Milford Track

Once described as the finest walk in the world, the Milford Track is one of New Zealand’s most popular walks, with approximately 14000 people completing the Milford Track each year. This website aims to be a comprehensive information resource on the Milford Track, letting you have all the information you need in one place. We cover the walk itself, the history of the track, and where it’s located, and you’ll also find some photos from people who’ve done the walk. We hope this site answers all the questions you might have.

Interestingly, during the booked walking season (late October to late April) the track may only be walked in one direction, Glade Wharf to Milford Sound. A maximum of 40 independent walkers are permitted to start the track each day, otherwise it quickly becomes overcrowded, the damage to the environment increases, and the magic of its solitude is lost.

The huge valleys that you’ll see throughout your trek along the Milford Track are the result of glaciation over the last two million years. These glaciers carved their way through the landscape leaving behind these U-shaped valleys, ice-gouged ledges, and the hanging valleys of tributary streams.

Beech trees dominate the forest of the Lower Clinton. Beyond Mintaro the track climbs above the forest through sub-alpine scrub, and into the tussocks and alpine herb communities of the pass. The higher rainfall and milder temperatures in the lower Arthur Valley produce a more diverse forest. Ferns, mosses and lichens are abundant around the track. To get a better idea of what you’ll see when you’re walking, why not have a look at the Gallery section of this website? It includes photos from people who’ve walked the track.

If you would like to read a day-to-day breakdown of exactly what the Milford Track entails, click here!