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Oceania · New Zealand

Milford Track

Fiordland National Park, Southland, New Zealand

Distance
33.2 mi153.5 km
Days
4 days1
High point
3,786 ft11,154 m
Season
Nov–Apr1
Lodging
Huts1
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Hikes / Oceania / Milford Track

Where these numbers come from

Public sources, official ones first, each numbered and listed under Sources, checked Nov 2026. Anything they don't give is left out.

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Relief map

The route

A one-way Great Walk from the head of Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound, up the Clinton valley, over Mackinnon Pass and down the Arthur valley. Known for glacier-carved valleys, rainforest and big waterfalls; walkers stay three nights in DOC huts.1

Relief map of Milford Track: the route from OpenStreetMap drawn in red, labelled Mount Christina and Te Wera Peak.

Route drawn from OpenStreetMap (GW - 07 Milford Track, read Nov 2026). © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (LINZ, SRTM) on AWS. A sketch for planning, not for navigation.

Download GPX1.2 MB · free
Each day and variant (3 files)

Before you go

The basics

Start
Glade Wharf, at the head of Lake Te Anau (reached by boat)1
Finish
Sandfly Point, Milford Sound/Piopiotahi (boat out to Milford Sound)1
Direction
One way only, Glade Wharf to Sandfly Point; the track may only be walked in that direction.1
Distance
53.5 km one way.1
Days
Fixed at 4 days and 3 nights in the Great Walks season.1
High point
Omanui/McKinnon (Mackinnon) Pass Shelter, 1154 m.1
Usual difficulty
DOC grades it an Intermediate tramping track in the Great Walks season; Advanced to Expert outside it. Not recommended for children under 10; parts are steep, rough, slippery and exposed.1
Best time
Great Walks season 1 Nov 2026 to 30 Apr 2027 (last start 28 Apr), when huts are staffed and hazards managed; May to October bridges come out and only fit, experienced, equipped trampers should go.1
Permits
In the Great Walks season every hut night must be booked in advance on the DOC booking system; per night adult fees are NZ$106 for NZ residents and NZ$152 for international visitors (children half). Transport must also be booked. Off season no booking is needed; pay with Backcountry Hut Tickets or Pass. DOC says bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2027.1,2
Getting there
From Te Anau, bus or drive about 30 minutes to Te Anau Downs, then a boat of about 1 hr 15 min to Glade Wharf. At the end, a 20-minute boat from Sandfly Point to Milford Sound, then buses back to Te Anau or on to Queenstown. No road access to either end.1
Lodging
Huts
Three DOC huts with a resident ranger: Clinton, Mintaro and Dumpling. Bunks, mattresses, heating, cold water and basic cooking benches, but no utensils or showers. Camping is not allowed.1

Bookings and permits

When bookings open, from the sources named under each. Dates move: confirm on the official site.

DOC Great Walk hut bookings, Milford Track (next season)

Opens in May for the season starting that November: for 2026-27, 9:30 a.m. New Zealand time on May 13, 2026, through a virtual queue. DOC announces the 2027-28 dates early in 2027.

Next: about May 13, 2027 (a typical date: confirm on the official site)

Book on bookings.doc.govt.nz.

Source: Kraig Adams's Milford Track guide: Booking the huts; Department of Conservation: Great Walks. Checked November 2026.

Alert me when bookings open

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From the sources

Safety

Rescue numbers

  • Emergency: 111 (fire, search and rescue, threats to life in New Zealand)
  • Other DOC emergencies: 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)

Source 3

Phone signal

  • No cellphone reception on the track; DOC advises carrying a distress beacon and suggests a satellite messenger such as an InReach.

Source 1

Insurance

  • The UK government says insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency

Source 4

From the sources below, checked Nov 2026. For planning, not navigation: check before you go.

Their films and versions

Creators who've done it

1 creator so far: Kraig, 3 days, huts.

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Your time

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Typical: 4 days (the hike's facts).

Ask this hike

Planning questions about Milford Track, answered only from this page's facts, the creators' versions and hikers' public tracks, with where each answer comes from. When the data doesn't say, the answer says "not given".

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    Comments

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    Answered from the data

    Questions people ask

    How many days do you need for Milford Track?

    4 days. Fixed at 4 days and 3 nights in the Great Walks season.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Milford Track (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    How long is Milford Track?

    33.2 mi (53.5 km). 53.5 km one way.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Milford Track (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    When is the best time to hike Milford Track?

    Nov–Apr. Great Walks season 1 Nov 2026 to 30 Apr 2027 (last start 28 Apr), when huts are staffed and hazards managed; May to October bridges come out and only fit, experienced, equipped trampers should go.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Milford Track (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    Do you need a permit for Milford Track?

    In the Great Walks season every hut night must be booked in advance on the DOC booking system; per night adult fees are NZ$106 for NZ residents and NZ$152 for international visitors (children half). Transport must also be booked. Off season no booking is needed; pay with Backcountry Hut Tickets or Pass. DOC says bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2027.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Milford Track (official); Department of Conservation NZ, Great Walks (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [2]

    How do you get to Milford Track?

    From Te Anau, bus or drive about 30 minutes to Te Anau Downs, then a boat of about 1 hr 15 min to Glade Wharf. At the end, a 20-minute boat from Sandfly Point to Milford Sound, then buses back to Te Anau or on to Queenstown. No road access to either end.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Milford Track (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    Where do you sleep on Milford Track?

    Huts. Three DOC huts with a resident ranger: Clinton, Mintaro and Dumpling. Bunks, mattresses, heating, cold water and basic cooking benches, but no utensils or showers. Camping is not allowed.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Milford Track (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    How high does Milford Track go?

    3,786 ft (1,154 m). Omanui/McKinnon (Mackinnon) Pass Shelter, 1154 m.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Milford Track (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    What's the emergency number on Milford Track?

    Emergency: 111 (fire, search and rescue, threats to life in New Zealand). Other DOC emergencies: 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Contact us (official), checked Nov 2026. [3]

    Sources

    1. Department of Conservation NZ, Milford Track (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    2. Department of Conservation NZ, Great Walks (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    3. Department of Conservation NZ, Contact us (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    4. www.gov.uk · official · checked Nov 2026

    Facts are written in our own words from these pages; nothing is copied. Rules, fees and closures change: check the official page before you go.

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