Fiordland National Park
Milford Track
Te Anau, Southland
Distance
53.5 km
Duration
4 days 3 nights
Elevation gain
1,154 m
Difficulty
ModerateAdvance booking required
NZD $70 per person for hut pass (independent walkers); guided walks from NZD $2,595
Book nowBest season
Late October to late April (guided season)
Check current trail conditions
Track closures, snow conditions, hut availability, and safety alerts update daily. Always check before departing.
About this trail
Called 'the finest walk in the world' since 1908, the Milford Track traverses the heart of Fiordland — New Zealand's most remote national park. The track begins at Glade Wharf on Lake Te Anau and ends at Sandfly Point in Milford Sound, crossing the Mackinnon Pass (1,154m) via dramatic alpine terrain. Three DOC huts (Clinton, Mintaro, Dumpling) accommodate 40 independent walkers per day. The pass crossing on Day 3 is the highlight — 360° alpine views on clear days, dramatic waterfalls in rain.
Highlights
- ✓Mackinnon Pass (1,154m) — the highest point of any New Zealand Great Walk
- ✓Sutherland Falls — 580m, one of the world's tallest waterfalls (30-minute side trip from Dumpling Hut)
- ✓The Chasm — dramatic gorge near Milford Sound road end
- ✓Fiordland ancient beech forest — moss-covered and pristine
- ✓Milford Sound arrival — the final walk to Sandfly Point with Mitre Peak ahead
🚌 Getting there
The track is only accessible by boat at both ends — there is no road access. Departure by ferry from Te Anau Downs (40 mins from Te Anau town) to Glade Wharf. Finish at Sandfly Point, collected by ferry to Milford Sound, then bus to Queenstown or Te Anau. Advance transport bookings essential.
🛖 Huts & accommodation
Clinton Hut
40 bunks
Gas cooking, toilets, cold running water
Mintaro Hut
40 bunks
Gas cooking, toilets, cold running water, basic heating
Dumpling Hut
40 bunks
Gas cooking, toilets, heating, drying room
Facilities
- ·DOC huts with cooking facilities
- ·No camping — hut accommodation only for independent walkers
- ·Warden at each hut
- ·Guided walker lodges with hot showers and meals (separate booking)
🎒 What to bring
- ·Full waterproof jacket and trousers — Fiordland receives up to 9,000mm of rain per year. You will get wet.
- ·Tramping boots — waterproof, well broken in (Day 3 Mackinnon Pass is uneven alpine terrain)
- ·Gaiters (highly recommended for muddy sections)
- ·Sleeping bag liner (bunks have mattresses, no linen)
- ·Insect repellent — Fiordland sandflies are legendary and aggressive
- ·4 days of food (no resupply available)
- ·Microspikes or ice axe if walking before mid-November (snow on Mackinnon Pass)
Hazards & safety
- ·Fiordland weather is extreme — the pass can receive 600mm of rain in 24 hours. Day 3 (Mackinnon Pass) may require turning back in dangerous conditions.
- ·Sandflies: apply DEET repellent before stopping at any rest point. They are relentless.
- ·River flooding: heavy rain can make the Clinton River crossings dangerous — follow warden advice.
- ·Fitness requirement: Day 3 (Mintaro to Dumpling) is 23km with 1,154m elevation gain — the hardest day.
📋 Know before you go
- 1.BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL: Independent hut passes sell out months in advance. Booking opens in June for the following season.
- 2.Only 40 independent walkers per day are permitted. Walking direction is one-way (north to south only).
- 3.Guided walkers (separate quota) stay in private lodges with hot showers and cooked meals.
- 4.The track is closed outside the guided season (late April to late October) due to avalanche and flooding risk.
🚨 Emergency contacts
NZ Emergency
111
DOC Te Anau
+64 3-249 7924
Great Walk Bookings
0800 694 732
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Official sources
Trail information here covers stable facts — distances, difficulty, gear, and what to expect. Current conditions (closures, snow levels, hut availability, permit quota) change regularly and must be checked at the official source before you depart.
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