Warm, lightweight sleeping bag and linerĭoes the thought of lugging a pack and sleeping bag to New Zealand from your home country put you off? Keep in mind you can borrow high quality hiking gear from EasyHike as part of our Milford Track Premium or Milford Track Essentials packages – a popular option for overseas visitors.Pack liner to ensure everything stays dry.A quality pack with a harness that has been fitted to your back (50-60L is a great size).Hiking shoes / hiking boots – make sure you’ve worn these in before you arrive, otherwise you might get blisters.Comfy, lightweight clothes to change into when you reach the hut.Shorts or pants that are comfortable to hike in.Lightweight, waterproof jacket and pants.Bring thermal leggings as well as a couple of short sleeve and long sleeve tops. Merino wool is highly breathable and keeps you warm or cool in most temperatures.This way, you can add or remove layers depending on what you encounter.Ĭonsider including the following clothes and gear. On the Milford, there’s no such thing as bad weather – just bad clothing! Because the weather can be so variable in this part of the world, we recommend a layering system to stay warm, no matter the conditions. Gradually increase the distance each day, and some days carry a backpack and include stair or hill climbing. However, if you’re walking the trail independently (highly recommended), you’ll need to carry a pack for 4-8 hours over 10-21km (6.2–13 miles) each day.įrom two months or more out from your hike, try to stick to a daily walking regime. We’re not talking about becoming an endurance athlete – the Milford is much more sedate than that people of all abilities walk (and love!) the trail. To ensure you enjoy every minute on the Milford, it’s a great idea to make sure you’re in relatively good shape before starting out. Preparation and gear – What do I need to walk the Milford Track? Fitness The Great Walks season is closed, so huts are not serviced and many bridges are removed.ĭecided on the time of year you want to walk the Milford Track? Make sure you book early, as huts book out very far in advance – sometimes up to a year! Bookings for the following season generally open in early April. ![]() June / July / August (Winter)īecause of flooding and avalanche risks, we don’t recommend hiking the Milford during winter. Keep in mind the Great Walks season finishes in early May. Some would say the best time to walk the Milford Track – temperatures are often still warm, the crowds of summer have lessened and there’s not quite as much rain as Spring. This is the most popular time to walk the track, so be ready to book your walk as soon as hut bookings open to secure your ideal dates. There is more chance of encountering those ‘picture postcard’ days on the trail during the summer months (if you get one at the top of MacKinnon Pass, consider yourself very lucky!) Temperatures are warmer, and rainfall is slightly less during these months. You can expect a fair bit of rain, but the track will be relatively quiet in terms of other hikers. Spring is when the waterfalls are at their most impressive, and native birds become more active. New Zealand’s Great Walks season officially opens in October. Some hikers say that only when it rains does the Milford Track truly come alive – water thunders down steep granite mountainsides, rainforests turn misty and Middle-earth like. But as long as you’re prepared, the rain can be a wonderful thing. Remember that the Milford Track is in Fiordland, one of the wettest (and arguably, most beautiful) corners of New Zealand. Most likely, you’ll want to nail down the dates of your Milford Track hike before doing anything else. ![]() Time of year – the best time to hike the Milford Track It’s a common question for many visitors. ![]() That’s why we’ve put together this post, what to know before walking the Milford Track. When you’re planning to embark on a multi-day hike – especially if you’re not from New Zealand – planning and preparation really does go a long way. It’s New Zealand’s most famous walk for a reason! Think enormous valley views, mountain peaks that scrape the sky, the tallest waterfall in New Zealand and a challenging (but worth it) mountain pass. If you’ve got your eye on hiking in New Zealand there’s a good chance you would have heard of the Milford Track.
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