The Milford Track is not only one of New Zealand's best hiking trails, but is often ranked among the best hiking routes in the world, thanks to the spectacular scenery and the well preserved surroundings along the way. Taking visitors deep into the Fiordland region of the country, with its deep glacial valleys, the route is a spectacular way to enjoy some of the best views in the country, and best of all, it isn't completely packed with tourists.


The main hiking, or 'tramping' season as the locals call it runs from late October to late April, but outside of these months the route can become quite treacherous.

 

Booking Your Bunks On The Track

One of the most important things to remember is that the access to the track is regulated during the peak season, so you will need to book your spots in the bunkhouses along the route well in advance. All of the huts are maintained by New Zealand's Department of Conversation, and it is important to make sure that you have a place in one of their huts for every night along the way, otherwise you can be refused access to the track. Out of the main season, the huts have many of the main comfort facilities removed, but because of the avalanche threat and the removal of many of the bridges along the route, all but the hardiest hikers don't take on the Milford Track during this period.

 

What To Pack For The Hike

If you are traveling independently along the route, you will need to take the majority of your own equipment, and with nowhere to purchase food along the route you will also need to make sure you carry all of your own food.

It is important that you bring water purification tablets or the facilities to boil plenty of water, as the fresh water sources along the route can host bacteria that can cause illness. While a good set of waterproofs is very important, it is also worth covering any valuables or electrical items in a waterproof cover to make sure they aren't damaged along the route.

 

Scenery And Sights Along The Route

There are some amazing views to be enjoyed along the route, and starting from the beautiful Lake Te Anau, the hike certainly begins with a lovely view. Further along the route, crossing the Mackinnon Pass is one of the most impressive of all the days on the route, with the glaciers and mountain views around the pass making for a truly amazing scene. The Sutherland Falls is another amazing sight as the water falls over 580 meters from Quill Lake down to the waters below, while the final approach to Milford Sound is a wonderful culmination to the hike.

 

Join A Guided Trip Or Hike Independently?

While there are strict limits of forty people beginning to hike the Milford Track independently per day during the high season, another option is to join the guided trips that are run by Ultimate Hikes, who have their own lodges along the way. Their lodges offer quite a few more luxuries than the Department of Conservation huts, but the price is also significantly higher. If the dates you want are fully booked at the huts, then this can be an alternative option to enjoy this stunning route.

 

The History Of The Route

There have been people hiking in this area of Fiordland for well over a century, and the origins of the track date back to the 1880s when Donald Sutherland started to build a track to take visitors to the Sutherland Falls. A few years later, this was connected to a track made by Quintin Mackinnon and Ernest Mitchell, who crossed from Te Anau over to the Arthur Valley which led to the falls. Fortunately for modern visitors, road access to Milford Sound means you no longer have to walk back the same way, which was how the early visitors would depart this amazing part of the country.