MILFORD SOUND TRACK GUIDED WALKS IN NEW ZEALAND Departs:      Daily from Queenstown One of the world's finest walking trails, the Milford Sound Track will take you 55 kilometres from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound the Fiordland National Park. It follows the Clinton River to its source in Lake Mintaro, crosses the MacKinnon Pass before descending to the Arthur Valley and the head of Milford Sound. To do this walk you must buy a tour package which includes bus and boat transfers to the start of the walk and back to Queenstown on completion. Available through Outdoor Travel: Guided walks: 5-days/4-nights comfortable lodge-based with linen, towels and meals provided: Get more information on Guided Walks Traversing New Zealand's wild fiord country, the Milford Sound Track was pioneered by Quintin MacKinnon in 1888. At its heart the Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu Southwest New Zealand World Heritage Area offers a unique insight into very special native birds such as New Zealand’s national symbol – the flightless kiwi, the Kea; Weka; Fantail; Robin; Parakeet and Bellbird. Here is your opportunity to experience Fiordland's spectacular: lakes; fiords; rainforests and deep canyons carved out of the local granite rocks. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION The Classic Milford Track Guided Walk is a 5-day / 4-night program from Queenstown to Queenstown. We offer an all-inclusive package of transport, lodge accommodation, meals, snacks, backpacks and rain jackets. Accommodation is in well-appointed luxury lodges and you will be led by expert guides. Suggested itinerary: There is a compulsory pre-track briefing in the central Queenstown office the day before the track departs.  You will need to plan to be there at 5.00pm to make sure everyone is briefed and properly equipped. DAY 1 - Queenstown or Te Anau to Glade House (Includes lunch & dinner). 1.6km @ 20 minutes walking Depart Queenstown to Te Anau by coach. Lunch in Te Anau and coach to Te Anau Downs where you board the launch to the head of Lake Te Anau, the beginning of the Milford Track. It's a short easy walk to Glade House, 1.6km. Afternoon tea and join your guide for a nature walk. Settle in and enjoy the environment. DAY 2 - Glade House to Pompolona (Includes breakfast, lunch & dinner). 16km @ 5-7 hours walking After crossing the emerald green Clinton River you walk up the valley to the Hirere Falls lunch shelter. The beech forest gets more luxuriant the farther you go, until it releases you on to the Prairie. From this meadow you can capture the true nature of the ice carved Clinton Canyon. It is a short climb to Pompolona Lodge from here. DAY 3 - Pompolona to Quintin via Mackinnon Pass (Includes breakfast, lunch & dinner). 15km @ 6-8 hours walking This is the most challenging day, especially in inclement weather. The track leads to Lake Mintaro at the head of the Clinton Valley, before climbing the MacKinnon Pass in a series of zigzags. At the top you may be rewarded with spectacular views and lunch in Pass Hut. After the rocky decent into the Arthur Valley there is a welcome cup of tea at Quintin Lodge. Optional 90-minute round trip to Sutherland Falls, the world’s fifth highest waterfall. DAY 4 - Quintin to Mitre Peak Lodge via Sandfly Point (Includes breakfast, lunch & dinner). 21km @ 6-8 hours walking On this, the final day on the track, you walk down the Arthur Valley to Boatshed, past Mackay Falls and Bell Rock and on to lunch at Giant’s Gate waterfall. The final stretch of track follows tranquil Lake Ada to Sandfly Point. From here it is a short launch trip to Mitre Peak Lodge, the only accommodation at Milford Sound with superb views of Mitre Peak, for a celebratory dinner. DAY 5 - Mitre Peak Lodge to Te Anau and Queenstown (Includes breakfast & lunch). No walking Wake to views of Milford Sound and after breakfast board a boat for a cruise on Milford Sound. Watch for the dolphins and fur seals and hope for rain, as the resultant waterfalls are amazing. Following the cruise you start your spectacular journey through the heart of Fiordland National Park to the Homer Tunnel and on to Te Anau and Queenstown via Queenstown Airport, arriving at approximately 4.00pm. Walkers can finish at Queenstown airport if necessary although we do suggest you plan to stay an extra night in Queenstown after the walk. The Milford Track lodges have drying rooms, flush toilets and hot showers complete with soap, shampoo and hair-dryers. Kitchen staff will serve a three course dinner each day usually of hearty home made soup; a traditional main; fresh garden salad and a pudding style dessert with tea or coffee and there is a bar for drinks before dinner. Next morning a cooked breakfast is available with a selection of fruit and cereal or a full cooked breakfast of bacon and eggs. A small shop is open for forgotten essentials such as sunscreen or insect repellent. Lodges generate their own electricity (turned off at 10.00pm daily).  We offer a choice of multi share rooms (male / female dormitory style with bunk beds sleeping 4 to 6 people per room) with shared bathroom facilities OR private bedrooms with a queen-sized or 2 single beds and a private en-suite bathroom. Special dietary requests will be catered for within reason (bearing in mind we operate in an extremely isolated and challenging environment). Lunch is a picnic on route and we have hot drinks ready at lunch stops. Lodges have been designed for your comfort but without a number of modern amenities such as telephones, faxes and email. Mobile phones do not work on the track but we have radio contact in case of emergency. All lodges and lunch shelters have toilets. Health and Fitness - These walks are neither easy nor difficult, they are a challenge which people of all ages and abilities can enjoy.  There is no upper age limit and the average age of our walkers is over 40. As this is a wilderness walk with no access roads you carry your own pack from lodge to lodge.  A medium sized backpack is ideal for personal belongings weighing 5-7kg and these are supplied if required. The walking is @ 6-8 hours per day over 15-21km of mountain trails.  You are encouraged to walk at your own pace and there is no pressure to walk with others or to keep up. There is always a guide at the front and with the last walker in each group. The track surface can vary from smooth well-formed paths to rough terrain broken by rocks and tree roots. There are steep rocky downhill sections and you may have to cross small streams and wade in deep water after heavy rain. If you are not a regular walker we suggest you begin a daily walking regime 6-8 weeks before departure. Carry a small pack and gradually increase the distance you walk. Hills and stairs will help with your preparation. What To Bring - All food and bedding are provided as well as basic toiletries in the lodges. We can also supply backpacks and rain jackets. Everyone is given a sleep sheet and there is no need for a sleeping bag. The following is a list of essential equipment. For Walking: Waterproof raincoat with hood (available if required) Broken in boots or strong waterproof walking shoes (preferably with ankle support) Woollen or thermal underwear (top & bottom) essential Warm hat (fleece or woollen) & polar-fleece jacket & micro fleece or merino top T-shirts for fine weather, sun hat & sunscreen & gloves Shorts or walking trousers & woollen or thermal socks - two pairs Insect repellent & water bottle Camera (possibly spare batteries, film or memory stick) For Evenings: Shirt or sweater Trousers, skirt or lightweight track pants & underwear Sandals or lightweight shoes Night wear & handkerchiefs (not tissues) Toiletries (towels, soap, shampoo & conditioner are provided) Optional items you may want to include are a swimsuit, spare laces, journal and ‘second skin’ or medications for blisters, bites and cuts. We do not recommend you walk in cotton garments, jeans or silk thermals: perspiration means you are likely to feel damp and cold even inside the best raincoat. We suggest you put all your clothing in plastic bags inside your pack liner for added rain protection. Keep your pack as light as possible while still taking the essentials. Limited laundry facilities are available in the lodges, a lighter pack will enhance your experience. A small shop in Queenstown stocks the majority of the above items (with the exception of boots, underwear, pyjamas and personal toilet requisites) at reasonable prices. A small bag (we can lend you one if necessary) of clothing for use at Milford Sound at the end of the walk can be sent by road from Queenstown to await your arrival. Any further baggage should be stored at your hotel (it is advised that you stay at the same hotel after the Milford Track as you stayed before walking). Please note that suitcases can not be transported. Getting There - Guided walks depart from Queenstown which is serviced by the major local airlines with easy connections to/from New Zealand's major cities. Queenstown is @ 7-hours drive from Christchurch and 4-hours drive from Dunedin, there are also a number of coach services available across New Zealand. The Queenstown office is in the The Station Building in the centre of town. Weather - What will the weather be like? It is essential to be well prepared when walking. New Zealand has very changeable weather. Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National parks have high rainfall levels and the weather can change quickly on any day. Snow, high winds and heavy rain can and will occur at any time of the year. Generally January and February are warmer, not necessarily dryer and in November and December the mountain flowers are emerging but there is still snow on the surrounding mountains. March is more settled with fresh mornings, sunny days, cooler nights with days getting shorter. It is very important to be prepared for the worst conditions and carry the appropriate clothing at all times. There are sustained periods of fine sunny days throughout the summer so you need to prepare for this too. As specialists in active holidays Outdoor Travel offer a wide range of guided walking experiences in New Zealand including the Routeburn Walk, Grand Traverse, Hollyford Track, Abel Tasman Guided Walk or Sea Kayaking, Queen Charlotte Walk, Stewart Island Trek, Hump Ridge Track and several on the North Island. In Europe walks are available in most destinations including France, Italy, Spain, UK, Germany, Switzerland Croatia, Greece & Turkey CALL OUTDOOR TRAVEL 1800 331 582 or EMAIL: info@outdoortravel.com.au