Miford Track

[ltcommander]

Hi guys,

My plan is this:

Reach Queenstown on 13th December 2012.
Do Routeburn Track on 14th December 2012.
Do Kepler Track on 15/16th December 2012.

Do Milford Track 17/18/19/20th December 2012

Return to Melbourne on 21st December 2012.

The problem is that all the huts on Milford Track are full on 17/18/19/20th December. I was told that another operator (more expensive) might have spaces in an alternate hut. Does anyone know about this?

The alternative is for me to do GreenStone/Caples Track instead of Milford Track which I can do but I really want to do Milford Track! Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Vince

[wayno]

got $2000 to spare??
http://www.ultimatehikes.co.nz/en/guide ... ford-track

i think you're really missing the point of those walks if you want to do them in that time. i think doing the routeburn in a day is a travesty.... it deserves to have more time spent on it, resting and taking advantage of the time to soaking in the amazing scenery rather than scuttle through in a day, similarly the kepler, if you do it in two days you're missing out on really absorbing fantastic scenery.... you can bash out that much mileage on any mundane track but its just ridiculous to do it where there is such great scenery, the walks will just be a blur in your memory as you hurry on to your next destination.
the huts on those tracks look out over some of the best scenery in NZ and it rivals the best scenery in the world.

on the milford track in theory you can camp if you're 500 metres from the track, but the geography of the milford makes this difficult, long steep sided valleys. i dont know how it would be done safely, you'd have to cross a deep river at some point to do so, some people do it in a day and somehow arrange a boat to pick them up, the last official boat is at 330pm, you'd have to run the track to catch it if you make it at all..
some people just hide themselves in the bush near the track when they camp on other great walks. i dont know if they will issue a boat ticket to someone who isnt booking the doc huts, normally when you book you get everything, no bunks available then you can't book....; acccess is all pretty controlled, i dont think theres any trips running from the far end of the track any more, there used to be an evening kayak trip that walked the end of the track but i checked and that doesnt run any more... it's a pain really either you book a year in advance for the freedom walker trip or pay a fortune for the guided walk unless you can jig up some way of getting round those restrictons,

[ltcommander]

Thanks so much Wayno.

No, I don't have 2000 to spare So, I think I am going to do Greenstone/Caples instead. I have close to 8 days in NZ and I'm pretty flexible how I spend those 8 days. I understand Greenstone/Caples is a beautiful track too. I'll plan something accordingly with the biggest return on spectacular views!

Thanks again,

Vince

[wayno]

the routeburn is hands down the best track,
you dont get the views on the greenstone caples you get on the routeburn or kepler, if the weather is good the views on the hollyford or the rees dart cascade saddle are better than teh greenstone caples

[ltcommander]

So you would recommend the Hilford Track instead of GC?

[Rob A]

Vince,
When you said you planned this????
Find the docs sites and get a better idea of durations, research your track transport and connections. Connects need to get to you to and from the airports, the tracks, accommodation at both ends and in between, and food and fuel supples.
I mean you might be one of these guys with a helicopter at your disposal and be one of the worlds great trail runners doing a red bull show ... but ...
Rob

[wayno]

yes, the miford has some fantastic waterfalls generally more impressive scenery, mind you so the milford sound has some mind blowing waterfalls when its raining... all 600 of them....
theres an amazing staircase waterfall on the milford track coming down from the pass. follows the track down hundreds of metres, waterfall after waterfall amazing rock strata and sculptures
sutherland falls track has been closed due to rock avalanche risk until they can dislodge teh rocks in question, if they cant they'll have to build a new track and that won't be quick...

its possible to go from one track to another on the same day with shuttles. or possibly hitch hike, depends on the time you get off the tracks though. buses usually finish departures mid afternoon

[ltcommander]

Alright thanks guys! I have a better idea as to how to go about doing this now.

Rob, I guess my original post sounded too simplistic! Actually, I have done all that. I have transportation, flights, etc, arranged already. A lot of this is subjective which is where is the challenge is. I LOVE trail running and I don't think speed and enjoying nature/trails are necessarily mutually exclusive. I enjoy myself more when I am running in nature instead of simply walking. I've done that in different parts of the world. The problem is that sometimes it's hard to say how much time is really required based on information that is available on the official websites. For example, we went up and down Mt. Kinabalu in all of 5.5 hours whereas 2 days is the recommended duration. Doesn't mean we didn't enjoy ourselves, just means that we "enjoy" ourselves differently.

I just want to strike the right balance between satisfying my desire for speed/running vs spending those quiet moments in a hut on a mountain!

Vince

[wayno]

some of these tracks if you're running on them you'll be busy watching where you're putting your feet rather tahn looking at the scenery

[wayno]

Videos of the Milford Track
Get a picture of what it's like to walk the Milford Track, from the stunning scenery to the hut accommodation. Hear actual visitors share their impressions.
http://doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation ... es/videos/

[ltcommander]

Yes, I saw it already and it is GORGEOUS. Too bad about the unavailabilty of spaces in the hut. Hollyford Track is working out to be hard and expensive to organize too as I either have to go back the same way or get an expensive flight from the end.

I think I have to settle for spending one day at Milford Sound, kayaking there and then doing the GC track.

I am very excited about NZ! Did the overland track in Tasmania last year. This looks even better!

[wayno]

if you have time, at milford sound and its a clear day, you need about four hours return, you can walk up the tutoko valley to the open river bed ad look up at the biggest mountains in fiordland , up to 2700m
its like the hall of the gods...
its a rough track so dont think you can blitz it. i went hard out and took me an hour and a half from the road end

http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz14 ... /Southland

[ltcommander]

This one looks awesome! Do you have the GPS track by any chance? Is the track easy to find? I do have time there. I am thinking about spending 2 days in Milford Sound and then heading back.

[wayno]

if you are going to spend thirty minutes in te anau doing anything, go to the cinema, every hour they show a movie of fiordland shot from helicopter by a lord of the rings cameraman... stunning...
can also be ordered from fiordland cinema on dvd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldAYgs4UF6w

[ltcommander]

Ah, thanks Wayne! Didn't know about that. I'll check it out!

[wayno]

This one looks awesome! Do you have the GPS track by any chance? Is the track easy to find? I do have time there. I am thinking about spending 2 days in Milford Sound and then heading back.

you cant miss it, just walk up the rd a couple of k from the back packers and theres a big sign before the bridge. the track is marked, its just rough underfoot, fantastic bush. even if the weather is bad, hardly anyone was on it when i was there, like one other person.... you can wander as far up teh valley as you like,, or wander further up the rd to the chasm walk... or see if you can hitch to the other side of the homer tunnel, if its dry and clear weather theres a marked route up to gertrude saddle that gives a view of milford sound to die for, or theres lake marian is another stunning walk at teh start of the lower hollyford valley

[wayno]

the early morning kayak with roscoes is when the sound is at its quietest and usually the calmest, it was like glass when i did it...

[ltcommander]

perfect! thanks Wayne!

[wayno]

best time on the sound cruise is during or just after heavy rain, the waterfalls are indescribable...

[Rob A]

Bottom line, hollyford, divide, is a decent trip up from Te Anau and a real leg from QT. Routeburn you are going in from the northern end from QT, then coming out on the divide then to TA and do the Keplar circuit makes sense. Ive done double legs muelling packs over the lumpy bits for people but Im not a trail runner. Never been on either Rout or Kep without seeing the runner girls and boys. Theres always someone runnning. Id check the Kepler challenge and that sort of stuff. Greenstone caples while I dont reckon is spectacular on the main walks is worth checking off your list, and you can do that as a circuit from QT, or a run through from Route. Youve researched track transport times with people like Tracknet, december they wont be having lay days. But without knowing what you can cover in a day, most advice is ... dunno ... suspect? Im saving Milford till my sixties, seventies, eighties. In three passports Ive not been there. Im sure its nice. Other half has done it two or three times I cant remember. Schlepping a pack, not in the times you are looking at.
Forget the movies, the hellocopter pilot at TA, unless hes moved on, is ex RV Calypso. Try for a Bluff Oyster pie down on the corner at TA and come back to brag about it. Well all be jealous.
Rob.

[ltcommander]

haha! thanks Rob! Will make you jealous!

I've contacted Tracknet, etc and I am mostly done with my bookings! I have to say, had I had a motorbike in Queenstown, it would have been a lot easier! I looked into renting one but it's a lot cheaper to just use the buses.

Milford Track.. well, you know, you always want to do the thing you can't! I am disappointed I am not going to be able to do it this time, but you know what, it's a beautiful world and there will be other opportunities!

Vince

[Rob A]

The guys running out to and from Glenorchy, and back and forth from divide, are pretty cool. Sit up front and chat em for latest conditions and for the gossip on whos got a reputation for being a complete dill. Its a very small world.

[ltcommander]

what's a "dill"?

[wayno]

dill = not very competent....

it would cost you thousands to see what is in the scenery in the movie if you took a helicopter flight ,, take a flight by all means but the movie covers more places than you'll ever see

[ltcommander]

too expensive - i looked into those scenic flights. But, heck, might decide then and there. A friend said to me that "the last shirt in life ain't got no pockets"

[wayno]

scenic flights should be banned at milford sound, the planes are old and noisy and the sound just reverberates from the vertical mountain walls when the weathers good in summer, the place is full of their noise... when i was kayaking in the sound a helicopter came around the corner at about 50 feed going full tilt. didnt hear a thing till it appeared and just about filled my trousers...
if you go to the other sounds you seldom if ever hear a plane...

[ltcommander]

and this is what I ended up happening!
http://hikeinhongkong.com/newzealand/

[Rob A]

Good stuff. Cracker!