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New Zealand Independent Travel Ideas

MILFORD TRACK WALK

5 days

"The finest Walk in the World" is a popular description of the famous Milford Track. On these treks you will really experience this beautiful corner of New Zealand with its lush vegetation, awe inspiring waterfalls, towering mountains, scenic valleys and finally Milford Sound, the most majestic of the fiords. The Milford Track is more than a holiday–it's an adventure. You have to be reasonably fit to participate. A check list of essential items required will be provided once your reservation is made.

Join in Queenstown or Te Anau.

Milford, New Zealand

Day 1. Depart Queenstown or Te Anau - 1.6 km 1 mile 20 minutes walking

Your adventure begins at our Queenstown office at 9:30 am (guides are available to meet walkers from 9:00am) where you catch a coach to Te Anau arriving in time for a light lunch and a group photo. If you join the group in Te Anau your briefing will be at 9:30 am in the Track Office at Te Anau Hotel & Villas. After lunch you drive to Te Anau Downs boat harbour, where a launch waits to take you up to the spectacular northern end of Lake Te Anau. From the wharf it is a short walk to historic Glade House, our first lodge, for a hot shower, a filling meal and a comfortable bunk. LD

Day 2. Glade House to Pompolona Lodge - 16 km 10miles 5-7 hours walking

After crossing the emerald green Clinton River you follow it up the valley to the Hirere Falls lunch shelter. The beech forest gets more luxuriant the further you go, until it releases you on to the Prairie. From this meadow you can capture the true nature of the ice carved Clinton Canyon. It is a short climb to Pompolona Lodge from here. BLD

Day 3. Pompolona Lodge to Quintin Lodge - 15 km 9miles 6-8 hours walking

This is the most demanding day, especially in inclement weather. The track leads to Lake Mintaro at the head of the Clinton Valley, before climbing the Mackinnon Pass in a series of zigzags. Take your time. At the top you will be rewarded with endless views and lunch in Pass Hut. After the rocky descent into the Arthur Valley you will welcome a hot cup of tea at Quintin Lodge. It should be enough to refresh you for the 90 minute round trip to the Sutherland Falls, the world's fifth highest cascade. BLD

Day 4. Quintin Lodge to Mitre Peak - 21 km, 13 miles 6-8 hours walking

Your final day on the track. You walk down the Arthur Valley to Boatshed for a cup of tea; on past MacKay Falls and Bell Rock, which was turned out of the river during a particularly violent flood, to the lunch spot at Giants' Gate waterfall. The final stretch of the track follows tranquil Lake Ada to Sandfly Point, where according to Maori legend the goddess Te Hine-nui-te-po released the sandfly to stop men lingering too long in the beauty of Fiordland. From here it is a short launch trip to Mitre Peak Lodge where you will enjoy a celebratory dinner. BLD

Day 5. Milford Sound to Queenstown - No walking

After breakfast you will board one of the famous Red Boats for a cruise on Milford Sound. Watch for dolphins and fur seals and pray for rain. (No-one believes us, but the waterfalls are absolutely incredible!).

Following the cruise you start your spectacular journey through the heart of the Fiordland National Park to the Homer Tunnel and on to Te Anau. After a light lunch we continue to Queenstown, via Queenstown Airport, arriving at approximately 4:00 pm. BL

DEPARTURES:

Daily between Nov 1-Apr 18

PRICE:

Please request the current prices for the dates you wish to travel.

PRICE INCLUDES:

Four nights accommodation (bunkrooms)
(Private rooms are available at an extra cost)
Meals as specified by BLD
Services of a professional guide during the Trek
Use of pack and/or cape while on the Track
Launch transfers and Milford Sound Cruise
Launch cruise to Glade House
Coach transport from Milford back to Te Anau and Queenstown.
"Certificate of Achievement"

Please Note:

Due to the popularity of the Milford Track and the limited number of trekkers allowed at any one time, it is highly recommended that you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Your Fitness. Are You Up to the Challenge?
The Milford Track is neither easy nor difficult. It is a challenge which people of all ages and abilities will relish. To enjoy your walk you need to be able to carry a medium sized backpack containing your personal belongings and a sleeping sheet, which we provide, for 6-8 hours over15-21 km (9-13 miles) of mountain tracks each day. We encourage you to walk at your own pace. There is no pressure to walk with others or keep up with the fastest walkers. There is always a guide at the rear of the party. The track surfaces vary from smooth well-formed paths to rough terrain broken by rocks and tree roots. There are steep rocky down hill sections and you may have to ford small streams and wade in deep water after heavy rain.

We recommend you wear hiking boots, which provide firm ankle support. If you are not a regular walker we suggest you begin a daily walking regime 6-8 weeks before departure. Gradually increasing the distance you walk, carrying a backpack and staircase or hill climbing will leave you even better prepared for your challenge.

Guides & Safety
Your guides are trained outdoor enthusiasts who will explain the natural and human history of the area you are walking through. They pride themselves on their safe, efficient and friendly service, and provide everything from a warming cup of tea at lunch to an evening briefing on the following day's walk. All guides are trained in first aid and are in portable radio contact with each other, the lodges and our Queenstown base at all times. Your safety is of paramount importance to us, and your guides' decisions must be adhered to.

Food & Lodging
When you arrive at our clean private lodges at the end of your day's walk, you will be greeted by one of our friendly staff who will have afternoon tea waiting. After a hot shower you can make use of our hand laundry facilities and efficient drying room, before joining your fellow walkers in a board game or sing-a-long accompanied by the piano or guitar. We provide you with a sustaining three course meal, catered to you dietary needs. New Zealand wine is served with the meal. You are welcome to provide your own liquid refreshments if you want a night cap before sinking into your comfortable bunk bed. Warm duvets and pillows are provided, but if they are not enough to take the edge of a cool night, you can warm your bed with a hot water bottle. The lodges have their own electricity supply. Hair dryers are provided, and flush toilets at the lodges add a little extra comfort. We start the day with a hearty breakfast and farewell you with a fresh cut lunch, which you carry.

The Briefing
You must attend an essential briefing on the evening prior to the departure of your guided walk. Here we can answer any of your questions, issue you with a sleeping sheet, lend you a backpack and raincoat if you need them, and arrange your departure details for the following morning. It is your chance to meet you travelling companions and confirm any special dietary or medical needs with us. You can also purchase any necessary outdoor clothing and supplies from our shop.

Please meet at 6:30 pm at the Milford Track Guided Walks office, Top Floor, The Station Building, corner of Shotover and Camp Streets in Queenstown. If you are unable to attend this briefing it is essential that you advise us where you are staying in Queenstown so we can deliver a back pack, raincoat and briefing notes. If you are departing from Te Anau there is a briefing at 9:30 am in the Centra Hotel the morning you start your adventure.

You Need to Bring
The following is a list of essential equipment. It is divided into gear for walking and for use in the lodges. The underlined items may be purchased at reasonable prices from the shop in our Queenstown office to reduce the need for you to carry them throughout your holiday.

For Walking

Waterproof raincoat with hood (We can lend you one)
Boots or strong walking shoes, preferably with ankle support
Woollen or polypropylene thermal underwear (top & bottom) is essential
Warm hat
Woollen sweater or fleece top
T shirts for fine days
Gloves
Shorts for walking
Woollen socks - two pairs
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Water Bottle
Camera

For Evenings

Shirt or Sweater
Trousers, skirt or sweat pants
Underwear - two sets
Sandals or lightweight shoes
Pyjamas or night wear
Handkerchiefs, not tissues
Toilet requisites (towels, soap, shampoo & conditioner are provided)

Optional items you may want to include are a sun hat, swimsuit, spare laces, journal and second skin for blisters. We also sell film, maps, guidebooks, postcards, walking poles, foot fleece (to reduce friction between your feet and boots) and blister kits.

We do not recommend you walk in cotton garments, jeans or silk thermals. Perspiration means you are likely to feel damp and cold inside the best raincoat.

We supply a sleeping sheet with pillowslip, a towel and a plastic pack liner at the pre-departure briefing. You may borrow a 40 litre capacity backpack and a raincoat free of charge.

We recommend you put all your clothing in plastic bags inside your pack liner for added rain protection. Keep your pack as light as possible while still taking the essentials. Remember hand laundry facilities are available in the lodges and a lighter pack will enhance your experience.