Tucked away in the Southwestern corner of the South Island lies a 1.2 million
hectare time capsule of a beautiful prehistoric New Zealand.
Luckily keen adventurers can explore Fiordland's unique landscape through one
of the many walking tracks that weave through this glacially carved land.
One of New Zealand's Great Walks, and arguably its most famous, will take you
deep into the most stunning granite valleys in the world.
The Milford Track takes you 53.5 kilometers right through the heart of Fiordland
over the course of four days. The track itself is well developed due to its Great Walk
status, however, day three of your walk can be quite challenging as it involves
a long steep climb up and over MacKinnon Pass. This brings you into an Alpine
environment so there's a few things you need to know to stay safe on your journey.
The best time of year to attempt the Milford track is during the Great
Walks season. During this time facilities are actively managed, huts will have
rangers, bridges will be in place and the avalanche conditions are constantly
assessed by DOC. It's not recommended to walk the Milford Track outside of this
period as all of these facilities are greatly reduced. Bridges are removed and
heavy snow makes it a very dangerous tramp.
The average daily summer
temperature sits around 7 to 11 degrees (C) on MacKinnon pass and true to Fiordland form
you can expect rain for over 200 days of the year.
It's important to
remember that you will be in an Alpine environment
which means there is a good
chance you'll experience heavy rain
strong winds, snow and freezing
temperatures even during the Great Walks season.
So, warm and waterproof clothing
will be essential.
You'll also need a good pair of tramping (hiking) boots
and make
sure you carry enough water
for the whole day
As with all walks and tramps in New Zealand
make sure you leave your
'intentions' with a trusted contact
and inform them when you've finished your trip.
You can find out more about 'leaving your intentions'
at the Mountain Safety Council website
Day one of the Milford Track starts with
a boat ride to Glade Wharf
where you'll then spend the next two days
tramping (hiking) up the Clinton Valley to Mintaro Hut.
It's fairly sheltered in the valley, but watch
out for rising rivers
during periods of heavy rain.
The third day is when you
will tackle MacKinnon pass.
Your day starts from Mintaro Hut with a short walk
through the forest before you start to climb.
From here you will slowly zigzag
up the side of the mountain.
The track can be quite uneven along this section with a
few spots that are prone to rock fall,
so pay attention to what's happening above
and below you.
After a 350m climb the bush will give way to an open
alpine terrain.
The good news is that there will
be fewer sand flies up here,
but now that there is no shelter from high winds,
rain or snow.
These conditions are more common than a fine sunny day.
You will continue to zigzag up,
but now rocks will take up a good majority of the track.
Good balance
walking poles and basic rock scrambling
skills will be needed to prevent lower
leg injuries,
especially on a wet day,
when the track becomes quite slippery
Upon reaching the top of MacKinnon pass
you'll either get a great view down the
Arthur Valley, or you will be absolutely battered
by bad weather!
This is a good spot to stop and have
some lunch on a nice day.
Just remember that temperatures
will be considerably lower up here,
so layer up and stay comfortable.
If the weather is bad then
it's best to continue on to MacKinnon pass shelter
there is seating, a toilet, and multiple gas
cooking rings available here but
it should not be used to sleep in
unless it's an emergency
Both sides of the pass are incredibly steep
with some spots reaching a 500m
meter sheer drop to the valley floor
so stick to the track and don't venture
too close to the edge.
The descent begins shortly after MacKinnon pass shelter.
From here, you'll lose about a thousand metres
of elevation before reaching
Dumpling Hut.
It's a long and steep descent on rocky terrain
so take care to
have proper foot placement as you move down the mountain.
The decent is made up of three parts.
The first section has you zigzag
quickly off the summit.
Just be aware that wind can get especially aggressive here.
The second section takes you around a
cliff band. The track narrows down a lot with little room for error so use the
handrails if you need help to keep your balance and be ready for any sudden
gusts of wind. The third section starts when you enter
the bushline.
You will be well protected under here, but the track remains quite
steep with tree roots and rocks making it uneven. Eventually, you will reach
Anderson Cascade Shelter which is a nice peaceful spot to take a break.
You'll find another toilet here but again there should be no sleeping unless it's an
emergency. This whole descent takes you right
through a large avalanche path below Jervis Glacier. Avalanche activity is
closely monitored by DOC during the Great Walks season. This means they may
close off the main track and open up an emergency track to keep you out of
harm's way. This emergency track lets you descend directly to Anderson Cascade
Shelter, but it is very basic and shouldn't be used if the main track is
open. DOC will clearly sign which track you should use during the Great Walk season.
You'll finish the day off by continuing the descent through the bush
all the way to Dumpling Hut.
Put your feet up and have a well-deserved rest as
tomorrow you will follow the Arthur Valley all the way to your final
destination: Sandfly Point.
The Milford Track is one of New Zealand's 'must do' walks
but you are still entering challenging Alpine terrain
so be sure to know what you're committing to. Aim to walk only during
the Great Walks season, find out the latest information on track conditions
by talking to the DOC staff at the Fiordland National Park visitor centre
in Te Anau. Make sure you check out the official Fiordland National Park
weather forecast at MetService.com. Finally, ensure you have adequate fitness
for MacKinnon Pass as this is a demanding climb.
Now, get out there and enjoy
your journey along the finest walk in the world.
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