7th February 2007
7 miles plus coach & boat transfer (9 hours)
The Milford Track is New Zealand's most famous tramping route and has been described as 'the finest walk in the world'. It is located in stunning scenery amidst mountains and temperate rain forest in Fiordland National Park in the southwest of the South Island. The huge valleys along the track are the result of glaciation over the last two million years, these glaciers carved there 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. Ferns, mosses and lichens are abundant around the track. The track can only be walked in one direction and access at the beginning and end of the walk is by boat.
The Milford Track Day Walk takes in the beginning of the Milford Track, with a diversion along the Glade Burn Track. Following a coach transfer from Te Anau to Te Anau Downs, an hour's boat journey takes you to Glade Wharf. From here the walk diverts along the Glade Burn Track, climbing 400 feet to a viewpoint across Lake Te Anau. Walking through dense beech forest the route descends to the Milford Track to follow the Clinton River, passing through forest, grassy flats and wetlands. The river is crossed by a long swing bridge and lunch is taken at Clinton Hut. From here the return is made to to Glade Wharf for the boat and coach transfer back to Te Anau.
Scroll down to see photos of this walk
The catamaran takes us across Lake Te Anau to Glade Wharf . . .
the official start of the Milford Track
Walking up the Glade Burn Track we can see the head of Lake Te Anau and the surrounding mountains
Relaxing at The Glade . . .
we cool our feet whilst we have our morning break
No chance of diverting off the track in the dense forest . . .
as we make our way back to the Milford Track
A swing bridge takes us across the Clinton River . . .
which we walk alongside . . .
amongst spectacular scenery
A short boardwalk diverts through the wetlands where we find some carnivorous plants
Clinton Hut is the first stop for independent walkers doing the full Milford Track
On our return journey we pass Glade House which is used by official guided tours
Returning to Glade Wharf our catamaran waits to take us back
to Te Anau Downs