Take a Hike - Milford Track, New Zealand

Hiking The Milford Track

The Milford Track is an amazing 35+ mile hike through a pristine and impressive ecosystem.  Hikers encounter lazy rivers, mirrored lakes, lush valleys, steep cliffs, and countless waterfalls.  Wildlife abounds and crowds are nonexistent.  It truly is a nature lovers’ paradise.

Only 90 hikers are permitted on the trail each day, all headed in the same northward direction.  While one may encounter others in the early part of the day, the afternoon provides space and presents an enjoyable sense of seclusion.

We began the hike on April 1st, completing it on April 5th.  It should be noted that the bulk of our progress was recognized on April 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, a three day period during which we covered much of the total distance.  Along the way we encountered:

• Friendly wildlife – Blue Duck (endangered), Kea, and Weka along with eel and huge trout (rainbow and brown).
• Hostile wildlife – Sandflies and many of them, each with a bite far worse than that of a mosquito.
• Adventure – We traversed slippery and narrow terrain, crossed large areas where rock slides had occurred, and were rattled awake during a relatively minor earthquake.

The sheer beauty of this trek makes it unlike anything we’ve ever encountered.  We highly recommend it to anyone traveling to New Zealand and seeking a rewarding challenge.

We’ll close this entry with an insider tip to anyone contemplating the Milford Track – Consider departing from the lovely little town of Te Anau instead of Queenstown.  This approach shaved many hours from the somewhat lengthy bus ride.