Milford Track
We make organising the Milford Track hassle-free.
MILFORD TRACK HIGHLIGHTS
- The Milford Track is known worldwide as one of the most iconic and majestic walks in the world, and walking it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people.
- The towering peaks and huge valleys make it truly majestic and also remote. Part of this amazing journey is getting to the start. Local advice with your transport planning can really add the x-factor to building the Milford into your itinerary – especially if you are short of time.
- Milford comes to life when it rains and water tumbles off surrounding cliffs creating hundreds of spontaneous waterfalls. This is beautiful to experience, as long as you are prepared for the weather with the right gear!
- If you are looking for quality gear, Easyhike has clean and comfortable hire gear that’s light on your back and suited to the track. With hotel drop off before you go, borrowing couldn’t be better.
TRACK LOGISTICS
DISTANCE: 53.5 km one way (transport required).
DURATION: 4 Days / 3 Nights (required) – the first day is really short and you can start in the afternoon.
START: Glade Wharf, Lake Te Anau via water taxi from Te Anau Downs (27km from Te Anau).
FINISH: Milford Sound via water taxi from Sandfly Point.
ACCOMMODATION: Department of Conservation huts (bunks and shared facilities).
MILFORD TRACK HIKING SERVICES
Packing food and gear for a hike is a hassle when relaxing on holiday. Get on the track and back with Easyhike, and enjoy the ease.
Our specialty is car relocation and delivering on food and gear, but our true passion lies in helping you get out there and hiking happy.
Premium Package Inclusions
Local Support
& Advice
Hut
Bookings
Car relocation or bus transfers
Hiking Food
Premium
Gear Hire
Milford Track Premium Package
3 nights- We'll get you to the track and back with efficiency and ease. Enjoy a better hiking experience
- Avoid the hassle and stress when hut bookings open. We will do our best to secure your huts and have a great success rate. (Remember: Dates sell out in minutes) Bookings and accommodation: 3 Nights Included
- Self drive and stay in Milford overnight or zip back to the airport. Includes Water Taxis and bus transfers or car relocation
- Select easy, nutritious meals from our tried and tasted hiking menu. Most dietary requirements available
- Borrow our specially chosen, light and comfy hiking gear or bring your own. Have confidence in your gear & skip luggage hassles.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN OUR PREMIUM PACKAGE?
HUT ACCOMMODATION
Bunk accommodation in the Department of Conservation Great Walk huts with shared facilities. (Subject to availability).
We will book your DOC Hut tickets as soon as the hut bookings open. DOC will advise by 30 April, at the latest, of each year when the hut bookings will open for the season starting that same year.
For example, on 30 April 2024, DOC announced that the bookings for the 2024-2025 season would open on 28 May 2024 for the Milford track, on 5 June 2024 for the Routeburn track, and on 6 June 2024 for the Kepler track.
UPDATE 26 March 2026: DOC has now announced their opening dates for the Milford Track for the 2026-2027 season: Wednesday, 13 May 2026
TRANSPORT
Choose between car relocation (recommended) or bus transport.
Included are your Water Taxis needs + Car Relocation or Bus transfers from/to Te Anau
Find out more about how our Car Relocation works. See below for the Milford track bus timetable (subject to change).
STAY/CRUISE MILFORD
Fiordland is world-renowned for its breathtaking natural features, wilderness areas and natural history. Along with being a hiking mecca, Fiordland is also home to the lakeside towns of Te Anau and Manapouri and is the gateway to the jaw-dropping Milford and Doubtful Sounds. If you’re making the journey to Fiordland for your hike, why not stay a bit longer and make the most of our incredible backyard with a cruise or overnight stay in Milford Sound which you can add on to your package when booking online.
STAY IN MILFORD SOUND
Hiking the Milford Track? Your final destination is Milford Sound so you’re already there! What better way is there to celebrate your hiking experience with an afternoon cruise, before heading to your next destination? Or why not stay a little longer with a Milford Sound overnight experience.
FOOD
Easy to prepare, lightweight, tasty and nutritious. You select your preferences from our menus and we do the rest. Dietary requirements are catered too. Find out more about our Hiking Food options.
GEAR LIST
High quality, lightweight and easy to manage gear plus a few extras to enhance your hike. Including:
- Backpack / backpack cover/ backpack liner
- Hiking poles
- Sleeping bag / sleeping bag liner / inflatable pillow
- Cooking and eating tools (pot/plates/cups/utensils/kitchen tidy kit)
- Thermos
- First aid kit
- Care package (including insect repellent, sanitiser, earplugs, and tissues)
- Head torch
DELIVERY
Our base is in Te Anau, you can pick up your gear and food from us the day before your hike starts.
However, we can also deliver your hiking gear and food to your local accommodation (Queenstown or Te Anau) the day before your hike starts, if that is more convenient.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING
Appropriate outdoors clothing and footwear. Make sure you wear in your hiking boots before getting on the track. This will minimise blisters and ensure your feet are comfortable.
Rain jacket (Essential! Even in summer and even if there is no rain on the forecast as the weather can change quickly) and rain pants (it is a love it or loathe it situation with rain pants and you will need to decide what suits you). Those are such a personal choice and a personal fit, we do not include them in our packages anymore.
Clothing, personal items and toiletries. There are no showers in the huts. You will have access to flush toilets and sinks with cold water.
A medium level of fitness is required, make sure to go on walks, preferably carrying a backpack), to prepare.
MILFORD TRACK KEY POINTS
Suggested Itinerary
With the Milford Track, you have to follow the itinerary set up by DOC. You cannot skip a hut or start a day later and skip the first hut. The itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Glade Wharf via Lake Te Anau to Clinton Hut (1 – 1 ½ hour, 5km)
Day 2: Clinton Hut to Mintaro Hut (6 hours, 16.5km)
Day 3: Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut via Mackinnon Pass (6-7 hours, 14km)
Day 4: Dumpling Hut to Sandfly Point (5 ½ – 6 hours, 18km)
See the DOC Milford Track Brochure for further details on the terrain covered each day.
DOC Huts
During the Great Walks season, the huts have basic cooking facilities, heating, bunks, mattresses, toilets, solar-powered lighting, running cold water and a DOC ranger in residence. There are no cooking utensils or showers in the huts and bookings are required.
The Milford Track is extremely popular that when bookings open each year (typically May/June), hut spaces disappear in minutes. We recommend you plan your trip early so you can nab those ideal dates. Our Premium package includes DOC hut tickets if you want us to take care of booking these for you.
Transport
Travel to and from the Milford Track requires boat access and road transport at both the start and end of the track. We can take care of all your transport including water taxis, road transport and Car Relocation.
The start of the track is at Glade Wharf, Lake Te Anau approximately one hour by water taxi from Te Anau Downs (30km from Te Anau township). Regular water taxi’s run during the Great Walks Season and we suggest you take the fast boat from Te Anau Downs at 11:30am or 2 pm. This is part of our Transport Package.
The track finishes at Sandfly Point, a 15-minute boat ride to Milford Sound Wharf. From Milford Sound, it is a 2-hour drive (93km) to Te Anau Downs, 2 ½ hours (120km) to Te Anau and 5 hours to Queenstown (297 km).
Weather
The weather in New Zealand and Fiordland National Park is very changeable. Even if the forecast is for fine weather or it’s the height of summer, you should always be prepared for the weather to change at the last minute.
Heavy rain, strong winds, cold temperatures, snow can happen at any time of the year so make sure you have the right clothing including warm layers and a rain jacket. Check the weather forecast before heading out – here is the weather report for Fiordland National Park.
If the weather takes a turn for the worse and it becomes unsafe due to slips or gale force winds, DOC might close the track. If you are already on the track, you might be spending an extra night on the track. Unfortunately, if you are due to start on the Milford track the day DOC closes the track, no one will be allowed to get on the track and your booking will be cancelled.
Fitness
A good level of fitness is needed to walk the Milford Track and you should make sure it suits your abilities. The Mackinnon Pass is a gradual climb with at times, a steep descent. Talk to us about tramping poles which are an excellent tool to assist you throughout the hike.
What To Take
See our Great Walks Packing List for what you need to take, or book our Great Walk Gear Package and we’ll supply it all for you!
Your footwear is one of the most important factors to consider. Most people opt for hiking boots over trainers but it’s a personal choice. Factors you should consider when deciding which footwear include your hiking experience, fitness level and how heavy your pack will be. We recommend hiking boots for support and comfort, but either way, your footwear needs to be well worn in and used to your feet, otherwise – hello blisters! No one wants blisters…
Food-wise, you’ll want to make sure you have enough to last the 4-day walk, plus contingency. Remember that if DOC closes the track due to bad weather, you could have to stay an extra night on the track. Depending on the circumstances, you might be offered the option to walk back to Glade Wharf or keep going.
Food should be lightweight, tasty, nutritious and provide you with much-needed fuel! Our Hiking Food Packages take care of this.
Safety
The Milford Track is well-maintained and easy to follow, but some sections are steep and can be slippery. Always stick to the track and look out for your fellow hikers. DOC rangers are stationed in the huts during the Great Walks season, but you should always check the weather before you go, and tell someone of your plans. The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council have some fantastic resources on keeping safe in the great outdoors.
Bookings & Hiking Season
The Milford Track is very popular and usually sell out within minutes of the Hut Bookings opening.
We recommend planning and booking your trip as early as possible to secure your ideal dates.
The Great Walk Season runs from late October until late April every summer. If you are looking at hiking outside of the season, it will be considered winter hiking, please refer to DOC for advice.
For example, on 30 April 2024, DOC announced that the bookings for the 2024-2025 season would open on 28 May 2024 for the Milford track, on 5 June 2024 for the Routeburn track, and on 6 June 2024 for the Kepler track.
UPDATE: DOC has now announced their opening dates for the Milford Track for the 2026-2027 season: Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Milford Track Transport
Travel to and from the Milford Track requires boat access and road transport at both the start and end of the track. We can take care of all your transport needs, including water taxis, bus transport or Car Relocation, you can even add a Milford cruise at the end of your hike.
The start of the track is at Glade Wharf, Lake Te Anau approximately one hour by water taxi from Te Anau Downs (30km from Te Anau township). Regular water taxis run during the Great Walks Season.
The track finishes at Sandfly Point, a 15-minute boat ride to Milford Sound Wharf. From Milford Sound, it is a 2-hour drive (93km) to Te Anau Downs, 2 ½ hours (120km) to Te Anau and 5 hours to Queenstown (297 km).
We promise a stress-free and enjoyable trip however you choose to travel.
1. Bus or Self-drive to Te Anau Downs
From Queenstown, it is a 2.5-hour bus or self-drive journey to Te Anau Downs. From Te Anau, a mere 30 minutes.
The bus departs Queenstown CBD daily at 7.15am, 8am, or 10.15am and meets the 11.30am or 2pm water taxi at Te Anau Downs, with a longer stop in Te Anau for the 7.15am or 10.15am departure.
2. Water Taxi from Te Anau Downs to Glade Wharf
From Te Anau Downs, hop abord the water taxi to Glade Wharf, the start of the Milford Track. The ride lasts about 50 minutes to an hour.
Some like to start as early as possible and spend as much time on the track, others like to take their time in the morning. The water taxi will cater to all needs with a morning departure at 11.30am, or an afternoon departure at 2pm.
Insider’s tip: If you are a big group, select the 11.30am departure to increase your chances of sleeping close to your group byt being the first ones to select your bunk bed.
3. Hike the Milford Track
What you came here for: The epic Milford Track Great Walk! Enjoy this 4-day hike away from the hussle and bustle. There is no cell-reception here… But don’t forget to take all the photos!
4. Water taxi from Sandfly Point to Milford Sound
At the end of the Milford Track (Sandfly Point), meet your water taxi for a short boat journey across to Deepwater Basin in Milford Sound.
The water taxi will run continuously back and forth from 12pm until 4.30pm. No need to book a time, it departs on a first arrived first served basis. The ride lasts 10 minutes so there isn’t long to wait if you missed one.
5. Bus or self-drive out of Milford to where you heart takes you next
When back in Milford Sound, you can meet your relocated vehicle parked at Deepwater Basin or take the bus back to Queenstown (departs at 2.30pm) or Te Anau (departs at 2.30pm, 4.45pm, or 5pm). Allow around 2-2.5 hours to Te Anau and 4.5 hours to Queenstown.
Book your car relocation and we’ll deliver your vehicle from Te Anau Downs to Milford Sound. Your vehicle will be a welcome sight, parked just a minute’s walk from where you get off the boat in Milford Sound. Don’t forget to pack clean clothes and snacks and leave them in the car. It is such a relief to be able to change into dry clothes if it is raining!
Milford Track Transport Package
- By car (incl. water taxi)
- By bus ex-QT (incl. water taxi)
- By bus ex-Te Anau (incl. water taxi)
- Milford Track Transport:
- 1. Bus or self-drive to Te Anau Downs
- 2. Water taxi to Glade Wharf
- 3. Enjoy hiking the Milford Track
- 4. Water taxi to Deepwater basin
- 5. Bus or self-drive from Milford
Milford Track Water Taxi
Water Taxi: Adult from $145
Child (4-14 years) $95
Departures:
Te Anau Downs: 11.30am, 2pm
Sandfly Point: 12pm-4.30pm (several departures - continual)
Milford Track Bus
$218/Adult ex QT
$113/Adult ex Te Anau
$75/Adult ex Te Anau Downs
+ Water Taxi from $145pp
Milford Track Bus Timetable
Queenstown to Te Anau Downs: 7.15am, 8am, 10.15am (Departs from Queenstown Central, Frankton, or Queenstown Airport)
Te Anau to Te Anau Downs: 7.45am, 8am, 10.15am, 11am, or 1.25pm (Departs from Te Anau DOC - Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre)
Milford Sound to Te Anau: 10am, 2.30pm, 4.45pm, 5.00pm
Milford Sound to Queenstown: 10am, 2.30pm
What People are Saying…
Highly recommend EasyHike for independent hikes in Fjordland.
Everything was executed perfectly from equipment and food, bag drop-off/pick-up, boat shuttles, and car transfer. They managed both my Milford Track and Kepler Track.
Olivia was an absolute delight to work with. She was professional, pleasant and incredibly responsive. Given all the hikers she and her team must manage on a daily basis, I felt like every interaction was personal to me. She and the team who did my car transfers left wonderful little notes that I have kept as a reminder of the experience.
Highly recommend them to support your hikes!
Kerry S.
