Tramp to the Majestic Milford Sound, New Zealand
- Dec 4, 2016
- 2 min read
Milford Sound, also called “the 8th wonder of the world”, is New Zealand's most famous tourist destination, with towering peaks, cascading waterfalls and amazing wildlife. To get there will be to take the Milford Track, which is New Zealand’s most famous walk, and also rated as “the finest walk in the world”. Along the track, you will get to experience suspension bridges, board walks, mountain pass, the most amazing lakes, enormous valleys, and Sutherland Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in New Zealand.
The Milford Track is a 53km journey that starts at Lake Te Anau and ends at the grand destination of Milford Sound. The track is very guided and only goes in one direction, and is available during the walking season of October to April each year. This pleasant tramp is best divided across 4 days with up to 6 hours of walking each day.
Stage 1: Glade Wharf to Neale Burn Hut
Distance: 5km
Time: 1 hour
Hikers will take a cruise from Te Anau down to the start of the track that starts from the Glade Wharf. From there, the track crosses the Clinton River on a suspension bridge, and then along the river through a beautiful beech forest, and takes an hour to before arriving at the 40-bunk Nealle Burn Hut, where the hikers can dine and stay the night.
By: Ultimate Hikes
Stage 2: Neale Burn Hut to Mintaro Hut
Distance: 16.5 km
Time: 5-6 hours
The next destination of the second day to a climb up to Lake Mintaro. The track starts along the Clinton River and stays in the beech forest until it reaches a large open grassy area, and past the Hirere Falls, where the hikers can stop for lunch. The track then becomes a climb up to Pamplona Hut, which is a night stop for some hikers, and Mintaro Hut is another 3.5km walk from there.
Stage 3: Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut
Distance: 14km
Time: 6 hours
The track for the next day starts with a zig-zag climb to Mackinnon Pass, the highest point of the track at 1154m. The track then winds downhill to a private hut Quintin Lodge, and from there it takes a 90-minute walk before reaching Sutherland Falls, the highest in New Zealand, and the 8th highest in the world. Dumpling Hut will be a short walk from there.
Stage 4: Dumpling Hut to Sandfly Point
distance: 18km
Time: 5.5 – 6 hours
The last part of the track is to Sandfly Point, where boats will take hikers to the final destination, Milford Sound. The track starts off as a two-hour walk and then crosses the Arthur river and Mackay Creek pass a number waterfalls on suspension bridges, and then transitioning to a climb up the shoulder of the caller, and then descends to another waterfall on another suspension bridge before following along a lakeshore. It takes another hour to reach the end of the valley to Sandfly Point.
If you are interested in doing the hike with a tour, visit:
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