piopiotahi beech forest along the and the impressive Pompolona ice
during the Great Walks season (23 banks of the Clinton River field. You’ll be dwarfed by the sheer
to Clinton Hut, where all scale of the rock walls towering above
October 2018 – 30 April 2019).
walkers spend the first night. on either side as you walk up the
Clinton valley, and will pass through
utside the Great Walks
O changing vegetation as you climb
season (May to October) higher towards Mintaro Hut.
walking conditions are more
hazardous – see the safety
information.
Duration: 4 days
Distance: 53.5 km (one way)
Great Walks season:
23 October 2018 –
30 April 2019
Mackinnon
Pass hut shelter
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 the 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
Photo: Sabine Bernert
Conservation story
1 Keep an eye out for the rare blue duck/
whio. Once widespread around New Zealand,
Photo: John Strother (panafoot.com) they’re now only found in a few locations,
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
yellowhead/mohua, 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
Photo: John Strother drop 580 metres (1904 feet) from Lake Quill.
(panafoot.com) Photo: Shellie Evans
4 the alpine section of the Milford Track you
In
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.
Ca
Terror Peak mp
O
Piopiotahi
1786m C le
ve
Devils Armchair (Milford Sound) dd a
n
u R
iv e
Cr
r
Sandfly Point
ee
k
LLS
GETTING THERE Lake
Westport
33
rt
hu
r
R
iv
er
O
W
N
HI
Murchison Sheerdown Peak
A D St Arnaud
1871m
Moreton Mount Danger 32 R Rotoiti/Nelson L
1835m E
The Milford Track is accessed by boat Visitor Centre
E
Lake
Giants Gate Falls
H
Ada
S
from Te Anau Downs, 27 km from 31
P os
e id
Te Anau on SH94. Punakaiki Odyssey Peak
au
Reefton
on
1832m
An
30 Paparoa National
Cr
Park Visitor Centre
ee
Te
k
The track starts at Glade Wharf at
To
Ma
c ka
Mount Ada
the head of Lake Te Anau. Take a
Dia m o nd
29
94
y C
1891m
r ee
28
bus or private transport to Te Anau
k
Access Peak
Cre
Mackay Lake Greymouth
ek
Falls 27 Brown
Downs (30 minutes), then a boat 26
Joe
s R
i v er
Hanmer Springs
trip to the head of Lake Te Anau Kumara
(1 hour 15 minutes).
25 Hokitika
The track finishes at Sandfly Point. WIC
K M
O lb
ot
R iv
er
U N National Ta
Take a boat trip (20 minutes) to
24 Arthur’s Pass
TA
Park Visitor Centre
IN
S G
Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, where Dumpling Hill
23 Mount Kepka
Lloyd Peak
there are bus services back to
1823m
Dumpling Hut
Te Anau and on to Queenstown.
22
Mount Gendarme
Mount Elliot
Oxford Rangiora
2003m
Mount Wilmur
During the Great Walks season Franz Josef/Waiau
1714m
Kaiapoi
21
As a tribute
St
Westland Tai Poutini
Andersons Cascade
a ir
(23 October 2018 – 30 April 2019), there are Quintin National Park Visitor Centre 33
ca
to the long
se
Su
18
CHRISTCHURCH
Cr
r pr
Mount Mitchelson
ee
rn
regular transport services to and from the history of theŌtautahi/Christchurch
Milford
is e
Roar i ng B u
k
20 19 Vi
Cr
17 Mount Balloon
ee
Methven Track, distances are often
k
1853m
track, which must be booked in advance – Sutherland
16
Mackinnon Pass still referred to in miles
Falls
you can book connecting transport online Lake
15Aoraki/Mount Cook
Mintaro Hut
Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
rather than kilometres. Akaroa
14 Centre
Visitor 1752m Markers positioned every
when booking your hut tickets.
Quill
1841m Lake
Haast
Awarua/Haast Visitor Centre 13
ASHBURTON
Iceburg mile are a handy reference
to track your progress.
1878m Geraldine
Fairlie
Fiordland
12
0 25 50 km
National Park
Temuka
Twizel 11
Makaroa
Bus Stop
No toilet
Castle Mount 10 PrairieTIMARU
2131m
Ca
st
le C li
1958m
R nt
iv on
er 9 R iv
er
Mount Anau
Milford Sound Wanaka Great Walk hut Kurow Waimate8
Tititea/Mount Aspiring
National Park Visitor Centre
ROUTEBURN Shelter and toilet 7
MILFORD TRACK TRACK 1921m
Glenorchy
Toilet 6
Arrowtown
P ro
1731m 5
spe
Mile marker
ct C
Cromwell
QUEENSTOWN OAMARU
re e k
Ranfurly Lake
Whakatipu-wai-Māori/ Great Walk /
4
Ross
Queenstown Visitor Centre Lake
Tramping track
Clyde
Brownlee
ek
Cre
Alexandra
3
us
Boat transport 1722m
in
m
Clinton Hut
r
Te
State Highway 2
s l e y St r e a m
KEPLER TE ANAU
Wo r Palmerston
TRACK Te Rua-o-te-moko/Fiordland Other roads 1
re ek
¯
National Park Visitor Centre Waikouaiti
n C
ee
0 1 Km
Qu
Mc
Glade Wharf
Mossburn 1725m
Lake
Lumsden Te Anau
DUNEDIN
Fairfield
Ōtepoti/Dunedin Visitor Centre
PLACES TO STAY
Dipton
GORE Milton
DOC operates 3 huts on the Milford
Winton
Track. These must be booked well in
advance during the Great Walks season (23 October 2018 – 30Balclutha
Mataura
April 2019)
to avoid disappointment. Camping is not permitted on the Milford
Kaka Point Track.
Riverton/
Aparima INVERCARGILL
Milford Track Great Walk huts
ew Zealand rate
N
$70 per adult per night; 17 years and under free (booking required).
International rate
RAKIURA TRACK
$140 per person per night for all ages (booking required).
Oban
Stewart Island/ Rakiura National Park
During the Great Walks season
Rakiura
the huts have bunks, mattresses, heating, toilets,
Visitor Centre
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. Photo: Keri Moyle (signsoflife.co.nz)
Outside the Great Walks season facilities are greatly reduced and there are no
DOC rangers. Booking is not required, huts are first come, first served and fees
are reduced. See the website for details.
WHAT DO I DO NEXT? Know before you go
It is important to plan your trip thoroughly to ensure you stay safe, and have a
Start off at greatwalks. great time. Before you go, know the Outdoor Safety Code – 5 simple rules to
co.nz/milford for more help you #makeithome.
information.
1.
Plan your trip. Travel times vary greatly in New Zealand, so carefully
planning your route is essential. Seek local information about what to take,
Book your huts online at and allow enough time for the journey. Book accommodation, transport and
bookings.doc.govt.nz. transfers to the start/end of track early.
2.
Tell someone your plans. Safety is your responsibility. Leave your
intentions – including your trip details and emergency contact information
Book your transport to and – with a trusted contact. It could save your life if things go wrong. Head to
from the track. mountainsafety.org.nz for more information.
3. B
e aware of the weather. New Zealand weather is very changeable. Plan
Buy your food and pack your for the worst, expect the best. Check metservice.com for the most up
bags – download the Great to date info.
Walks packing list and make 4.
Know your limits. Always follow the track markers and signposted tracks. Off-
sure you have everything you track navigation is not recommended for novice walkers in New Zealand. A good
need for a 4-day independent level of fitness is required to walk the track. You can expect to walk up to 7 hours
unguided walk. a day depending on your fitness level. If you get into trouble don’t make a bad
situation worse. Think STAR – Stop / Think / Assess / React.
ead up on safety and
R 5.
Take sufficient supplies. With NZ’s changeable conditions many hikers
make sure you’re well are frequently caught out by isolated local conditions. Carry – and expect to
prepared for your journey use – rain jackets all year round. Take an extra day’s supply of food and an
and changeable weather at emergency shelter. Don’t rely on cellphone signal alone for communication.
greatwalks.co.nz/milford. Food and drinks are not available to purchase at Great Walks huts or
campsites. Plan to be self-sufficient.
Visit the closest DOC Visitor Milford Track safety
Centre (Te Anau) to pick
The information in this brochure relates to the Milford Track in the Great Walks
up your tickets and official
season (23 October 2018 to 30 April 2019).
track guide, and chat with
the friendly staff for the latest This track is not recommended for children under the age of 10, due to the
weather forecast and track exposed mountainous environment and often adverse weather conditions.
conditions.
Fiordland National Park lies in an area with high rainfall and changeable
weather patterns. Cold temperatures, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can
All set! Lace up your boots occur at any time of the year.
and get hiking. Don’t forget The Milford Track is complex avalanche terrain and the risk of avalanche can
to share your experience on extend into December. During the Great Walks season, DOC manages this
facebook.com/GreatWalks. risk to a low level and walkers may be flown (at their cost) over dangerous
sections.
Go to greatwalks.co.nz/milford ‘Know before you go’ section for detailed
safety information, and ‘What to take’ section for a comprehensive gear list.
For in-depth
Remember – your safety is your responsibility
local knowledge, visit:
Fiordland National Park
Visitor Centre
Phone: +64 3 249 7924 You are strongly recommended NOT to attempt this track between
Email: greatwalksbooking@ early May and late October (outside the Great Walks season). The
doc.govt.nz winter environment in Fiordland is very cold and wet, with ice, snow and
greatwalks.co.nz short daylight hours. Avalanche-prone bridges across some major
watercourses are removed. DOC does not manage hazards such as
flooding or avalanches. Walking the Milford Track at this time should
only be attempted by people who are very experienced in the New
Published by:
Department of Conservation, Marketing Team Zealand backcountry and have navigation, river crossing and alpine skills.
PO Box 10420, Wellington 6143, New Zealand Alpine-specific trip planning is critical for you and your group safety.
August 2018 The consequences are severe if not correctly managed.
Editing and design: In addition, facilities are greatly reduced – including no gas for cooking,
Creative Services, DOC National Office a limited water supply, and no rangers or emergency radio facilities.
For more information, see ‘Outside the Great Walks season’ at
* Prices are accurate at the time of publication.
greatwalks.co.nz/milford.
This publication is produced using paper sourced from well-managed,
renewable and legally logged forests. R140498
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